WASHINGTON, George. Letter signed ("G: Washington") with seven-line autograph postscript TO MAJOR GENERAL NATHANAEL GREENE, body of letter in the hand of Tench Tilghman, Head Quarters, New Windsor, 2 January 1781. 1 page, folio, 339 x 208mm., neat repairs to folds from verso, small area of discoloration in right center, but otherwise in good condition. WASHINGTON AND GREENE TRACK BENEDICT ARNOLD'S RAIDING PARTY, ON ITS WAY TO VIRGINIA A fine wartime letter, quite friendly in tone, from the Commander-in-chief in winter camp on the Hudson River, near Newburgh, passing on vital intelligence from New York to Greene, commanding the Continental armies in the Southern theatre. From his spy networks in New York and Long Island, Washington has received important news of the sailing of a British expeditionary force, reportedly heading to the South, under command of the traitor Benedict Arnold: "Since my last, I have gained information thru' the Channel upon which I most depend, that the embarkation which sailed from New York the 20th of last month, consisted of about sixteen hundred Men, chiefly detachments from the British-German [Hessian] and new Corps. I hear of no entire Corps but the Queens Rangers. Arnold commands." "We have various reports, thro' the New York papers and our own, of an affair between General [Thomas] Sumpter [Sumter] and [Banastre] Tarleton. The printers on both sides make it a victory. I wish you merry and happy New Year and am with very great Regard..." In a postscript, Washington writes: "Within these few days I have heard (by Mr. Otis of Boston) that Mrs. Greene and your child[re]n were well --This Gent[lema]n saw her in his way hither & to Phila." Washington's news of the British expedition was communicated by him on the same day to Governor Thomas Jefferson of Virginia (see Fitzpatrick 21:51-52); two days later Arnold's flotilla reached Hampton Roads and sailed up the James River. This expedition, the first command assigned to Arnold after his defection from Continental service, was intended to interrupt the flow of supplies from Virginia to Greene's army in the Carolinas and draw off patriot forces. Arnold conducted his raid in typically agressive style: on 3 January he and his force seized the garrison at Hoods Point then took Richmond, where tobacco stores and some buildings were destroyed. Washington also comments here on reports of the battle at Blackstocks, South Carolina, in which Sumter and William Washington's cavalry inflicted heavy losses on the well-trained British legion of infantry and cavalry commanded by Col. Banastre Tarleton ("Bloody Tarleton") in a spirited battle along the Tyger River in South Carolina. In the encounter, on 20 November 1780, Sumter was seriously wounded. Published (from Tilghman's draft) in Writings , ed. J. C. Fitzpatrick, 21:48.
WASHINGTON, George. Letter signed ("G: Washington") with seven-line autograph postscript TO MAJOR GENERAL NATHANAEL GREENE, body of letter in the hand of Tench Tilghman, Head Quarters, New Windsor, 2 January 1781. 1 page, folio, 339 x 208mm., neat repairs to folds from verso, small area of discoloration in right center, but otherwise in good condition. WASHINGTON AND GREENE TRACK BENEDICT ARNOLD'S RAIDING PARTY, ON ITS WAY TO VIRGINIA A fine wartime letter, quite friendly in tone, from the Commander-in-chief in winter camp on the Hudson River, near Newburgh, passing on vital intelligence from New York to Greene, commanding the Continental armies in the Southern theatre. From his spy networks in New York and Long Island, Washington has received important news of the sailing of a British expeditionary force, reportedly heading to the South, under command of the traitor Benedict Arnold: "Since my last, I have gained information thru' the Channel upon which I most depend, that the embarkation which sailed from New York the 20th of last month, consisted of about sixteen hundred Men, chiefly detachments from the British-German [Hessian] and new Corps. I hear of no entire Corps but the Queens Rangers. Arnold commands." "We have various reports, thro' the New York papers and our own, of an affair between General [Thomas] Sumpter [Sumter] and [Banastre] Tarleton. The printers on both sides make it a victory. I wish you merry and happy New Year and am with very great Regard..." In a postscript, Washington writes: "Within these few days I have heard (by Mr. Otis of Boston) that Mrs. Greene and your child[re]n were well --This Gent[lema]n saw her in his way hither & to Phila." Washington's news of the British expedition was communicated by him on the same day to Governor Thomas Jefferson of Virginia (see Fitzpatrick 21:51-52); two days later Arnold's flotilla reached Hampton Roads and sailed up the James River. This expedition, the first command assigned to Arnold after his defection from Continental service, was intended to interrupt the flow of supplies from Virginia to Greene's army in the Carolinas and draw off patriot forces. Arnold conducted his raid in typically agressive style: on 3 January he and his force seized the garrison at Hoods Point then took Richmond, where tobacco stores and some buildings were destroyed. Washington also comments here on reports of the battle at Blackstocks, South Carolina, in which Sumter and William Washington's cavalry inflicted heavy losses on the well-trained British legion of infantry and cavalry commanded by Col. Banastre Tarleton ("Bloody Tarleton") in a spirited battle along the Tyger River in South Carolina. In the encounter, on 20 November 1780, Sumter was seriously wounded. Published (from Tilghman's draft) in Writings , ed. J. C. Fitzpatrick, 21:48.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
