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Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795 to William Whipple

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05579 Author/Creator: Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795 Place Written: Exeter, New Hampshire Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 September 1779 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; Height: 21 cm, Width: 16.4 cm Order a Copy

Bartlett, a former Continental Congressman, writes to Whipple, a member of Congress. Mentions John Langdon, a Continental Congressman who, in 1776, became a naval agent for Continental prizes. Refers to the disastrous Penobscot Expedition (in the Penobscot Bay, present-day Maine) led by Commodore Dudley Saltonstall. States "The Misfortune at Penobscot has thrown the Sea Coasts this way into a Consternation ... The Sailors who returned from Penobscot make the most grevious complaints of the Conduct of Capt. Saltonstall ... I Believe the whole fleet and army were struck with an Universal pannic, on the arrival of the British fleet and fled in a Scandalous manner." Relates that American money in the West Indies and Europe has not depreciated for several months.

Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795
Whipple, William, 1730-1785
Saltonstall, Dudley, 1738-1796

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