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Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803 to Samuel Shaw

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01145 Author/Creator: Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803 Place Written: Wall Kill, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 August 1781 Pagination: 1 p. : address Height: 22.5 cm, Width: 16 cm Order a Copy

An angry letter written by Major Bauman, commander of artillery at West Point, to Major Shaw, aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Henry Knox. Says "You will please to inform the general that it is moral[ly] impossible for me to join the party at New Windsor to morrow, agreeable to the promptery orders I Received, Except it is meant to destroy me, and what little I have left in this ungrateful Service." In an earlier letter, Knox gave permission to Bauman to take a few days to deal with family matters, and this letter seems to be a backlash against the revoking of that permission. Bauman says he needs time to bring "my property into a manner of security." Says he only planned to be away 8 days and that he has not been absent from West Point since his family moved from there. Says he cannot comply with orders because of a situation that "requires my care, and stay, untill Thursday next, without matters are so pressing, that I must sacrifice all." Written in response to GLC02437.01146.

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803
Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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