All Things Powder, and Provisions: When Norwich Came to the Aid of Washington

This was a fun day! Battle of Bunker's Hill reenactment, June 2025, Gloucester, MA. The rebels eventually lost this battle because they ran out of gunpowder. But, they held on long enough to give the Regulars a pretty bad beating. Note the antique garbage can.

It is late December 2025 and I am preparing a new long-form journal article, as well as a companion presentation, regarding 1776 and Norwich, Connecticut.

I can prove the tremendous roles ordinary Norwich people played in the logistics of provisioning, transporting, and arming the Continental Army (CA) in 1776 (and 1775 too). This deep-dive article is destined for Connecticut History Review's Fall 2026 volume.

Peer-reviewed journal that discusses Connecticut history. I hope to be in their Fall 2026 with my latest deep dive into all things Norwich, CT 1776.

Washington Depended on Connecticut a lot in 1776

George Washington did not play a part in the Battle of Bunker Hill--he just missed it, arriving in Cambridge in early July 1775. It would take a long time before the Continental Army (CA) could build back up their gunpowder reserves. In fact, Washington could not engage the British until he had more powder.

Gunpowder was stored in airtight barrels and was dangerous to transport. Lots of it was stored in various locations in Norwich--a safe but convenient location.

Lack of quality gunpowder was a persistent worry for Washington especially throughout 1776. The colonies did not produce it in large quantities. The only options were priviteering British vessels and runs down to the French West Indies to get it. Patriot priviteering was very successful. Not until 1778, did the French come in-- they produced the best gunpowder. For more on Rev War gunpowder history visit: https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/gunpowder/.

Washington wanted constant updates on powder: where it was gotten, how it was stored, who was storing it. So precious it was. When the army did get more gunpowder, a lot of it was stored in Norwich in the first part of the war. Norwich was relatively safe, yet close to the Long Island Sound.

George Washington c1776 by Charles Wilson Peale. He had just agreed to command, the Continental Army. He always fretted about the health and well-being of his troops, except if they deserted and then there was hell to pay if caught. Source: The White House Historical Association

As of October 1776, CA army purchasing agent, Andrew Huntington was responsible for ALL of the remaining barrels of CA powder (from Massachusetts) and was desperate to get information on building a shelter for the guards, who were not getting paid yet asked to stand around in freezing temps!

Andrew wanted his younger brother, Joshua, a captain in the army, to personally ask Washington because he wasn't getting any answers and the guards were about to quit. Things were chaotic in October for sure and Washington was not able to do his administrative stuff. But, there was ALWAYS a threat of nefarious Loyalist actors infiltrating patriot towns, like Norwich, to perform arson or kidnap important patriots. Thus, the guards were needed! Norwich also had nightwatchmen required to protect the town.

Andrew Huntington lived here from 1767ish-1824 with his large family. Located on East Town Street in Norwichtown, it was from here that he directed provisioning, and supply chains, for Washington's army, particularly from 1775-1777. He had a horse named Count Pulaski and ran a rum distillery.

Not only powder, however, but the whole supply chain was always topmost on Washington's mind based on reading his letters to people like Jonathan and Joseph Trumbull who relied, in turn, on their Huntington kin. Shoes, blankets, clothes, boots, guns, flour, rum, beef, and pork were typically in short supply. In fact, during the Battle of Bunker's Hill, many blankets were left in Charlestown by retreating patriots.

Revolutionary War-era shoes. Imagine walking in the freezing cold for miles in these things--if you were lucky enough to have shoes. Source: National Park Service/Valley Forge museum

Five hundred pairs of shoes were delivered in July 1776 to troops in Manhattan. They were transported by the awesome Captain Allen Ingraham who did so much for the war on his schooner "Chelsea." Source: American Antiquarian Society

I did not hear a lot about the army supply chain in Ken Burns' battle-focused series. I am ready to tell you that it was a constant stressor for everyone involved and it can be observed in letters at all levels. If you don't have food, clothing, blankets and shoes, for example, then soldiers will desert or plunder, which Washington was desperate to avoid.

Army historian, Dr. Erna Risch wrote an excellent piece of army scholarship about the supply chain and the Revolutionary War. Researched, and written in the 1980s, she pulled it all together. A common problem was the Continental Congress. No surprise there.

Army historian Dr. Erna Risch wrote the comprehensive Supplying Washington's Army, a must-read for Rev War military scholars.

Battles were avoided, or delayed, much to Washington's consternation because of a lack of sufficient quanties of gunpowder. However, that was probably a good thing in January 1776, when he wanted to attack the British in Boston and his officers told him not to. He listened to them.

By February 1776, Washington was happy to receive from Connecticut's Jabez Huntington two tons of “a seasonable supply” of powder. This delivery enabled the army’s successful takeover of Dorchester a few weeks later sending a powerful message to the British forces. The Redcoats would go away....for awhile.

