The officers had been promised half-pay for life, but nothing definite had been done toward carrying out the promise.

The soldiers had no such hope to encourage them, and their pay was sadly in arrears.

In December, 1782, the officers at Newburg drew up an address in behalf of themselves and their men and sent it to Congress.

Therein they made the threat, thinly veiled, of taking matters into their own hands unless their grievances were redressed.
There is reason to suppose that back of this movement--or at least in sympathy with it--were some of the strongest men in civil as in military life, who, while not fomenting insurrection, were willing to bring pressure to bear on Congress and the States.

Congress was unable or unwilling to act, and in March, 1783, a second paper, this time anonymous, was circulated urging the men not to disband until the question of pay had been settled and recommending a meeting of officers on the following day.