1782

Great Britain. Acts.

Pamphlet

Title: An Act for the better detaining, and more easy exchange of American prisoners...

GLC03562.30

1852

Currier, Nathaniel, 1813-1888

Print

Title: Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga N.Y. Oct. 17th 1777

Created by Currier as a lithograph of the painting by John Trumbull, which hangs in the U.S. Capital Building. Signature in lower right corner of lithograph says "O. Knursch 1852." Fine print below the picture says "Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1852 by N. Currier, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Southern District N.Y." Also says it is published by Currier and provides his address. Depicts the surrender of General John Burgoyne, in the left foreground, to General Horatio Gates, in the right foreground. Burgoyne is about to hand over his sword in a gesture of…

GLC03567

18 June 1778

Pulaski, Casimir, 1747-1779

Letter signed

Title: to Colonel Hoppé

Written by Brigadier General Pulaski, a Polish count, as commander of his independent cavalry brigade to a Colonel Hoppé as Quartermaster General in Easton, Pennsylvania. Pulaski was soliciting help for the creation of what would become the "Pulaski Legion." Asks Hoppé to "Render all the Services which will Lay in your Power to Mr. Couch Colonel of My Legion, if he should be in the Case to Desire some things of you."

GLC03568

24 November 1778

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Has come to the conclusion that the British forces will be not evacuating New York City this winter. Mentions that paroled prisoners are to prepare themselves to be called into service. Mumford's son was a prisoner of war. Parsons was an American general and Mumford was a Connecticut merchant.

GLC03586

18 September 1780

Dundas, Ralph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Dundas, Captain of the H. M. S. Bonetta, informs his brother James he was in New York and other locations before moving north to Nova Scotia. Reports that on the way, his men took five prizes and reclaimed two brigs containing low-valued cargo. States that a French fleet is "Blocked up at Present at Rhode Island" by Admiral Marriot Arbuthnot. Refers to the British defeat of American forces at Charleston, South Carolina, in May 1780 and the capture of valuable Virginia ships by New York privateers. Discusses a riot in Boston, Massachusetts following General George Washington's call for 3,…

GLC03676.02

29 December 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to New Hampshire re: asking for supplies, call to arms & poor state of army

Written in the hand of Robert Hanson Harrison. Washington appeals for clothing and supplies for his troops. Copies of this letter went to every state. Washington writes in part: "We had in Camp on the 23rd Instt. by a field report then taken, not less than 2898 men unfit for duty by reason of their being barefoot and otherwise naked." Fitzpatrick 10: 221-25 (based on the copy sent to Massachusetts).

GLC03706

June 14, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph document signed

Title: [Resolution of the Continental Congress advising New York to make provisions for detecting, restraining and punishing Tories].

Issued by Hancock less than three weeks before the Declaration of Independence, this resolution calls for the suppression of contact with the British among Tories in the colony of New York. It also claims that General George Washington will aid in carrying out these measures.

GLC03716

17 December 1780

Dundas, Ralph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Ralph, Captain of the H. M. S. Bonetta, writes to his brother James. Lists the names of ships involved in an expedition. Mentions General Charles Cornwallis. Relates news related to various sailors and a ship that sailed to Antigua. States that the British navy has allowed Count De Rochambeau to strongly fortify his troops in Rhode Island. Refers to the presence of General Stirling (possibly William Alexander) in New York. Relates that some British soldiers found his cousin, T. Dundas, in Reading, Pennsylvania, and that T. Dundas's brother had joined the colonial force. Refers to…

GLC03676.03

July 22, 1781

Dundas, Ralph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Dundas, captain of the H. M. S. Bonetta, writes from the Elizabeth River to his brother James. Reports that he was sent to the James Islands "to cover the Boats of Earle Cornwallis's Army who were ordered away from the Pursuit of the Marquis Fayette." Praises Cornwallis. Discusses details of continued battles and skirmishes occurring between December 1780 and July 1781, as the Marquis de Lafayette pursued Cornwallis to Yorktown. Mentions the activities of Colonel Robert Abercrombie and the Edinburgh Regiment. States that he had previous orders to attack Philadelphia, but had received orders…

GLC03676.04

6 November 1781

Dundas, Ralph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Dundas, the British captain of the H. M. S. Bonetta, informs his brother James that he was made "a Prisoner to France" and in New York on parole. Discusses the British capitulation at the Battle of Yorktown: "we lost our Ground Inch by Inch and did not Surrender untill our Ammunition was exausted and but five Days Provisions." Notes that the "Bonetta was to be at the Disposal of Lo Cornwallis to carry his Dispatches." Mentions dead and wounded. The articles of capitulation at Yorktown specified that the Bonetta would be permitted to return to New York with to correspondence for Sir Henry…

GLC03676.05

14 August 1779

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Letter signed

Title: to George Clinton

Signed by Jay as President of Congress to Clinton as the Governor of New York. Closing in Jay's hand. Circular letter. Congress is informing the country that the British are reinforcing themselves. Says 7,000 troops are coming from Europe and another 3,000 from the West Indies. Claims America's allies - mainly the French - are concerned that better preparations were not made for a vigorous campaign. Says America needs to exert itself more. Wants Clinton to comply with Congress's wish to have battalions filled and militia ready. Says forces might be called forth to operate offensively.

