On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General Washington wrote to Governor Jonathan Trumbull of Connecticut:

Having heard that it is doubtful whether the Reverend Mr [Abiel] Leonard from your Colony, from the circumstances of his affairs, will have it in his power to continue here as a Chaplain, I cannot but express some concern, as I think his departure will be a loss—His general conduct has been exemplary and praiseworthy—In discharging the duties of his office, active and industrious—He has discovered himself a warm and steady friend to his Country, and taken great pains to animate the Soldiery and impress them with a knowledge of the important Rights we are contending for—Upon the late desertion of the Troops he delivered a sensible and judicious discourse, holding forth the necessity of courage and bravery, and at the same time of perfect obedience and subordination to those in Command.

In justice to the merits of this Gentleman, I thought it only right to give you this testimonial of my opinion of him, and to mention him as worthy of your esteem and that of the public

In response to these entreaties, Abiel Leonard would continue as a chaplain in the Continental Army and received many further commendations for his service in 1776 and into 1777 but in July 1777 he was afflicted with some sort of mental disorder and took his own life. I don’t know if his mental illness predated the War or was exacerbated by the War, but I wonder if his mental illness would be today diagnosed as a post-traumatic stress disease.

Sources: “George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 15 December 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0510. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 2, 16 September 1775 – 31 December 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1987, pp. 555–556.]; https://www.theconnecticutsociety.org/leonard-abiel/