$25,000
War-date letter signed ("Geo. Washington") as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, 3 1/2 pages, on a bifolium, the body of the letter in the hand of Washington's Aide-de-Camp, Head Quarters, Newburgh, July 30, 1782. To late New York Governor George Clinton regarding Marinus Willett's command of militias in the Mohawk Valley and his concern for the British-held Fort Ontario at Oswego. The New York frontier was the site of numerous skirmishes between Loyalists and American allies between 1780-1782. Because of the continuing Loyalist raids in the Mohawk valley, Governor George Clinton gave Marinus Willett command of the militia to defend the region. The present letter underlines Washington's concern for the defences of the Mohawk Valley, a strategic and vulnerable point on the Revolutionary War battle lines, and his hesitation to act quickly or send additional troops without careful consideration of proper military strategy. Washington states: "How far it may be expedient to call forth an additional aid of militia, I shall submit to your Excellency's judgement, as you are better acquainted with the circumstances of the frontier, the strength of Willet's [sic] command, and probably the state of the enemy at Oswego, than I am. In the meantime, I wish to be informed as far as may be in your power of the force of Willet's [sic] corps now assembled on the Mohawk, also the strength of the enemy at Oswego, of which I have as yet had only vague and unsatisfactory account Read more…
Auctioneer:
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
Date:
2013-04-10
