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

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

1794

Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794

Book

Title: Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the United States... [Incomplete]

Boston edition. Title continues, " ... to which are added the United States Militia Act passed in Congress, May 1792, and the Militia Act of Massachusetts, passed June 22, 1793." Steuben's name is spelled Stuben. Printed for David and John West, Boston, Massachusetts. Missing pages 61-62 and some engravings and plates. Original leather binding.

GLC03760.02

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

3 March 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William S[tephens] Smith

Written by General Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Smith as commander of the post at Dobbs Ferry, New York. Discusses the problems of trading with British-occupied New York City and the issue of states ignoring the "barrier between us and the enemy."

GLC03770

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

2 September 1776

Lovett, Samuel Jr., 1736-?

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Pay order for John Spencer, for carting salt petre to Wyndham, Connecticut]

Countersigned by five other selectmen of Norwich: Azanich Luthrop, Nathaniel Backus, Elijah Brewster, Silas Hyde, John Gager. Asks the Committee of the Paytable of the Colony of Connecticut to pay Spencer forty shillings. A note signed by Spencer on the verso indicates he received the order in full.

GLC03662.07

11 June 1776

Ellsworth, Oliver, 1745-1807

Autograph document signed

Title: [Pay order to Josiah Blacksley for salt petre]

Countersigned by T. Seymour to Treasurer John Lawrence. Orders Blacksley be paid fifty five pounds, thirteen shillings. A document signed on the verso signed by Blacksley indicates the money was received.

GLC03662.08

25 June 1776

Seymour, Thomas, 1735-1829

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Promissory note for Elias Carrington]

Promissory to to Elias Carrington for twelve schillings and three pence for caring for a sick soldier while on furlough. Also signed by John Lawrence as Treasurer. Verso signed by Samuel Peck, stating he recieved the money.

GLC03662.09

1787

Tarleton, Banastre, 1754-1833

Map

Title: A History of the campaigns of 1780 and 1781, in the Southern Provinces

With Newberry Library bookplate and library stamp of the Newberry. Accompanied by William Eaton fold-out map (49 x 66 cm), showing Cornwallis' marches through Virginia and Maryland (while Jefferson was governor of Virginia).

GLC03667

1776-1779

Book

Title: Journals of Congress v. 2 and 4

Declaration of Independence printed in v. 2

GLC03672.01

1778-1784

Header Record

Title: Journals of Congress v.3, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10

Vols 3, 9 and 10 were printed by Dunlap while vols.5 and 7 were printed by Claypoole. All are uniformly bound in quarter leather with marbled paper boards.

GLC03672.02

3 May 1780

Dundas, Ralph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Dundas, Captain of H. M. S. Bonetta, informs his brother James he is still alive despite "having suffered more Hardships from the 4 of Oct last than in all the rest of my Lifetime put together." Relates that he sailed into New Providence, Bahamas, after encountering continual storms during the passage. Recounts that he allowed his men to recover and refit the ship before they sailed for Charleston. Informs James of the surrender of Charleston, which he claims took place 2 May. Relates that Captain Elphingstone will transmit a newspaper to England reporting the battle and surrender.…

GLC03676.01