![WASHINGTON, George, President. Autograph letter signed ("G:Washington") as Commander-in-Chief, Continental Army, WITH SECOND SIGNATURE AFTER POSTSCRIPT, to Landon Carter, Philadelphia County, 27 October 1777. 3 1/2 pages, folio, 321 x 208mm. (12 x 8 in.), small, light dampstains at several fold intersections, one affecting three letters of first signature, a few trifling repairs to tiny losses at intersections, page 4 discreetly silked, otherwise in excellent condition, deckle edges of the sheet preserved. [With:] Manuscript list of British and Indian allies killed, wounded or captured in the Ticonderoga, Oriskany, Bennington and Saratoga campaigns, as well as ordnance captured, in the hand of an unknown aide. 1 pages, folio. Sent as an enclosure with the preceding. Listing among the prisoners "Genl. Burgoyne and Staff among which are 6 Members of Parliament."](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/1999/NYR/1999_NYR_09178_0298_000(115059).jpg?w=1)
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WASHINGTON, George, President. Autograph letter signed ("G:Washington") as Commander-in-Chief, Continental Army, WITH SECOND SIGNATURE AFTER POSTSCRIPT, to Landon Carter, Philadelphia County, 27 October 1777. 3 1/2 pages, folio, 321 x 208mm. (12 x 8 in.), small, light dampstains at several fold intersections, one affecting three letters of first signature, a few trifling repairs to tiny losses at intersections, page 4 discreetly silked, otherwise in excellent condition, deckle edges of the sheet preserved. [With:] Manuscript list of British and Indian allies killed, wounded or captured in the Ticonderoga, Oriskany, Bennington and Saratoga campaigns, as well as ordnance captured, in the hand of an unknown aide. 1 pages, folio. Sent as an enclosure with the preceding. Listing among the prisoners "Genl. Burgoyne and Staff among which are 6 Members of Parliament."
JUST AFTER THE LOSS OF PHILADELPHIA, WASHINGTON REACTS TO NEWS OF GATES' VICTORY AT SARATOGA, COMPLAINS OF "THE GREAT AND INSUPERABLE DIFFICULTIES" HE HAS ENCOUNTERED IN HIS OWN CAMPAIGN, AFFIRMS HIS CONVICTION THAT "A SUPERINTENDING PROVIDENCE IS ORDERING EVERYTHING FOR THE BEST" AND VOWS THAT "IT IS NOT MY WISH TO AVOID ANY DANGER WHICH DUTY REQUIRES"
A highly important letter, written at the height of the Philadelphia campaigns, in which Washington had suffered severe military reverses, including the loss of the city in which Congress sat. He writes with unusual frankness to an old and trusted Virginia friend. In a remarkable postscript Washington uncharacteristically allows himself, momentarily, to express his intense frustration and disappointment with recent military setbacks and obstacles. Carter had expressed concern about Washington's taking dangerous risks. In the recent campaigns, Washington had spent the night in a Tory farmhouse, causing fears that he had risked capture by a British raiding party, like General Charles Lee (captured in December 1776). Washington is grateful for Carter's solicitude for his safety but insists that "it is not my wish to avoid any danger which duty requires me to encounter. I can as confidently add, that it is not my attention to run any unnecessary risques. In the instance given by you, I was acting precisley in the line of my duty, but not in the dangerous situation you have been led to believe. I was recoinnoitring, but I had a strong party of Horse [cavalry] with me. I was (as I afterwards found) in a dissaffected House at the head of Elk, but I was equally guarded ag[ains]t friend and Foe. The information of danger then, came not from me."
