[Letter of John Dickinson, member of the Continental Congress, to the President of Congress, in reference to the mutiny of the army, when the soldiers had surrounded and threatened Congress. It was written under the influence of strong excitement, as is evinced by the many erasures and additions in the original. The troops had surrounded the Congress building, demanding their arrears of pay, and honorable discharge from service, under dire threats of violence. It relates to one of the most trying periods of the Revolution, and one which threatened the country with internal troubles.] PHILADELPHIA, _July 27, 1783_. SIR: Yesterday evening the Soldiers from Lancaster began their March for that Place Under the Command of their officers.--Those in the barracks behave very quietly, & are desirous of being dismist.--Colonel Hampton informs me that Letters were sent by the principal Authors of the late Disturbance, to excite General Armand’s Legion & Colonel Moylan’s Regiment, to join in the Mutiny. The general Disposition of those Troops I know not; But I expect to receive immediate Advice of any Movements of Importance among them, which I shall communicate to Congress. I am, Sir Your very obt. Serv’t. JOHN DICKINSON. Mr. Thomson[40] who does me the Honor of charging himself with this Letter, will deliver to Congress a copy of the last proposals of the Soldiers to Councils, & the Act of Council thereon. His Excellency The President of Congress. [Congress had adjourned from Philadelphia to Princeton, N. J.--ED.] FOOTNOTES: [38] Robert Morris, the great financier. [39] Gen. John Morin Scott [40] Probably Charles Thomson, the Secretary of Congress. MINOR TOPICS THE FIRST U. S. FLAG The first Stars and Stripes were displayed at Fort Schuyler (the present Rome, N. Y.), August 5, 1777. This much every schoolboy is supposed [it is very much of a supposition, however, how many in the average High School could tell the story off-hand--ED.] to know. What is not generally known is that this historic flag is still in existence; being in the possession of Mrs. Abram Lansing, of Albany, N. Y., a grand-daughter of Colonel Gansevoort, and who possesses also the original of the following letter: Poughkeepsie, 29th August, 1778. COL. PETER GANSEVOORT, Fort Schuyler. Dear Sir: