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American Revolution: Historic Document Regarding the British Evacuation of New York

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American Revolution: Historic Document Regarding the British Evacuation of New York
The British Evacuation of New York. Manuscript Document Signed, "Alured Clarke B. Genl. President," December 3, 1783, Staten Island, 12.75" x 8", Choice Very Fine. General Clarke approves "the foregoing account [not present] of Fuel Candles and Oil issued to His Majesty's Troops and Public Departments with the District of New York between the Twenty Seventh Day of October...and the Twenty Fourth of November..." Details of the supplies are given, for which George Brinley, Deputy Commissary, is to be given a credit, "the Situation of Public Business being such upon the removal of the Troops from New York as to render it impossible for him to obtain general Vouchers from every Regiment Corps and Department in that regular manner he has heretofore done." Edge chips at right margin affect nothing. Negotiations between George Washington and Sir Guy Carleton for the evacuation of British troops in New York had dragged on for many weeks. On November 6, Washington requested an exact date of departure from Carleton, who replied that, due to the lack of transport, he could not fix a final date but he hoped to be at sea before the end of the month. Four days later, the British relinquished all outposts and Carleton fixed the 25th for debarkation. All troops were moved to New Utrecht (Brooklyn) and Staten Island, and on December 1 he wrote Washington that he hoped to sail on the 4th. Washington wrote on December 2, wishing Carleton a pleasant voyage and the last of the British troops sailed for home during the two days immediately following the date of this document, which certainly must be one of the last to be issued by the British army in the U.S. Sir Alured Clarke was in command of the British occupation of Savannah, Georgia, until the withdrawal of his troops on July 11, 1782. He gained the good will of the inhabitants because of the strict discipline with which he maintained his troops and the courtesy with which he treated the inhabitants. He was governor of Jamaica in 1792 and 1793 and governor-general of India from 1797-1808.