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Nathanael Greene Great Autograph Letter on Milit Nathanael Greene Great Autograph Letter on Military

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Nathanael Greene Great Autograph Letter on Milit Nathanael Greene Great Autograph Letter on Military
<B>Nathanael Greene Great Autograph Letter on Military Justice in the Continental Army!</B></I> Autographed Letter Signed, <I>as Major General,</B></I> 3 pages, recto and verso, 7.5" by 9", Head Quarters, February 20, 1783. To <B>General Mordecai Gist.</B></I> In very fine condition, with some minor traces of mounting on margin on 4th integral leaf where, too, it is noted, there is a small hole, not affecting the text, where a wax seal was removed. Nathanael Greene emerged from the Revolution with a reputation as the outstanding patriot general of his age: this letter reveals why. "<I>You are perfectly right in your observations, licentiousness ought to be checked and discipline preserved; but from the state of the evidence in the case you mention I am in doubt whether the Court could be brought to condemn them to death. It is best in matters of life and death to have the crime to found it on, rather than the intention. In the present case there is no doubt but that the men would have proceeded to a degree of violence had they not been interrupted that would have placed the matter on quite different grounds: I mean to the general view of the Army. I would not want to appear more severe than justice demands; and more especially where we have such a variety of instances to make choice of an example from. I am much obliged to you for your observations; and shall esteem myself singularly obliged at any time for your opinion of men [&] things which fall under your observation...</B></I>" From the Henry E. Luhrs Collection. Accompanied by LOA from PSA/DNA.