LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 October Rare Books & Manuscripts #675  / 

30023

Baron De Kalb Autograph Letter Signed

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
Baron De Kalb Autograph Letter Signed
<B>Baron De Kalb Autograph Letter Signed</B></I> “<I>The Baron de Kalb</B></I>” in English, 1.25 pages, 8” x 12”, front and verso. Philadelphia, August 28, 1777. Integral leaf addressed by him “<I>To/The Honorable The/Delegates in Congress for the/State of South-Carolina.</B></I>” In full, “<I>Wm McCafferty an inhabitant of Charlotte Township in South-Carolina, on the back or upper-road to the Northern, of whom Messrs Chrips & May will be able to give yet a clearer account. They having recommended said McCafferty to me, to Messrs de Lesser, de Valfort & Chevalier Dubuysson for carrying our Baggage from Charlestown to Philadelphia, the whole of 2500 Weight, or there about, for the Sum of nine hundred pounds, South-Carolina Currency, to be paid in Philadelphia at his arrival. The agreement was made by Messrs Chrips & May themselves, and MacCafferty promised to deliver the whole in a six week time. He loaded his wagon and left Charlestown on 26th June last, in Company of three other Waggons belonging to the Marq delafayette and others of our officers. He went with them as far as Charlotte, but then staid at home, would on no account go forth with them, and nothing was heard of him since. As all th'other Waggons are arrived, it seems this man has a manifest design of defrauding us of our goods, as well as to keep to himself forty Louis d'ors in Gold belonging to Mr. Le chevalier deFayolle, which said MacCafferty promises to return for three hundred Dollars in Paper-money. To have said MacCafferty do us justice, I beseech the Honorables, the Delegates in Congress, for the State of South-Carolina, to cause such orders to be issued, as will be most effectual to the purpose.</B></I>” A collector has penciled a lengthy addition in the blank area of the second page beginning, “<I>Whether the honorable delegates of SC in Congress were ever able to bring Mr Wm McCafferty to an exhibition of his freight, we have no means of determining. The application, by the way, should have been made to the delegates of North & not South Carolina as the latter could have no sort of control over the good people of Charlotte…</B></I>” Another incident which occurred in the same area during the Revolutionary War may give an insight into Mr. McCafferty. From <I>Sketches of Western North Carolina, Historical and Biographical</B></I> by C. L. Hunter, published in 1877: “William McCafferty, resident Scotchman, and a man of considerable wealth, was employed as the guide to lead the British army by the nearest road to Winnsboro, S.C. Tradition says, that after so bewildering the army in the swamps that much of their baggage was lost, he contrived to escape, and left them to find their way out, as best they could, by the returning light of day.” In 1777, when Lafayette decided to come to America, he persuaded Baron Johan DeKalb to accompany him. German-born, DeKalb was serving in the French Quartermaster Generals' department. They arrived in Charleston and, together, traveled to Philadelphia and were welcomed by the Continental Congress. The French officers mentioned in this letter, Lesser, deValfort, DuBuysson, and deFayolle, accompanied them. This letter was written on August 28, 1777. On September 15, 1777, eighteen days later, Baron DeKalb was commissioned a Major General. He was at Valley Forge for most of the 1777-1778 winter and served in New Jersey and Maryland until April 1780. DeKalb was fatally shot while leading the Continental troops in the Battle of Camden, S.C., and died three days later, on October 19, 1780. The letter is in very fine condition.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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