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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Shaw, Samuel (1754-1794) to John Miles

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01749 Author/Creator: Shaw, Samuel (1754-1794) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 17 December 1782 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 27.2 x 20.9 cm. Order a Copy

Written to Captain Lieutenant [likely John] Miles of the Office of Police. At the top of the page, Shaw writes a note to Miles granting a license to a Mr. Reynolds to be a sutler at the West Point garrison. Asks Miles to keep a register of the licenses he grants, and that the licenses take the following standard format: "Mr. [blank space] is hereby licensed to suttle on West Point till further orders - he conforming himself to and strictly obeying all orders and regulations which are or may hereafter be given for the government of sutlers. Given at West Point by order of Gen. Knox."

A sutler provided food and provisions to soldiers.

Miles, John, fl. 1780-1783
Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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