Everyone loves a good map! Here is one showing Dorchester. Once the Continentals snuck up onto its heights on the night of March 4, 1776, it was basically time for the British to leave, although they did not until twelve days later.....

Bucolic image of the Dorchester Heights' (1800s) redoubts built by the patriot troops, in secret, the night of March 4, 1776. The British woke up the next morning to see Dorchester captured by Washington's army--they were surrounded and would leave on March 17 after thinking about it for a long time! This would be the last major victory until December 25, 1776, at Trenton, NJ. Source: Digital Commonwealth

Washington's Plans for New York Occupation Depend on Norwich, CT

Washington and his aides were already planning for the occupation of New York City BEFORE the British left Boston. In January, he had scouts already down in Manhattan looking for the best hills to fortify to do the impossible: Defend New York City from the British.

But how would all of the troops, camp equipment, ordnance, and provisions be moved? The Trumbull/Huntington kin group consisting of: Governor Jonathan Trumbull, Colonel Jabez Huntington, Colonel Joseph Trumbull, Lieutenent Joshua Huntington, and Mr. Andrew Huntington would work their tails off to help the nascent Continental Army at every step of the way during topsy-turvy 1776 functioning as commissaries--in charge of getting the supplies to the quartermasters. Most New England merchants were pouring all of their resources into the fight. It was inglorious work with no benefits.

Sketch of a circa 1777 patriot wagon train. Source: The Museum of the American Revolution.

The American Antiquarian Society in Worcester has the Joshua Huntington Papers and they are full of Revolutionary War bills of lading by the this kin group AND their maritime associates: ship captains on down to wharf workers, and more. The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History also has Huntington and Joseph Trumbull papers. Many of them are being digitized as I write this.

The Huntington/Trumbull Kin Group Worked Hard During the War Era

The pious governor from Connecticut who Washington depended on time and time again: Jonathan Trumbull (1710-1785). He endured the death of two of his children, and his wife, before he died in 1785.

Joseph Trumbull, the sickly eldest son of Jonathan Trumbull. He served as Commissary General from basically late 1775 until July 1777 when he resigned. He died the following summer.

Major General Jabez Huntington (1719-1786), the wealthy merchant from Norwich. His financial and physical exertions for the war effort (including trying to protect the doomed New London) led to a long bout with a dementia-type illness. He was instrumental behind the scenes and in lockstep with the Trumbull family during the beginning of the war.

Norwich's Chelsea Landing "The Landing"

As far as troop transportation goes, once the soldiers, and wagons, got to the Norwich Landing (from the Plainfield Road), most of the troops were put onto available Huntington merchant vessels, and others, and taken down the Thames River to New London and then from there onto other vessels (or the same one) bound for Manhattan via the Long Island Sound. They did NOT march the whole way....Washington always tried to avoid that when he could to save the strength of his troops...and their footwear. He was always thinking of his men and wished he could do more.

The Chelsea Landing today (head of the Thames River). Quiet and peaceful now, 250 years ago, it was the sight of an important logistics operation for the Continental Army. It was the embarkation point for many soldiers, officers, and cargo going back and forth between Northern New England, New York City, and the Connecticut coastline.

The Norwich Landing area was a hive of activity throughout the war years, especially from 1775-80. Norwich-based ship captains, like Allen Ingraham, transported MOST of the equipment that came from the Massachusetts' camps at Roxbury and Cambridge.

The army goods and provisions, large and small, loaded in barrels and chests, arrived in Norwich by carters from all directions. Then they were inventoried and loaded onto waiting Huntington vessels at the Landing and then zipped down to New London. Next, if the weather was good, it was down the Long Island Sound with a final destination of the East River. This shuttle of goods and men and supplies occured all the time throughout 1776 and beyond.

Double-masted schooners like this one would transport troops, goods, equipment, and ordnance, including gunpowder, from Norwich to Manhattan, and Westchester, throughout 1776. Source: Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester, MA

Over-Emphasis on the "Founding Fathers"

Many nineteenth-century Connecticut historians mentioned the tremendous roles Norwich and Connecticut people played in the war effort. However, as we continue to be deluged with too much about outsized military, and political, personalities and every single minute of battles, we still don't know much about all of the other people who sacrificed their lives, wealth, and health to the revolution AND war.

One of the distinctions I am hearing lately is a good one: the difference between the "American Revolution" and the "Revolutionary War"--revolutions and wars are two different things--we had a revolution that led to a war.

Key Sources:

Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0257;

"The Joshua Huntington Papers," The American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA

"The Huntington Papers," Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (CMCH), Hartford, CT

"Joseph Trumbull Papers" (digitized), CMCH

Connecticut State Library