Burgoyne, John (1722-1792) to Mrs. Spencer
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08975.02 Author/Creator: Burgoyne, John (1722-1792) Place Written: Bath, England Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 November 1778 Pagination: 2 p. : address : free frank ; 23.5 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy
A letter tipped into the book, "A State of the Expedition from Canada, as laid before the House of Commons," by John Burgoyne. See GLC08975.01 for a description of the book. The letter is written to the mother of a soldier from Burgoyne's surrendered army. He replies to a mother trying to contact her son, who was taken prisoner when Burgoyne's army surrendered at Saratoga. Writes, "It is not in my power to give you great encouragement ... " but advises that the best way to get a letter to Cambridge, Massachusetts is by way of General Henry Clinton in New York. Hopes, however, that his army will soon be returning to England.
John Burgoyne was a British General during the American Revolution, best know for "Burgoyne's Offensive" his failed invasion of Canada, which was halted by his defeat at Saratoga.
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