233

Autographs/S: July 6, 1776 Revolutionary War Letter from General Sullivan to General Schuyler

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Autographs/S: July 6, 1776 Revolutionary War Letter from General Sullivan to General Schuyler
JOHN SULLIVAN, American Revolutionary Officer; Member of Continental Congress; Governor of Massachusetts. Third Person Letter, July 6, 1776, Crown Point, 7.75" x 6.25", Fine. To General Philip Schuyler, inviting him to dinner and yielding headquarters: "General Sullivan...begs leave to inform General Schuyler that he is now in the House always occupied as Head-Quarters which he will immediately clear, so that it may be improved by the General or any other commanding Officer." Integral address leaf, docketed; some foxing. After the British evacuation of Boston in March 1776, Sullivan led a column of reinforcements to join the Northern army, which was retreating from Canada after Montgomery's defeat at Quebec. Reaching St. John's on June 1, he assumed command of the army the following day, when John Thomas died of smallpox. Ordering a retreat to Crown Point, he found on his arrival that Horatio Gates had ostensibly superseded him in command, although the Congressional order authorizing the appointment was vague in its specific intentions. Since Schuyler, assigned to command the Northern Department, was still at his headquarters in Albany and Sullivan was with the troops at Crown Point, there was a question as to which of these officers Gates was succeeding. Congress settled the confusion on July 8 by delegating Gates as Schuyler's second in command. Sullivan subsequently left the Northern Department with the intimation that he would resign his commission. The last phrase in Sullivan's letter shows his difficulty: he did not know whether Schuyler or his rival Horatio Gates would be taking command.