Then, Washington reviews the events of what had been, both for him and the Continental Army, a costly and bitter series of defeats in the wake of landing of the British Army at Elkton and its seizure of Philadelphia: "So many acc[oun]ts have been published of the battle of Brandywine [11 September] that nothing more can be said of it. The subsequent engagement on the 4th [Germantown]..had every appearance (after a hot contest of two hours and forty minutes) of a glorious decision; but after driving the Enemy from their Incampment, possessing their ground, and being, as we thought, on the point of grasping victory, it was snatched from us by means altogether unaccountable, excepting that a very heavy atmosphere [fog] aided by the smoke [of] four Field pieces and Small arms rendered it impossible, at times, to distinguish frend from Foe...which caused our men, I believe, to take fright at each other. Since that they have retired to Philad[elphi]a, where they have been strengthening themselves as much as possible, whilst we hover round to cut off their supplies." Washington then describes the battles taking place at Forts Mercer and Mifflin on the Delaware: "The Enemy are exerting their utmost skill, to reduce the Forts constructed for the defence of the Cheveaux de friese in Delaware, and to drive off our little Fleet employed in aid of them. On the 22nd Inst. Count [von] Donop, a Hessian Officer of rank, and great Military Abilities, with 1200 of his Countrymen undertook to storm one of these Works (called Fort Mercer at Red Bank on the Jersey shore) when himself and about 400 others were killed and wounded, between [200 and 300] were left slain, and badly wounded on the spot, the rest got off with their retreating brethren, who made the best of their way to Phila. The Count is among the wounded, supposed mortally [Von Donop died on October 25th]."
"The next day, several of the Enemy's ships, having passed the lower Cheveaux de friese, aided by their Land Batteries, began a most tremendous cannonade on Fort Mifflin (on an Island near the Pennsylvania shore) and on our armed vessels adjoining which continued six hours without Intermission; and ended in the destruction of two of the Enemy's Ships of War, one a [64] gun ship, the other 18. Our damage on both these occasions was inconsiderable...The possession of these defences is of such essential importance to the Enemy that they are leaving no stone unturned to succeed; we are doing what we can (under many disadvantages) to dissapoint them."
Alluding to the surrender of Burgoyne's entire army to Gates at Saratoga, he continues: "The great and important event to the Northward...must be attended with the most fortunate consequences. It has caused Sir Henry Clinton's expedition from New York...to end in something more than smoke indeed, burning of Mills, Gentlemen's Seats [homes], and the Villages near the Water; an evident proof of their despair of carrying their diabolical designs [the object of Burgoyne's expedition] into execution. My inclination leads me to give you a more minute detail of the Situation of our Army, but prudence Forbids, as letters are subject to too many miscarriages..." He closes with greetings to Carter's family, then adds two postscripts: "I am persuaded you will excuse this scratch'd scrawl, when I assure you it is with difficulty I write at all." Then, he adds: "I have this instant received an acct. of the Prisoners taken by the Northern Army (including Tories in arms ag[ain]st us) in the course of the Campaign. This singular Instance of Providence, and our good fortune under it exhibits a striking proof of the advantages which result with unanimity and a spirited conduct in the Militia. The Northern Army, before the Surrender, of Genl. Gates was reinforced by upwards of 12000 Militia who shut the only door by which Burgoyne could Retreat, and cut off all his supplies. How different our Case! The disaffection of great part of the Inhabitants of this State, the langour of others and internal distraction of the whole, have been among the great and insuperable difficulties I have met with, and have contributed not a little to my embarrassment this Campaign; but enough! I do not mean to complain, I flatter myself that a Superintending Providence is ordering everything for the best and that, in due time, all will end well. That it may do so, and soon, is the fervent wish of...G:Washington."
Washington's account of the near debacle at Germantown is interesting; the sudden confusion which seized the almost victorious American troops has been widely debated. Most probably two columns of Continentals mistook each other, in the fog and smoke, for the enemy. Washington remained convinced that his army was at that moment on the verge of forcing Howe to retreat. Surprisingly, the audacity shown in mounting a forceful attack on the British army boosted the morale of Washington's men and played a part in convincing the French to back the American cause. Trevelyan maintained that "the French government...was influenced almost as much by the battle of Germantown as by the surrender of Burgoyne," (Boatner, 430). Most interestingly, in Washington's allusions to the great Saratoga victory, there is a faint hint of restraint, in spite of his satisfaction. Gates, the nominal victor had been a superb adjutant to Washington; but the two grew estranged when Gates took a field command in the Northern Department and, "the acclaim Gates received after the victory over Burgoyne...perhaps made him susceptible to the flattery of Thomas Conway" (Freeman, 3:474n). That officer appears to have sought, not long after this letter, to secretly discredit Washington and boost Gates's star, resulting in the affair usually termed the Conway Cabal.
