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Auction archive: Lot number 8

VARICK, RICHARD. Autograph letter signed ("R.V."), possibly Varick's retained copy, TO RICHARD HENRY LEE, JOHN ADAMS AND HENRY LAWRENCE, Albany, New York, 10 October 1777. 11 pages, folio, the last leaf with blank margins partly trimmed away, each le...

Auction 14.05.1992
14 May 1992
Estimate
US$2,500 - US$3,500
Price realised:
US$10,450
Auction archive: Lot number 8

VARICK, RICHARD. Autograph letter signed ("R.V."), possibly Varick's retained copy, TO RICHARD HENRY LEE, JOHN ADAMS AND HENRY LAWRENCE, Albany, New York, 10 October 1777. 11 pages, folio, the last leaf with blank margins partly trimmed away, each le...

Auction 14.05.1992
14 May 1992
Estimate
US$2,500 - US$3,500
Price realised:
US$10,450
Beschreibung:

VARICK, RICHARD. Autograph letter signed ("R.V."), possibly Varick's retained copy, TO RICHARD HENRY LEE, JOHN ADAMS AND HENRY LAWRENCE, Albany, New York, 10 October 1777. 11 pages, folio, the last leaf with blank margins partly trimmed away, each leaf unobtrusively silked, small hole with loss of one word on page 9. VARICK'S DETAILED REPORT ON THE LOSS OF FORT TICONDEROGA TO BURGOYNE An exceptionally thorough report to Congress on the factors contributing to the loss of Ticonderoga in July 1777. Varick is responding to a letter requesting returns of the American troops, which Varick encloses, noting that "many of those who are returned present at Muster were at that time unfit for Service & hardly capable of coming to the Parade to be mustered"; he also sends a return for the Massachusetts Bay militia. "Most of the Continental Troops, except the New Hampshire Regiments, were very deficient in Good Arms & much more so in Bayonets....The Rangers were not furnished with Bayonets, nor had the Corps of Artillery...any Arms...." Then, Varick gives a detailed resume of "matters in this Department, in the Earlier Part of the Campaign He describes the actions taken by Generals St. Clair and Scuyler to defend the Fort and outlying redoubts (Mount Independence in particular). "On the 26th [June}...Genl.St Clair received Intelligence of the Enemy's having arrived at Crown Point...St. Clair expressed to me his apprehensions for the Fate of his Garrison (then so few in numbers)..." though "from information recd. from Congress or His Excellency Genl. Washington," he thought a full-scale assault unlikely. The shortage of supplies is discussed by Varick, who observes that, "had the Orders given by Genl. Scuyler in Novr. last, been complyd with, the probable want of Provisions would not have been so justly assigned by Genl. St. Clair, as a Cause for Evacuating Tyconderoga...." Varick goes on to describe the extent and nature of American defenses: "The Lines & Redoubts on Tyconderoga Side were in pretty Good & defensible Order & were furnished with Spears [a chevaux de frise ?]...but they were much to extensive to be defended by the collected Forces of both Garrisons. The fortifications on Mount Independence Side were of very little consequence, Except a Battery near the Water...The fortifications on Mt. Independence...was no more than a small Half Moon Battery in Barbette, of 6 or 8 Guns each....& the Picket Fort...was by no means defensible...." Varick offers no description of the American evacuation of Ticonderoga, on July 5-6, but records that "on the 7th July, Genl. Schuyler being on his way to join a small Body of Militia, assembled at Fort Edward, recd. an account of the Evacuation of Tyconderoga & Mount Independence...." His lengthy report, Varick assures the Congressmen, contains "all the information I can recollect in my own particular Department, as well as such other as has come to my Knowledge...." General St. Clair was acquitted "with honor" by a courts-martial wchich investigated the Ticonderoga debacle. "The fall of Ticonderoga depressed American spirits and sent those of their enemy soaring. King George rushed into the Queen's dressing room shouting, "I have beat them! I have beat all the Americans!" (-Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, p.1107).

Auction archive: Lot number 8
Auction:
Datum:
14 May 1992
Auction house:
Christie's
New York, Park Avenue
Beschreibung:

VARICK, RICHARD. Autograph letter signed ("R.V."), possibly Varick's retained copy, TO RICHARD HENRY LEE, JOHN ADAMS AND HENRY LAWRENCE, Albany, New York, 10 October 1777. 11 pages, folio, the last leaf with blank margins partly trimmed away, each leaf unobtrusively silked, small hole with loss of one word on page 9. VARICK'S DETAILED REPORT ON THE LOSS OF FORT TICONDEROGA TO BURGOYNE An exceptionally thorough report to Congress on the factors contributing to the loss of Ticonderoga in July 1777. Varick is responding to a letter requesting returns of the American troops, which Varick encloses, noting that "many of those who are returned present at Muster were at that time unfit for Service & hardly capable of coming to the Parade to be mustered"; he also sends a return for the Massachusetts Bay militia. "Most of the Continental Troops, except the New Hampshire Regiments, were very deficient in Good Arms & much more so in Bayonets....The Rangers were not furnished with Bayonets, nor had the Corps of Artillery...any Arms...." Then, Varick gives a detailed resume of "matters in this Department, in the Earlier Part of the Campaign He describes the actions taken by Generals St. Clair and Scuyler to defend the Fort and outlying redoubts (Mount Independence in particular). "On the 26th [June}...Genl.St Clair received Intelligence of the Enemy's having arrived at Crown Point...St. Clair expressed to me his apprehensions for the Fate of his Garrison (then so few in numbers)..." though "from information recd. from Congress or His Excellency Genl. Washington," he thought a full-scale assault unlikely. The shortage of supplies is discussed by Varick, who observes that, "had the Orders given by Genl. Scuyler in Novr. last, been complyd with, the probable want of Provisions would not have been so justly assigned by Genl. St. Clair, as a Cause for Evacuating Tyconderoga...." Varick goes on to describe the extent and nature of American defenses: "The Lines & Redoubts on Tyconderoga Side were in pretty Good & defensible Order & were furnished with Spears [a chevaux de frise ?]...but they were much to extensive to be defended by the collected Forces of both Garrisons. The fortifications on Mount Independence Side were of very little consequence, Except a Battery near the Water...The fortifications on Mt. Independence...was no more than a small Half Moon Battery in Barbette, of 6 or 8 Guns each....& the Picket Fort...was by no means defensible...." Varick offers no description of the American evacuation of Ticonderoga, on July 5-6, but records that "on the 7th July, Genl. Schuyler being on his way to join a small Body of Militia, assembled at Fort Edward, recd. an account of the Evacuation of Tyconderoga & Mount Independence...." His lengthy report, Varick assures the Congressmen, contains "all the information I can recollect in my own particular Department, as well as such other as has come to my Knowledge...." General St. Clair was acquitted "with honor" by a courts-martial wchich investigated the Ticonderoga debacle. "The fall of Ticonderoga depressed American spirits and sent those of their enemy soaring. King George rushed into the Queen's dressing room shouting, "I have beat them! I have beat all the Americans!" (-Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, p.1107).

Auction archive: Lot number 8
Auction:
Datum:
14 May 1992
Auction house:
Christie's
New York, Park Avenue
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