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Auction archive: Lot number 483

Revolutionary War Letter Signed by Lewis Nicola, the Man Who Wanted to Crown Washington,

Estimate
n. a.
Price realised:
US$390
Auction archive: Lot number 483

Revolutionary War Letter Signed by Lewis Nicola, the Man Who Wanted to Crown Washington,

Estimate
n. a.
Price realised:
US$390
Beschreibung:

ALS, 1p, 6.5" x 8", Fishkill, N.Y., March 2, 1783. To unknown addressee, concerning military leave, written as Col. of the Invalid Corp. I sometime since received a letter from Lt. Pugh reqeusting a recommendation to you for permission to visit his family in Philadelphia and informing me another officer of the reg't. had promised to do his duty as adjutant. In my answer I considered his request as inconsistent with the order of 9 December. This day he has again wrote me on the subject and says he supposed those orders do not reach to the reg't. which is soledly supplied with subalterns and that the Sappers and Miners have but one commanding officer with 3 companies. How far his reasons are valid, I shall not attempt to determine, but beg leave to recommend him for leave of absence if you think it can be done with propriety. I beg leave to assure you I am with respect, Sir, Your most obed't. Servant, Lewis Nicola Col. Inv. Lewis Nicola was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1717, the son of a British army officer. He emigrated to the colonies in 1766, already nearly 50 years of age. In early July 1775 the Pennsylvania council of safety appointed Nicola to a committee to inspect defenses on the Delaware River below Philadelphia, in recognition of his expertise from many years of service in the British army. In February the following year (1776), Nicola applied for and received a military command, as barrack master for Philadelphia. For the duration of the war, Nicola would serve the Continental forces against King George III. Among many accomplishments credited Nicola during the Revolution, his most notable may have been the Invalid Corps. Nicola wrote Congress in 1777 to create a corps of invalid army veterans and appoint him to command it. These patriots, although no longer suited for field service, could still "...be employed in garrisons, and for guards in cities and other places, where magazines or arsenals, or hospitals are placed...." They were also involved in recruiting and training, and frequently supplemented the meager three companies of Sappers and Miners - the infant Corps of Engineers - to build and maintain fortifications. [Lincoln would also take advantage of veterans 80 years later, but rather than "invalids," they were recognized as "veterans."] It was likely while his Invalid Corps was in such a position that he was asked to recommend the above Lieutenant for leave. Nicola's name might have been lost to history, however, but if not for a letter written to George Washington in 1782. In this missive Nicola, representing like-minded officers, suggested that Washington use the army to effect a coup d'etat against Congress and set himself up as king. Washington's scathing response essentially ended any talk of a monarchy in the colonies. Recent historical analysis has suggested that, rather than a literal plan, Nicola's suggestion may have been sarcastically expressing the disgruntlement of officer and enlisted man alike at the inability of Congress to meet the needs of the army for supplies and pay, a frustration certainly felt by the American "King George" as well. Maybe the sharp response was his exhaustion at hearing the same refrain for seven years.

Auction archive: Lot number 483
Auction:
Datum:
6 Jun 2008
Auction house:
Cowan's Auctions, Inc.
Este Ave 6270
Cincinnati OH 45232
United States
info@cowans.com
+1 (0)513 8711670
+1 (0)513 8718670
Beschreibung:

ALS, 1p, 6.5" x 8", Fishkill, N.Y., March 2, 1783. To unknown addressee, concerning military leave, written as Col. of the Invalid Corp. I sometime since received a letter from Lt. Pugh reqeusting a recommendation to you for permission to visit his family in Philadelphia and informing me another officer of the reg't. had promised to do his duty as adjutant. In my answer I considered his request as inconsistent with the order of 9 December. This day he has again wrote me on the subject and says he supposed those orders do not reach to the reg't. which is soledly supplied with subalterns and that the Sappers and Miners have but one commanding officer with 3 companies. How far his reasons are valid, I shall not attempt to determine, but beg leave to recommend him for leave of absence if you think it can be done with propriety. I beg leave to assure you I am with respect, Sir, Your most obed't. Servant, Lewis Nicola Col. Inv. Lewis Nicola was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1717, the son of a British army officer. He emigrated to the colonies in 1766, already nearly 50 years of age. In early July 1775 the Pennsylvania council of safety appointed Nicola to a committee to inspect defenses on the Delaware River below Philadelphia, in recognition of his expertise from many years of service in the British army. In February the following year (1776), Nicola applied for and received a military command, as barrack master for Philadelphia. For the duration of the war, Nicola would serve the Continental forces against King George III. Among many accomplishments credited Nicola during the Revolution, his most notable may have been the Invalid Corps. Nicola wrote Congress in 1777 to create a corps of invalid army veterans and appoint him to command it. These patriots, although no longer suited for field service, could still "...be employed in garrisons, and for guards in cities and other places, where magazines or arsenals, or hospitals are placed...." They were also involved in recruiting and training, and frequently supplemented the meager three companies of Sappers and Miners - the infant Corps of Engineers - to build and maintain fortifications. [Lincoln would also take advantage of veterans 80 years later, but rather than "invalids," they were recognized as "veterans."] It was likely while his Invalid Corps was in such a position that he was asked to recommend the above Lieutenant for leave. Nicola's name might have been lost to history, however, but if not for a letter written to George Washington in 1782. In this missive Nicola, representing like-minded officers, suggested that Washington use the army to effect a coup d'etat against Congress and set himself up as king. Washington's scathing response essentially ended any talk of a monarchy in the colonies. Recent historical analysis has suggested that, rather than a literal plan, Nicola's suggestion may have been sarcastically expressing the disgruntlement of officer and enlisted man alike at the inability of Congress to meet the needs of the army for supplies and pay, a frustration certainly felt by the American "King George" as well. Maybe the sharp response was his exhaustion at hearing the same refrain for seven years.

Auction archive: Lot number 483
Auction:
Datum:
6 Jun 2008
Auction house:
Cowan's Auctions, Inc.
Este Ave 6270
Cincinnati OH 45232
United States
info@cowans.com
+1 (0)513 8711670
+1 (0)513 8718670
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