Washington's correspondent, Landon Carter of Sabine Hall (1760-1800), was a noted Virginia plantation owner and long-serving delegate to the House of Burgesses. Carter, many years later, wrote meaningfully of his friend: "I never knew but one man who resolved not to forget the citizen in the soldier or the ruler and that was G.W., and I am afraid I shall not know another" (quoted in Freeman, 3:470). Published in Writings, ed. J.C. Fitzpatrick, 9:451-455.
Provenance: Dr. S.H. Fogg of Boston, in 1889-1893 -- The present owners, by descent.
JUST AFTER THE LOSS OF PHILADELPHIA, WASHINGTON REACTS TO NEWS OF GATES' VICTORY AT SARATOGA, COMPLAINS OF "THE GREAT AND INSUPERABLE DIFFICULTIES" HE HAS ENCOUNTERED IN HIS OWN CAMPAIGN, AFFIRMS HIS CONVICTION THAT "A SUPERINTENDING PROVIDENCE IS ORDERING EVERYTHING FOR THE BEST" AND VOWS THAT "IT IS NOT MY WISH TO AVOID ANY DANGER WHICH DUTY REQUIRES"
A highly important letter, written at the height of the Philadelphia campaigns, in which Washington had suffered severe military reverses, including the loss of the city in which Congress sat. He writes with unusual frankness to an old and trusted Virginia friend. In a remarkable postscript Washington uncharacteristically allows himself, momentarily, to express his intense frustration and disappointment with recent military setbacks and obstacles. Carter had expressed concern about Washington's taking dangerous risks. In the recent campaigns, Washington had spent the night in a Tory farmhouse, causing fears that he had risked capture by a British raiding party, like General Charles Lee (captured in December 1776). Washington is grateful for Carter's solicitude for his safety but insists that "it is not my wish to avoid any danger which duty requires me to encounter. I can as confidently add, that it is not my attention to run any unnecessary risques. In the instance given by you, I was acting precisley in the line of my duty, but not in the dangerous situation you have been led to believe. I was recoinnoitring, but I had a strong party of Horse [cavalry] with me. I was (as I afterwards found) in a dissaffected House at the head of Elk, but I was equally guarded ag[ains]t friend and Foe. The information of danger then, came not from me."
Then, Washington reviews the events of what had been, both for him and the Continental Army, a costly and bitter series of defeats in the wake of landing of the British Army at Elkton and its seizure of Philadelphia: "So many acc[oun]ts have been published of the battle of Brandywine [11 September] that nothing more can be said of it. The subsequent engagement on the 4th [Germantown]..had every appearance (after a hot contest of two hours and forty minutes) of a glorious decision; but after driving the Enemy from their Incampment, possessing their ground, and being, as we thought, on the point of grasping victory, it was snatched from us by means altogether unaccountable, excepting that a very heavy atmosphere [fog] aided by the smoke [of] four Field pieces and Small arms rendered it impossible, at times, to distinguish frend from Foe...which caused our men, I believe, to take fright at each other. Since that they have retired to Philad[elphi]a, where they have been strengthening themselves as much as possible, whilst we hover round to cut off their supplies." Washington then describes the battles taking place at Forts Mercer and Mifflin on the Delaware: "The Enemy are exerting their utmost skill, to reduce the Forts constructed for the defence of the Cheveaux de friese in Delaware, and to drive off our little Fleet employed in aid of them. On the 22nd Inst. Count [von] Donop, a Hessian Officer of rank, and great Military Abilities, with 1200 of his Countrymen undertook to storm one of these Works (called Fort Mercer at Red Bank on the Jersey shore) when himself and about 400 others were killed and wounded, between [200 and 300] were left slain, and badly wounded on the spot, the rest got off with their retreating brethren, who made the best of their way to Phila. The Count is among the wounded, supposed mortally [Von Donop died on October 25th]."
