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1740

Operations of General Washington

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:15,000.00 - 17,000.00 USD
Operations of General 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
Very detailed map entitled “Plan of the Operations of General Washington, against the King’s troops in New Jersey, from the 26th, of December, 1776, to the 3d. January 1777 by William Faden,” 15.75 x 12, with “London. Publsh’d according to Act of Parliament 15th April 1777 by Wm. Faden, Corner of St. Martin’s Lane, Charing Cross.” Map illustrating the Theater of War northeast of the Delaware River, illustrating two important early American victories at Trenton and Princeton, which helped gain critical support and momentum for the American Revoution. Map also shows McKenky’s Crossing on the Delaware River, as noted by Faden's annotation "parade of the troops on the evening of the 25th of Decr. 1776.” Matted to an overall size of 21.75 x 18. Light previous storage folds, and mild toning to upper right corner, otherwise fine condition.

By late 1776, Washington's forces had been defeated in Boston and overwhelmed in New York by the British Navy, whose massive invasion of the city forced the Americans on the defensive. In December, 1776, the British had seized Newport, Rhode Island. By this time, the British Commander-in-Chief, Sir William Howe, had launched a successful invasion of New Jersey, which forced Washington to retreat to his winter quarters at Newtown, Pennsylvania, shown on the left side of Faden's map.

Washington realized that many troops would not renew their service contracts which were set to expire at year's end and that dramatic action was required to turn the tide. On Christmas Day, while the British troops and Hessian mercenaries were celebrating the holiday, Washington, as noted by Faden's annotation "parade of the troops on the evening of the 25th of Decr. 1776," marched his troops to the banks of the Delaware River and in a scene immortalized in Emanuel Leutze's iconic painting Washington Crossing the Delaware (1851), led his force of 2,400 across the river at "McKenky's Ferry," near Trenton, which was held by a force of 1,400 Hessians under Col. Johann Rall.

As illustrated by Faden, Washington divided his force into two prongs, one commanded by John Sullivan and the other by Nathaniel Greene. The two forces attacked and defeated the Hessians, with Faden noting the casualties by regiment, rank and role in the table "Loss of Trenton."

On December 30th, a British force under Lord Cornwallis attacked the Americans at Trenton, but failed to retake the town. Washington left a token force in the town to light numerous campfires, fooling Cornwallis into thinking that Washington had decided to make a stand in Trenton. In reality, over the next couple of days the Americans stealthily moved most of their forces around the British positions. Washington dispatched a force under Greene to proceed up the main highway leading into Princeton, with the objective of diverting the British from being able to check a larger force under Sullivan which was to attack the town from the west.

In all 4,600 American troops were to advance upon a British force. Greene's advance brigade under Col. Hugh Mercer encountered formidable resistance from a British line under Col. Charles Mawhood. While Mercer was killed and Mawhood broke the American lines, the British were unable to hold the town from Sullivan's force. On January 3, 1777, the Americans seized the British headquarters at Nassau Hall at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton). The Princeton to Maidenhead battle casualties are noted by Faden.

Cornwallis realized that he had been tricked and tried to move his force towards Princeton, but was delayed as the key bridge over Stoney Creek had been sabotaged by the Americans. The Americans withdrew from Princeton to Somerset Courthouse (now Millstone), while the British retreated through a deserted Princeton to the relative security of New Brunswick. In sum, Washington's bold strategy had succeeded in restoring the morale of his force, who had survived the massive British invasion to carry the Revolution into the next campaign season and preserved the cause long enough to demonstrate and allow the Americans to continue appealing to the French for support during 1777, which would lead to France's recognition of the United States in February 1778 and Britain's declaration of War on France in March 1778.
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