To George Washington from Elijah Taylor, 17 July 1781

Altho’ I have chearfully served my Country without intermission of upwards of six years yet it is with the utmost Regret that I find myself at this late Period under the Disagreeable necessity of Requesting a Discharge from it’s service, because I can no longer support myself in the field, with the least Degree of Decency or grant that support to a young Riseing Family which the common Bonds of nature Demands of me—Alltho’ these are Reasons which I think sufficient to induce a man of feelings to quit the field—yet I have others which (if possible) more immediately distress me; I have for more than five years had the misfortune to be exercised with a Rupture, which for near a year past has arisen to such a Degree, that many times it is with great pain and Difficulty that I perform my Duty; and I find by unhappy experience that this Disorder increases in proportion to the Fatigue, and hardship I undergo; wherefore I have great Reason to fear, it will soon render me quite incapable for the Duty of my present station, or of providing for a comfortable subsistance any other way—As this is my Real situation, and the reason of my Request—I Pray your Excellency to have Compassion on my feellings, and grant the Reques[t] of your Excellencies most Obedient and very Hume Servant