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(CLEMENT BIDDLE AND THE WYOMING VALLEY WARS)

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(CLEMENT BIDDLE AND THE WYOMING VALLEY WARS)
An unusual A.L.S. 1p. Folio [Philadelphia], Aug. 1, 1788, in which Clement Biddle, signing: "C.B., Q.M.G." as Quartermaster General of the State of Pennsylvania, writes instructions to the Commander of the Continental Troops at Easton, in part: "…The Supreme Executive Council of this state have directed me to…provide quarters & provisions for the detachment of Contl. Troops which Congress have been pleased to order to rendezvous at Easton for the purposes of suppressing the disturbances at Wyoming, if council should find it necessary…You will on your arrival inform of your numbers & of what you may think necessary to see provided for your march to Wyoming…". For nearly a decade, the citizens of Connecticut and Pennsylvania had been disputing the possession of the Wyoming Valley, often resulting in violent vigilante actions. Many notable personages, including Ethan Allen, were involved. Revolutionary War hero Timothy Pickering had been taken hostage by the Connecticut faction of the competing groups, being released two weeks before this letter was written. His captors were at this time already captured, and being held for trial at Easton, where the troops in question were stationed. These disturbances became known as the Pennamite - Yankee Wars. Minor staining, otherwise very good.