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1625

George Washington

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:20,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
George Washington

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Auction Date:2012 Feb 15 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, 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
War-dated LS signed “Go: Washington,” one page, 8.5 x 13, January 1, 1782. Letter, in the hand of aide David Humphreys and inadvertently dated 1782, written to Col. Joseph Vose, reads, in full: “I approve of your conduct respecting the Flag. Messrs Lewis and Nicholson are to be permitted to proceed on their Journey, but Mr Kinloch will be under the necessity of returning back as I have informed him. Mr. Mott, who was detained some days ago may also return. In future, Flags of truce properly authenticated and conducted are to be received at the New Bridge on the Croton until further directions. Other Instructions will be given in a few days on this subject to the Officer commanding on the Lines.” The brief postscript reads, “You will please to send a safe guard back with Mr Kinloch if he chooses it.” Double matted and framed with an engraved portrait of Washington and a small informational plaque, to an overall size of 21.5 x 20. In very good condition, with intersecting folds (with a couple small associated tears), a couple lightly passing through single letters of signature, letter has apparently been backed, scattered soiling and toning and two small stains to blank areas.

Even in the wake of Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown, General Washington wasn’t convinced that the war was over. He led his troops north to better patrol the British who still remained in New York. Of course, surrender meant negotiations, details, and tying up loose ends, all of which negated the passage of various parties to and from the lines. In an effort to regulate this activity, Washington established Flags of Truce between the lines at Dobbs Ferry. At the same time, Congress declared that anyone coming through British lines would not be allowed to enter the US without special permission, a decree Washington felt bound by. The men General Washington mentions were all subject to scrutiny upon passage at this crossing point, especially Mr. Kinlock, who can be identified as Cleland Kinloch, a loyalist who was most likely seeking passage back to his rice plantation at Weehaw, South Carolina. Washington promptly denied his request, ”Mr Kinloch will be under the necessity of returning back as I have informed him,” referencing Congress’ decree. Two other men, “Messrs Lewis and Nicholson,” were “permitted to proceed on their Journey.” These men can likely be identified as American officials traveling to New York City to discuss prisoner issues with General Carleton; Lewis, perhaps Francis Lewis, Jr., son of a Declaration signer of the same name and New York politician, and Nicholson, possibly the New York assemblyman. The Mr. Mott who is referenced is most likely of the loyalist Mott family who sought refuge in Canada after the British surrender.

This letter was actually written on the first of the year, 1783, as cited in The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, Volume 26. Accidentally penned by Washington’s aide-de-camp, David Humphreys, the very man with whom the general appointed the delivery of the surrendered British colors and the battle report to Congress after the surrender at Yorktown, the correct date is supported by a select number of letters referencing the same names and written on the same day, January 1, 1783. One such letter, which appears in the same Volume 26, Washington writes to General Carleton: “I have the honour to inform your Excellency, that whenever it is found more convenient for your flags to proceed by land, they will be received by the Officer Commanding at the New Bridge on the Croton.”

Similar verbiage is found in this letter, in which Washington instructs that the “Flags of truce properly authenticated and conducted are to be received at the New Bridge on the Croton until further direction. Other Instructions will be given in a few days on this subject to the Officer commanding on the Lines.” Washington would switch it back to Dobbs Ferry in the spring of 1783, where he would meet with General Carleton to discuss the details of the British evacuation. An immensely-desirable piece illustrating Washington’s watchful post-war skepticism, and his unrelenting obedience to Congress.
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