GLC03709

26 March 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to John Barry

Hancock, Thomas McKean, Richard Henry Lee, John Alsop, Joseph Hewes, Robert Morris, and Edward Rutledge sign as members of the Marine Committee (all but Alsop went on to sign the Declaration of Independence). Hancock et al. inform Captain Barry that the Committee of Safety has ordered four provincial armed boats to assist Barry in "taking, sinking, destroying, or driving off" a British man of war. Instructs Barry, Captain of the Lexington, to coordinate signals with the vessels sent to assist him.

GLC03714

April 11, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to John Barry

Signed by members Hancock, Robert Morris, John Alsop, Richard Henry Lee, Joseph Hewes, George Read, William Whipple, and Stephen Hopkins as members of the Congressional Marine Committee (all but Alsop went on to sign the Declaration of Independence). The Committee praises Barry's capture of the prize sloop Edward. Mentions sending the prize to Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. Reports on the presence of Captain Boys and four or five marines at Cape May, New Jersey. States "As the Men of Warr in Virginia, Delaware and New York will undoubtedly hear of you they will probably lay some plans to…

GLC03715

6 June 1780

De Kalb, Johann, 1721-1780

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by General De Kalb, known as Baron De Kalb, as second in command of the Carolina campaign. Written to General Washington. Encloses a copy of a letter he sent to the Board of War so Washington would know his route of march (that letter is not included). Says he put the Second Brigade on their march and claims he is setting out at this moment to come up with the troops in front. De Kalb died from wounds he received at the Battle of Camden on 19 August 1780. Some staining on verso, from what appears to be a mat border.

GLC03758

26 May 1774

Read, George, 1733-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Virginia Committee of Correspondence

Countersigned by Thomas McKean and John McKinley. Read, McKean, and McKinley were members of the Delaware Committee of Correspondence. Discusses the Boston Port Bill, nonimportation, and the formation of a continental congress.

GLC03718

19 June 1771

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Lee

Signed with initials "RHL". Describes the Regulator movement in North Carolina, a rebellion by backcountry farmers against lawyers, whose high legal fees and manipulation of debt laws were hurting them. North Carolina Governor William Tryon, although he claimed to agree with the insurgents, resorted to suppression by force: he "fell upon the unsuspecting multitudes and made great slaughter with cannons." The royal governor needed more than a thousand troops to defeat the Regulators at the Battle of Alamance on May 16, 1771.

GLC03719

6 November 1779

St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Reed

Discusses difficulties obtaining clothing and related supplies. Wonders where French support is, but is unconcerned. "Our patience is fairly exhausted and we begin to doubt the Existence of the Count D'Estaing his Fleet and even Georgia or Carolina. It is certainly very unaccountable but the delay that he has met with is not I believe any great misfortune to us." Has unconfirmed reports of troop movements in New York.

GLC03720

September 11, 1779

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Adams talks about his efforts to persuade France to send reinforcements for D'Estaing's fleet, his discussions with Genêt, his relations with Lee and Franklin, and describing Lafayette's arrival in Paris to plead America's cause.

GLC03726

29 April 1779

Hopkinson, Francis, 1737-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Harwood

Written as Treasurer of Loans to Harwood, who was Commissioner of Loans at Annapolis, Maryland. Forwards a tally of William Hyde's loan office certificates, which he is sending (not included).

GLC03728

12 May 1780

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Philip Mazzei] re: Virginia loan in Europe & British blockade of Charleston

Written as Gov. of Virginia. Jefferson alludes at the end to his hopes that Gen. Benjamin Lincoln would hold Charleston, but his hopes were dashed in the event.

GLC03735

07 June 1776

Warren, James, 1726-1808

Broadside

Title: Massachusetts resolution re: calling for meetings on question of independence

References: Bristol 4265.

GLC03760.01

02 December 1780

Massachusetts

Broadside

Title: Resolutions for immediate enlistment of 4,240 men to serve 3 years

Accompanied by a blank military appointment.

GLC03761

11 August 1777

Warren, James, 1726-1808

Broadside

Title: (Massachusetts-Bay) Resolution providing for exchange of bad gunpowder

GLC03762

1781

Delolme, Jean L., fl. 1781

Book

Title: The Constitution of England... [3rd edition]

Jean-Louis Delolme's treatise The Constitution of England, published in multiple French and English editions, is said by R. R. Palmer to have had greater impact on pre-Revolutionary continental views of British politics, than did the Montesqieu's Spirit of the Laws (The Age of the Democratic Revolution, Princeton, 1959, 2: 145.)

GLC03771.02

25 September 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bryan Fairfax re: allowing Fairfax to visit to discuss British peace proposal

With a note in a different hand on the address leaf stating "containing a pas[s]port to travel to the camp." Washington also assures Fairfax of his friendship, despite "the difference in our political Sentiments...."

GLC03674