Washington, George (1732-1799) 1st President of the United States (1789-1797); Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Letter signed ("G:o Washington"), 1 full page, Headqtrs. New Windsor, 8 July 1779. Matted with an engraving and framed to an overall size of 22¾ x 20½ in. The letter is written in the hand of Robert Hanson Harrison, to Brigadier General John Glover or Officer Commanding His Brigade, directing him to prepare against a British attack.
"Sir I have received intelligence that a body of the enemy embarked on the 4th Instant at Frog's Neck and have proceeded eastward up the sound. It is uncertain what their object is; but as they may intend to make a sudden incursion into the state of Connecticut, or to commit some ravages on their coast, it is my wish that you direct your march by some rout not far from the sound, that you may with the greater facility form a junction with the militia in case they make a descent and take measures with them for counteracting & repelling their attempts. The sooner you direct your march near the sound, the greater protection you will afford. I am sir, with great regard yr. most obed. servt. G:o Washington."
The war altered with the conclusion of America's alliance with the French in the spring of 1778. The British Army in Philadelphia feared that it would be blockaded by the French and retreated from New York City. Washington made his headquarters at New Windsor, New York, in the highlands of the Hudson River, and distributed his troops around the city and in New Jersey.
Some of the Connecticut towns along Long Island Sound had been supplying the Continental Army with small vessels and whaleboats and large supplies of provisions were drawn from the adjacent countryside. British commander- in-chief, Lt. Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, ordered New York Governor Major General William Tryon to launch a punitive strike against some of the Connecticut towns along Long Island Sound. When news of the expedition reached Washington's headquarters, he was at Stony Point and Verplank's Point, formulating an attack (the battle of Stony Point took place on July 16 under the command of Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne); consequently, Washington did not receive the intelligence for two days.
Not being sure where the British would strike, Washington ordered Glover to march near Long Island Sound to help the Connecticut militia repel the attack. Between July 5 and 11, the British raided New Haven, Fairfield, and Norwalk and burned numerous houses, churches, public buildings, barns, and supplies. Glover's force was still too far away to render any assistance.
Tryon's raid was supposedly part of Clinton's strategy to draw Washington's troops away from the Hudson Valley onto terrain where they could be effectively engaged in a decisive engagement. Washington, however, did not move his troops and the raid brought the British little other than opprobrium for waging war on women and children.
Gen. John Glover's regiment, called the "amphibious regiment" because it was made up mostly of Marblehead fishermen, was responsible for rescuing 9,000 patriots from the British after the battle of Long Island, in a surprise retreat across the East River under cover of darkness. It was also Gen. Glover's men who carried Washington and his troops across the icy Delaware River to surprise the Hessians at Trenton on Christmas night 1776. Purchased from The Scriptorium, Los Angeles, 1972. It has not been on the market for the past 41 years.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 30,000
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