17 June 1778

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Letter signed

Title: to William Heath

Written by British General Phillips as commanding officer of the Convention Army, which consisted of prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign to Heath as American commander in charge of the Convention Army. Phillips wants to know if Heath will make efforts for the departure of the Convention Army to Europe as the terms of surrender dictated. Quotes part of a letter from General Sir William Howe, who hopes they can depart soon. Wants to know if Heath has any authority on the subject. Hopes they can act as gentlemen toward each other. Pages are separated and pasted on opposite sides of…

GLC04834

6 April 1781

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Written by Phillips as British Major General, joining Benedict Arnold in his invasion of Virginia in 1781, to Weedon an American Brigadier General. Mentions two officers that Weedon sent to him under a flag of truce. Hopes Weedon gets a report from them that states he will act liberally and humanly during his campaigning in Virginia. Says that he doubts the Americans will act as honorable. Says a letter from Thomas Jefferson, the Governor of Virginia, and the resolutions of the Virginia Legislature are "barbarous." Says it would be unbecoming of him to answer them and hopes that the…

GLC06492

12 April 1781

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Phillips, a British Lieutenant-General, discusses flags of truce and prisoner exchanges with American General Weedon. Writes "the usual and necessary forms must be preserved especially respecting Flags of Truce which are objects of a chaste nature and the rules belonging to them ought never to be violated..." Refers to Moss Armstead, an American soldier sent to negotiate prisoner exchange. Discusses penalties for Americans venturing within British lines. States that all flag vessels must stop at British commodores' ships stationed at Hampton Roads, Virginia, to gain authorization to…

GLC06493

April 15, 1778

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Letter signed

Title: to William Heath

Phillips states that it is increasingly important that Captain Willoe go to Canada. Requests passports be granted for Willoe, two servants, and three women to sail to Halifax with a Flag of Truce. He wants Heath to get a passport that will admit the vessels into port and asks him to advise what papers Willoe needs in order to prevent being taken as a prize by a privateer ship. Phillips was a British general, and Heath was a Continental general.

GLC01450.078

September 1778

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Autograph document

Title: to Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool

Memorial written by Major General Phillips, as commander fo the captured British Convention Army (he took control when John Burgoyne returned to Britain in April 1778) to Jenkinson as Secretary of War in Lord North's ministry in London. States that by a resolution of Congress in August 1778, it appears the Convention Army will not be returning to Britain in the next coming months. Worries about the promotion of the officers in the Convention Army, who are deprived of field service. Hopes the captured troops can count on the protection of the King. Says the troops under him have continued to…

GLC04764.76

4 April 1778

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of the Royal Artillery

Written in what appears to be a secretarial hand for Major General Phillips, who was to take over the Convention Army from Burgoyne after he embarked for England the next day, 5 April 1778. Includes a list of the number of men in each rank in the Royal Artillery in the Convention Army, from Captains to Rank & File. Also includes numbers for a detachment of Lieutenant Nutt's grenadiers and light companies from Canada. Includes lists of officers by name. Signed "W Phillips" at the bottom. Docket says that Lieutenant Colonel Robert Kingston, a staff officer under Burgoyne, is to send a…

GLC04764.92

3 March 1778

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Document signed

Title: [Documents pretaining to pay for drivers and horses during Saratoga Campaign]

Document signed by Major General Phillips, after the Battle of Saratoga. Certifies the account that 1020 pounds of Halifax currency is due to Jacob Jordan for the use of 400 horses and 200 drivers to pull his artillery during the campaign around Saratoga 1 October 1777 to 17 October 1777. Countersigned by Jonathan Carter, Commissary of Horse for the Royal Artillery, approving the account documented by Phillips.

GLC04764.36

3 March 1778

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Document signed

Title: [Certification of contract of British Army with Jacob Jordan]

Written in secretarial hand for British Major General William Phillips, commander of the Royal Artillery in Canada. Certifies the terms and conditions of the contract made with Jacob Jordan of Montreal. This document was to back up the certificate dated 1 October 1777. Says Jordan is due 1020 pound of Halifax currency due for services rendered 1 October 1777 to 17 October 1777 for the Royal Artillery.

GLC04764.64

1778

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Autograph letter

Title: to [David Henley]

Written by General Phillips as an officer under General John Burgoyne to Colonel Henley, former commander of the Prospect Hill barracks where many of the captured Convention troops were situated. Henley was brought before a court martial due to allegations of murder and mistreatment of British soldiers. Recipient is inferred from the content of the memorandum written above the letter. Memorandum says "Col: Henley wrote a letter to G: Ps:," which apologized for his improper use of language. "G: Ps:" is probably General Phillips. The letter below the memorandum is an answer to Henley's apology…

GLC04764.71

1776/11/15

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Letter

Title: To: John Schank.

Phillips' reaction to a truce at Fort Ticonderoga

GLC07928