"The next day, several of the Enemy's ships, having passed the lower Cheveaux de friese, aided by their Land Batteries, began a most tremendous cannonade on Fort Mifflin (on an Island near the Pennsylvania shore) and on our armed vessels adjoining which continued six hours without Intermission; and ended in the destruction of two of the Enemy's Ships of War, one a [64] gun ship, the other 18. Our damage on both these occasions was inconsiderable...The possession of these defences is of such essential importance to the Enemy that they are leaving no stone unturned to succeed; we are doing what we can (under many disadvantages) to dissapoint them."
Alluding to the surrender of Burgoyne's entire army to Gates at Saratoga, he continues: "The great and important event to the Northward...must be attended with the most fortunate consequences. It has caused Sir Henry Clinton's expedition from New York...to end in something more than smoke indeed, burning of Mills, Gentlemen's Seats [homes], and the Villages near the Water; an evident proof of their despair of carrying their diabolical designs [the object of Burgoyne's expedition] into execution. My inclination leads me to give you a more minute detail of the Situation of our Army, but prudence Forbids, as letters are subject to too many miscarriages..." He closes with greetings to Carter's family, then adds two postscripts: "I am persuaded you will excuse this scratch'd scrawl, when I assure you it is with difficulty I write at all." Then, he adds: "I have this instant received an acct. of the Prisoners taken by the Northern Army (including Tories in arms ag[ain]st us) in the course of the Campaign. This singular Instance of Providence, and our good fortune under it exhibits a striking proof of the advantages which result with unanimity and a spirited conduct in the Militia. The Northern Army, before the Surrender, of Genl. Gates was reinforced by upwards of 12000 Militia who shut the only door by which Burgoyne could Retreat, and cut off all his supplies. How different our Case! The disaffection of great part of the Inhabitants of this State, the langour of others and internal distraction of the whole, have been among the great and insuperable difficulties I have met with, and have contributed not a little to my embarrassment this Campaign; but enough! I do not mean to complain, I flatter myself that a Superintending Providence is ordering everything for the best and that, in due time, all will end well. That it may do so, and soon, is the fervent wish of...G:Washington."
Washington's account of the near debacle at Germantown is interesting; the sudden confusion which seized the almost victorious American troops has been widely debated. Most probably two columns of Continentals mistook each other, in the fog and smoke, for the enemy. Washington remained convinced that his army was at that moment on the verge of forcing Howe to retreat. Surprisingly, the audacity shown in mounting a forceful attack on the British army boosted the morale of Washington's men and played a part in convincing the French to back the American cause. Trevelyan maintained that "the French government...was influenced almost as much by the battle of Germantown as by the surrender of Burgoyne," (Boatner, 430). Most interestingly, in Washington's allusions to the great Saratoga victory, there is a faint hint of restraint, in spite of his satisfaction. Gates, the nominal victor had been a superb adjutant to Washington; but the two grew estranged when Gates took a field command in the Northern Department and, "the acclaim Gates received after the victory over Burgoyne...perhaps made him susceptible to the flattery of Thomas Conway" (Freeman, 3:474n). That officer appears to have sought, not long after this letter, to secretly discredit Washington and boost Gates's star, resulting in the affair usually termed the Conway Cabal.
Washington's correspondent, Landon Carter of Sabine Hall (1760-1800), was a noted Virginia plantation owner and long-serving delegate to the House of Burgesses. Carter, many years later, wrote meaningfully of his friend: "I never knew but one man who resolved not to forget the citizen in the soldier or the ruler and that was G.W., and I am afraid I shall not know another" (quoted in Freeman, 3:470). Published in Writings, ed. J.C. Fitzpatrick, 9:451-455.
Provenance: Dr. S.H. Fogg of Boston, in 1889-1893 -- The present owners, by descent.