Beschreibung:

WASHINGTON, GEORGE, President . Letter signed ("G:Washington") as Commander of the Continental Army, TO BRIGADIER GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE, text in the hand of Tench Tilghman, "Head Quarters" [Fredericksburg, Maryland], 25 November 1778. 1 1/4 pages, folio, 340 x 210mm. (13 1/2 x 8 1/4 in.), integral address leaf (a few minor stains), otherwise in fine condition. [ With :] Autograph free frank ("G:Washington") on integral address leaf, marked in an aide's hand "On public service," and addressed "To Brig Genl Wayne on his march to King's Ferry," DOCKETED BY ANTHONY WAYNE, partial wax seal. WASHINGTON'S ORDERS TO "MAD ANTHONY" WAYNE CONCERNING BURGOYNE'S CAPTURED TROOPS Washington, having lost Philadelphia to the British, prepared to move the army into winter quarters at Valley Forge. Here he issues orders regarding the Continental Army escorts to be provided to Burgoyne's captured army of almost 5,000 men on their 12-week march from Massachusetts to Charlottesville, Virginia. To "Mad Anthony" Wayne, one of his most trusted commanders, Washington writes: "You will be pleased to detach a Captain two Sub[altern]s and Fifty Men who are to lay at Robinsons Mills near Mahopack Pond till the Rear of the Pennsylvania Troops are about passing the North River, they are then to follow and join their respective Corps. The intention of this party is to prevent any of the Convention Troops, under pretence of desertion, from passing that way to New York. The Captain will detach a Subaltern and sixteen Men to Isaac Beddoes about half a Mile from Robinsons Mills, at the coming in of another Road, for the same purpose...The Virginia Troops will be upon their march from West Point to pass at King's Ferry also; therefore on order to avoid crossing their line of march, you are not to advance beyond John Jones's on the Road between the Continental Village and King's Ferry untill their Rear is in your Front. You will then pass the River as soon after them as possible and continue your march to Middlebrook [New Jersey]. I would wish you to take all possible care to prevent the troops from burning Fences or from committing any kind of waste upon the property of the inhabitants..." Burgoyne's surrender in October 1777 was made according to a convention between General Gates and General Burgoyne, so the captured army was referred to as the "Convention Army." Burgoyne and the nearly 5,000 prisoners, it was initially agreed, were to be returned to Britain under the condition that they serve no more during the American revolution. Congress and General Washington, though, feared the return of these men would free other troops for service in America and doubted the British would honor their parole and so refused to release the prisoners. (Burgoyne and some of his aides were paroled.), After being held in Cambridge for almost a year, the main body of the captured army was marched to Virginia under conditions of great hardship, lightly guarded en route. Many Hessians deserted during the march through Philadelphia, but the remaining British and Hessians spent the duration of the war in American captivity. Published in Writings , ed. Fitzpatrick, 13:325-326.