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1598

Samuel Huntington

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:4,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Samuel Huntington

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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
Autographed letter, one page both sides, 8.25 x 13.5, November 7, 1781. Unsigned draft letter, docketed on the reverse by Huntington, “Copy of letter to the Minister of France Novr 7th 1781,” sending congratulations to the foreign minister. In full, with corrections and additions; words crossed out are in brackets: “I cannot deny myself the pleasure of Congratulating you on the Important Glorious Success of our Combined Forces in the compleat Capture of Ld Cornwallis and all his Army.

[I am truly charmed with] The conduct of Count de Grasse so far as [it] hath come to my knowledge charms me; his drupping the British fleet sufficient to [Convince] teach them [they might not & could] to keep at due distance & not [until the Cheasapeake or] again attempt to Interrupt the siege, & at the same time not Suffering himself to be too far diverted from his first main object, Evinces that he possesd Tallents accomplishments equal to his Station worthy of so Important Command in the Navy. May our Successes this Campaign be in proportion to the Generous imparalled aids [which these United States have] received from his most Christian and proved Eventually productive of the happiest Consequences to [France and America] the perpetual advantage of both nations.” Partial separation along one horizontal fold, with several small professional repairs to other separations, several small areas of ink erosion to text, show-through from writing on opposing sides, and mild toning, otherwise very good condition.

Huntington, as the first President of the United States in Congress Assembled, wrote this exuberant 1781 letter to French Foreign Minister Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes, who was largely responsible for securing the French aid which made Cornwallis' capture and surrender possible. 

Washington and his French allies were planning a move against the British occupying New York City in May when Lafayette reported that Cornwallis had marched his 7,000 weary troops to the Chesapeake to resupply and was now vulnerable to an attack. But Washington had his own powerful naval weapon which Huntington referred to in this letter: Admiral Comte De Grasse. His 29 French warships and 3,000 troops arrived off the coast of Virginia about August 26, 1781, where the troops disembarked to join the land blockade of Cornwallis. A few days later the French admiral engaged British admiral Graves' squadron in the Battle of the Chesapeake, pushing the British navy further from Cornwallis, leaving his army without reinforcements or supplies. By September 13, the English fleet commanded by Graves limped north after sustaining heavy damage. The French general pursued, luring Graves from the bay and away from Admiral de Barras heading south with heavy equipment for the siege of Yorktown and eventually broke off, returning to the Chesapeake as the British sailed to New York for repairs. In late September, Washington and Rochambeau arrived to join the siege. The British and Hessian troops were now trapped, their escape routes blocked on the sea by De Grasse and on land by Washington, Lafayette, and Rochambeau. By the time Graves' squadron made repairs and sailed south, it was too late—Cornwallis had already surrendered on October 19 and the American Revolution was won.
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