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197

George Washington

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:35,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
George Washington

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Auction Date:2010 Jun 16 @ 10:00 (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
Bid online at www.rrauction.com. Auction closes June 16.

Revolutionary War-dated LS signed “Go: Washington,” two pages both sides, 8.25 x 13.25, July 12, 1780. An historically significant letter in the hand of his aide-de-camp Robert Hanson Harrison to Abraham Skinner Esq., Deputy Commissary of Prisoners. In full: “I have received Your Letter of the 22d Instant inclosing a Copy of one from Mr Loring the British Commissary of prisoners of the 19th. I find by his Letter that the Enemy intend now or at least wish to effect it if they can, to connect the exchange of our Officers and privates, prisoners at New York and Long Island, and to make the release of the former depend on that of the latter. This is evidently the Object at which they now aim. It is inadmissible, and what I will not accede to. Exchanges, from the first that took place between us to the present time, have been conducted on a very different principle, and it was never attempted in any case before to combine the release of Officers and Men together, except in the instance of the Convention Troops; and the propositions contained in Mr Loring’s Letter of the 21st. of June whatever communications he may have thought proper to give since are separate and distinct with respect to the business, and do not in the most distant manner hint at any relation between them. You are therefore to govern yourself intirely by his proposition of the 21st of June and by my Letter of the 12th Instant, with respect to the Officers. [transcript of Washington’s July 12, 1780 letter is present]

As to the privates, prisoners in New York, about whose exchange the Enemy appear solicitous at present, it might be remarked that humanity required it much more strongly when it was proposed and urged on our part on the 3d of Feby, and that they thought proper then to decline it and not to give any answer upon the subject till the 6th of May. But waiving all consideration of the motives which induced them then to decline what they now would accede to. You may ascertain with Mr. Loring and obtain Lists from him, of such as are really prisoners whom we shall deem as such and fit subjects of Exchange. This will be a good and necessary preliminary step, and such as will facilitate their relief.

In consequence of directions I have just received for the purpose, You will propose to Mr Loring to exchange any Brigadier Genl belonging to them in our hands for Brigadier Genl du Portail, who was taken at Charles Town, and, if the proposition is agreed to, You will take immediate Measures for releasing the Officer given on our part, and will obtain an order for the liberation of Genl Portail and for his safe conduct to Philadelphia, or some part of Jersey, if Sir Henry Clinton will indulge him with a passage by Water, or if not, ‘till he arrives at such place in North Carolina as he may mention. As Lt Genl Burgoyne is not with the Convention Troops, and the Enemy have no Officer of ours of his rank to exchange for him; and as they have several of our Colonels prisoners to them, who can never be exchanged on the principle of equal rank; I wish You to propose for the mutual relief of the parties, his exchange for Our Colonels, as far as it may extend, according to the tariff or grades which were discussed and thought reasonable by our respective Commissioners when at Amboy last; beginning first with the Officers of this rank prisoners in this quarter, reserving One to be exchanged for Colonel Cockler [Col. Johann Wilhelm Kochler of the Regiment Trumbach, German allied troops] and extending it to the relief of those in the Continental line prisoners at the Southward, as far as it will reach according to the seniority of their capture and where this is equal the dates of Commission must govern.

There were Two Officers of the name of Robinson, Sons of Colonel Robinson, taken at Stony Point. You will permit them to go to New York on parole, and remain till called for or exchanged.” Signed “Go: Washington” on the reverse of second page, which also bears an integral address panel in Harrison’s hand to Skinner, and franked in the lower left corner of the panel by Washington, “Go: Washington.”

In fair to good condition, with professional repairs and reinforcement to horizontal folds, hinge, and paper loss to second page, moderate toning and damp staining to both pages, including staining over letter’s signature, scattered other toning and soiling, a few edge chips and other small areas of paper loss.

As with most armed military conflicts, a prisoner exchange program was established between US and British forces during the war, under which both sides would swap prisoners of equal rank: a sailor for a sailor or a soldier for a soldier. In this coveted letter, Washington references one of the war’s most significant prisoners—General John Burgoyne—in the Battle of Saratoga.

In October 1777, with his forces surrounded, Burgoyne negotiated terms that allowed his 6,000 troops to return to Europe after agreeing that they would not fight again in the conflict. The arrangement was later revoked and the men made prisoners. A significant reference in this letter spells out the release of Burgoyne in exchange for several British colonels. The general was allowed to return to England, where he faced harsh criticism for his surrender.

This letter gives additional, interesting detail regarding prisons. For example, Washington calls British Commissary of Prisoners Joshua Loring’s proposal to exchange captured American officers and privates together, basically holding the enlisted men hostage to further officer exchanges, as “inadmissible and what I will not accede to...it was never attempted in any case before to combine the release of Officers and Men together except in the instance of the Convention Troops.” He instructs Skinner to govern under the principle of “rank for rank” and to “propose to Mr Loring to exchange any Brigadier Genl belonging to them in our hands for Brigadier Genl du Portail, who was taken at Charles Town.”

On March 30, 1780, Washington had sent du Portail to help Major General Benjamin Lincoln defend Charleston, South Carolina. On May 12, du Portail, and Lincoln, and his army were taken prisoner. In this letter, Washington’s insistence that the exchange of officers would not be combined with the exchange of enlisted men was finally agreed upon. In November, he sent notice to Congress that he had agreed to exchange 476 men, including approximately 140 officers, with the British, including Lincoln and du Portail.
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