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1781

Joseph Ward

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:9,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Joseph Ward

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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 ALS signed “Joseph Ward C.G.M.,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 7.75 x 11.75, March 13, 1778. Ward, writing from “Headquarters” [Valley Forge], relays Washington’s directions for determining the status of missing men to Richard Varick. In full: “Your favour of Jany 28th, came to hand Febry 27th. And yours of Febry 20th. I received this day, inclosing your Abstracts &c.

I am much obliged to you for the particular account of matters relating to the late intended Expedition. I conceive, with you, that it was more wisely laid aside, than undertaken. However, it is possible some advantage may accrue from the Design, as the British Court will doubtless hear of it long before they can know the consequence, and may thereby be the more puzzled to plan their operations.

Your Letter directed to Major Fish, I left with Col. Cortland, with whom he quarters, he being out of Camp. As soon as he returns, I shall favour him with the reading of your account of the Secret Expedition.

The difficulties you mention, respecting Furloughs, men left in Hospitals, &c., are too much experienced here, as well as with you. I consulted his Excellency general Washington on these matters, and his direction was, that Soldiers who did not join their Corps at the expiration of their Furloughs, (unless their Officers, or others, could make it appear that they were necessarily detained) should be returned Deserters. If upon joining their Corps, they should then make it appear they had been necessarily detained, they will notwithstanding their have [2]having been returned Deserters, draw their whole pay. Officers, are not to be returned Deserters, unless they have been long absent after the expiration of their Furloughs, but are to be answerable to the Commander in chief of the Department, for absence beyond the limited time. But when their [sic] is good reason to apprehend an absent Officer will never join his Corps, or that he has any fraudulent design to keep out of Camp & at the same time draw pay, you may strike him off the Roll, until he joins and does duty. This I think may be a more eligible method than to return them Deserters, and more consistent with that delicacy which Officers ought to deserve.

With respect to men in Hospitals, their Officers ought to know from the Surgeons what their state is, whether dead or alive, and whether they are likely ever to join the Corps; but when men have been left sick at a great distance and their Officers cannot obtain proper information respecting them, immediately, they must be notified to obtain such information against the next muster; and if the Officers neglect a proper attention to this duty, they must answer for the neglect before a Court-martial. When you are satisfied any absent men who were left in Hospitals or elsewhere, who by reason of incapacity, desertion, or other cause, will never join their corps, you may strike them out of the Rolls. You are not obliged to wait for proof of their [3]death or desertion. If any such should after being struck out of the Rolls, join their Corps, and give reasons for their absence sufficient to justify them, they may be inserted in the next Roll for the whole time of their absence; by which means no honest man will suffer by being struck off the Roll.

One piece of News only have we in this Quarter, Capt. Barre with some armed Boats a few days since took on armed Vessel [sic] of 8 Carriage Guns, & two other Transports, as they were coming up the Delaware about 30 miles below Philadelphia; as some men of war were apprised of this event & were making towards Capt Barre, he was obliged to take out the most valuable articles & burn the Transports.” A postscript written next to Ward’s signature reads, “P.S. The Instance you mentioned of an Artillery Officer refusing to swear to his Muster Roll, & yet was found worthy to be reprimanded only, is to me unaccountable. However, I don’t conceive that a Mustering Officer is obliged to accept any Roll until it is sworn to. If he thinks it proper under certain circumstances, to receive a Roll that is not sworn to, he may; but it is at his option whether he will accept it or not.”

Several professional repairs to hinge and fold separations, scattered toning, some small areas of paper loss along folds and hinge, and scattered toning and soiling, otherwise very good condition.

During the brutal winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge, disease ran rampant. Soldiers had very little food or clothing and morale was extremely low. This led many to desertion and there was even talk of mutiny. This letter from a sailor glosses over the rampant starvation and death and focuses instead on things beyond the present misery. He first begins by thanking the recipient of this letter for the news regarding General Spencer's canceled Secret Expedition to free Rhode Island from the British (an act he would be censured by the Continental Congress for). He then proudly relates his personal conversation with "his excellency General Washington".  Finally, he shifts the focus to the positive news of a naval victory, a rare feat for the fledgling navy. At this point the navy had more sailors than ships to put them on so some, like Ward, joined militia units or the Continental Army in order to fight the British. A letter rich in wartime content from a revolutionary sailor-turned-soldier writing about the Father of the American Army and the Father of the American Navy.
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