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To the Governour and Generall Court of Con-necticut sitting att Hartford, Oct. ye 26th, 1693. GENTLEMEN—I have received your papers which is noe answer to my memorial, for I doe not demand the Militia from you, knowing very well as you yourselves doe, that you have no right to itt, being settled on the Kings and Queens of England and their successors, by severall acts of Parliament and by noe power on earth can be demised from the present possessor of the Crown, but I have in tender regard to this English Colony given in my memorial to you, the present administrators of the Goverm't here, in expectation of your ready complyance to their Maj'ties Pattent and your assistance to me, being a stranger in these parts, for the more speedy and effectuall execution of that lawfull commission which is granted in grace by their Maj'ties, as well for your security and defence as the assertion of their owe right, and this has in no part of their dominions found a rub or contest. I doe therefore in their Maj'ties names demand your obedience to this commission, as you will answer the ill consequences that will ensue, and expect a speedy replye in two words yes or no. BEN. FFLETCHER.By his Excellency Benjamin Fletcher, his Maj'ties Liev't and Commander in Chiefe of the Militia, and of all the Forces by Sea and by Land, within their Majesties Collony of Connecticutt, and of all the Forts and places of strength within the same. M. CLARKSON, Sec'ry. |
Note.—Col. Fletcher, Governor of New York, had received a commission to command the whole Militia of Connecticut, which was inconsistent with the Charter rights of the Colony; on the 26th Oct. he came to Hartford, where the General Court was in Session, and in his Majesty's name demanded that the Militia of the Colony should be submitted to his command. The Militia of Hartford was called out; but the General Court persisted in refusing to submit to the demands of Fletcher. A commission was tendered to Gov. Treat, authorizing him to command the Militia as a Lieutenant under Fletcher, but the Assembly would not submit, and the tender was not accepted: the Militia of Hartford having paraded, and as the tradition is, while Captain Wadsworth the Commanding Officer was walking in front of the companies, Col. Fletcher ordered his commission to be read. Capt. Wadsworth instantly ordered the drums to beat; and there was such a roaring of them that nothing else could be heard. Fletcher commanded silence: but no sooner had the reading commenced again, than Wadsworth commands "drum, drum, I say." The drummers understanding their business, instantly made another tremendous roar of the drums. Silence says Fletcher. But no sooner did silence ensue than Wadsworth speaks with great earnestness, "drum I say," and immediately turning to Fletcher, said "if I am interrupted again I will make the Sun shine through you in an instant." He spoke with such decision and energy in his voice, and meaning in his countenance, that no further attempts were then made to read the commission.— Large numbers of people had assembled, and becoming much excited, Col. Fletcher entertained doubts for his personal safety, and judged it expedient soon after to leave the place and return to New York.