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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.

Heath, William, 1737-1814 to John Burgoyne

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04787 Author/Creator: Heath, William, 1737-1814 Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 December 1777 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 24.1 cm, Width: 18.7 cm Order a Copy

Written by Heath as commander of the Convention Army, which consisted of British prisoners of war from Saratoga campaign to General Burgoyne as prisoner of war. Says that he received word from Congress on 1 December 1777 that Burgoyne's troops are not to leave through any port except Boston, the one stipulated in the Convention treaty. Wants Burgoyne to have the earliest notice of this news.

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