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[[File:Trumbull G. Washington.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''George Washington'', by John Trumbull]]

[[File:Trumbull G. Washington.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''George Washington'', by John Trumbull]]

When Lord Cornwallis had capitulated at Yorktown in 1781, the [[American Revolution]] was effectively over; however, the British by 1983 still occupied Savannah, Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina, and New York City, and awaited the outcome of peace talks then being held in Belgium.  Since the majority of British forces were in New York, General [[George Washington]] had moved the bulk of his forces to a new camp near Newburgh, to help ensure the temporary peace.

When Lord Cornwallis had capitulated at Yorktown in 1781, the [[American Revolution]] was effectively over; however, the British by 1783 still occupied Savannah, Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina, and New York City, and awaited the outcome of peace talks then being held in Belgium.  Since the majority of British forces were in New York, General [[George Washington]] had moved the bulk of his forces to a new camp near Newburgh, to help ensure the temporary peace.

Washington had also warned Congress of the grumbling within his ranks over the lack of pay to his men - many had not been paid in months, if not years.  By May, 1782, talks of an insurrection had begun to take shape, and one officer - Colonel Lewis Nicola - had sent Washington a letter proposing to make him "king of the United States" if he would join.  Washington immediately and adamently refused:  

Washington had also warned Congress of the grumbling within his ranks over the lack of pay to his men - many had not been paid in months, if not years.  By May, 1782, talks of an insurrection had begun to take shape, and one officer - Colonel Lewis Nicola - had sent Washington a letter proposing to make him "king of the United States" if he would join.  Washington immediately and adamantly refused:  

:''"Sir: With a mixture of great surprise and astonishment I have read with attention the Sentiments you have submitted to my perusal. Be assured Sir, no occurrence in the course of the War, has given me more painful sensations than your information of there being such ideas existing in the Army as you have expressed, and I must view with abhorrence, and reprehend with severety. For the present, the communication of them will rest in my own bosom, unless some further agitation of the matter, shall make a disclosure necessary."''  

:''"Sir: With a mixture of great surprise and astonishment I have read with attention the Sentiments you have submitted to my perusal. Be assured Sir, no occurrence in the course of the War, has given me more painful sensations than your information of there being such ideas existing in the Army as you have expressed, and I must view with abhorrence, and reprehend with severity. For the present, the communication of them will rest in my own bosom, unless some further agitation of the matter, shall make a disclosure necessary."''  

:''"I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an address which to me seems big with the greatest mischiefs that can befall my Country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable; at the same time in justice to my own feelings I must add, that no Man possesses a more sincere wish to see ample justice done to the Army than I do, and as far as my powers and influence, in a constitutional way extend, they shall be employed to the utmost of my abilities to effect it, should there be any occasion. Let me conjure you then, if you have any regard for your Country, concern for yourself or posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your Mind, and never communicate, as from yourself, or any one else, a sentiment of the like Nature. With esteem I am."''   

:''"I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an address which to me seems big with the greatest mischiefs that can befall my Country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable; at the same time in justice to my own feelings I must add, that no Man possesses a more sincere wish to see ample justice done to the Army than I do, and as far as my powers and influence, in a constitutional way extend, they shall be employed to the utmost of my abilities to effect it, should there be any occasion. Let me conjure you then, if you have any regard for your Country, concern for yourself or posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your Mind, and never communicate, as from yourself, or any one else, a sentiment of the like Nature. With esteem I am."''   

Talk about an insurrection became more serious as 1782 ended with the failure of a proposed amendment to the Articles of Confederation that would allow Congress to levy taxes on its own rather than having to get it from the states; the Federal government had about $125,000 in its coffers, and it needed more just to pay the officers, let alone the massive debts owed to creditors which had to be set aside for the war.  Aware of an impending mutiny, Washington had already authorized petitions to be made to Congress on behalf of the Army in an effort quell the problem, without success.  Then he had learned of a meeting of Army officers to be held on March 10, 1783 in Newburgh; he ordered it stopped, reconvened it for March 15, and gave the impression that he would not attend.  Aware also, that at the meeting was General Horatio Gates - who had earlier tried to have Washington discredited during the intrigue known as the [[Conway Cabal]] - allowed Washington to guess correctly that the later date for the meeting would allow for the exposure of the tempers and the anger of those who would support the insurection.

Talk about an insurrection became more serious as 1782 ended with the failure of a proposed amendment to the Articles of Confederation that would allow Congress to levy taxes on its own rather than having to get it from the states; the Federal government had about $125,000 in its coffers, and it needed more just to pay the officers, let alone the massive debts owed to creditors which had to be set aside for the war.  Aware of an impending mutiny, Washington had already authorized petitions to be made to Congress on behalf of the Army in an effort quell the problem, without success.  Then he had learned of a meeting of Army officers to be held on March 10, 1783 in Newburgh; he ordered it stopped, reconvened it for March 15, and gave the impression that he would not attend.  Aware also, that at the meeting was General Horatio Gates - who had earlier tried to have Washington discredited during the intrigue known as the [[Conway Cabal]] - allowed Washington to guess correctly that the later date for the meeting would allow for the exposure of the tempers and the anger of those who would support the insurrection.

When March 15 arrived, the officers were assembled in the Newburgh public building, with Gates acting as chairman.  As the meeting convened, Washington strode in unexpectedly and asked to speak.  Taking out his speech (text below), he expressed the need to follow the rule of law; that the army should not abandon nor tyrannize the country for which they fought; as to the officers' pay, he promised to see justice done by working with, and not against, the Congress.  

When March 15 arrived, the officers were assembled in the Newburgh public building, with Gates acting as chairman.  As the meeting convened, Washington strode in unexpectedly and asked to speak.  Taking out his speech (text below), he expressed the need to follow the rule of law; that the army should not abandon nor tyrannize the country for which they fought; as to the officers' pay, he promised to see justice done by working with, and not against, the Congress.