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George Washington

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:25,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
George Washington

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Auction Date:2018 Jun 13 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
LS signed “Go: Washington,” one page both sides, 7.25 x 9, October 10, 1783. Letter to Lieutenant Colonel William Stephens Smith, who had been appointed as an aide to Washington in July 1781. In full: "I have to reply to your several Letters of the 20 September and 3 & 6 of this month. The Glass was safely delivered me by Captain Pinkney. I am obliged to you for your information respecting the oppression of some of the Inhabitants of Long Island by the British but as the offence is against the subjects of the State it belongs more properly to the Executive authority to take cognizance of it, and I wish you in all matters of this kind to give information to the Governor that they may take such notice of them as they think proper. You mention your having forwarded to me the beginning of September several Letters from Europe. I cannot recollect to have reced any European Letters from you whilst at Newburg and am confident that since I arrived at this place (about the 20 Aug) none such have come to my hands—the only Letters of yours in September are one of the 1st one of the 5 and the one above mentioned of the 20th neither of which inclosed the Letters you mention. I therefore wish you to recollect to whose care you committed them that the necessary enquiries may be made." In fine condition, with some creasing, and light staining to the top of the first page. Accompanied by a handsome custom-made presentation folder with a quarter leather binding.

Smith had been appointed to Washington’s staff in 1781, and performed valuable service to the army’s commander. Chief among Smith’s responsibilities was the supervision of the British evacuation of New York in accordance with the Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783. On October 3rd, Smith reported to Washington that a British detachment had unjustly taken several of Long Island’s most respectable inhabitants as prisoners, charging them with robbery, and had been parading them daily through the streets in shackles. In this case, Washington deferred to his friend George Clinton, the governor of New York, to address the matter—by this time, after eight long years of battle, Washington looked forward to retiring from public life. The British finally evacuated from New York on November 25, 1783, and General Washington led his troops into the city in triumphant victory.