LOT RR Auction  /  RR Auction Quality Autograph Auction 363  / 

349

Thaddeus Kosciuszko

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:8,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Thaddeus Kosciuszko

Bidding Over

The auction is over for this lot.
The auctioneer wasn't accepting online bids for this lot.

Contact the auctioneer for information on the auction results.

Search for other lots to bid on...
Auction Date:2010 Nov 10 @ 19:00 (UTC-5 : 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
Rare and significant ALS signed “Thad. Kosciuszko,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 6.75 x 8.5, October 3, 1782. Letter to Major General Nathaneal Greene. In full, with spelling and grammar retained. “I am very sorry to learn of your bad healht wich I hope will not last longer. Supose you should trye pilles made of the Barck of White War nut, I am been told yet in Europe by famous Doctor that the use of them every now and then will prevent the fret of Asthma it is true very difficult to find here but Sir I should send fourty, sixty mill to conserve the health, I am sure can be found at Santee.

This Afternoon at the Cut I saw the reliev coming to the Work of about forty men British to the next Work about twenty and to the next to this about twelve in the Hessiens redoubt I saw about Six Hesiens and no Canon, at the Landing very few men and few baggage no negros no women two boats started from thence to go to Town with Refugee, one Shloop also was at the head of them Looded well and few men in it, higher up of the Landing was two Shloops and the men were busy, but at My aproch, the Signal was given from different Places with the Musket and I saw in one minute total in action even the Boats and Shloop was stop’d that I Saw them before going to Town at Charles Town I saw few boats going backward forward, but the Ships not apeard to me very busy and I saw no more but two upon Cooper River it was Great many but not so many as was yesterday. I wish the Light troop Could be relievd two of them are sick, and two horses are foundet, that make very hard duty upon the others.” Reverse of second page has been addressed in Kosciuszko’s hand to Greene, and also docketed in Greene’s hand. Second page has been inlaid to a slightly larger off-white sheet. In very good condition, with intersecting folds, scattered toning and soiling, slight pooling of ink to several words of text and single letter of signature, and light show-through from writing on opposing sides.

Letter is housed in a custom half-blue morocco over blue cloth clamshell case, lined inside with ivory silk moire fabric, five raised bands on spine lettered in gilt in four of the five compartments: “Thaddeus Kosciuszko / Polish / Patriot” – “Col. of / Engineers / Continental / Army” – “A.L.S. / Oct. 3, 1782” – “To Maj. Gen. / Nathanael / Greene.”

Bayonetted in battle about a year before sending this correspondence, the Polish-born general saw limited action in large combat operations following his recovery. However, he was still active in smaller actions focused on harassing British foraging parties near Charleston—when he wasn’t compiling detailed observations for his commander. Reliable information on troop movement was imperative for the success of the Colonial forces, with Kosciuszko certainly doing his part for the fledgling nation. Such observations as “I saw the reliev coming to the Work of about forty men British to the next Work about twenty and to the next to this about twelve in the Hessiens redoubt I saw about Six Hesiens and no Canon” were invaluable. Kosciuszko’s only known battlefield command of the war occurred a month after conducting his surveillance for General Greene, at James Island on November 14, 1782, in what is believe to be the Continental Army's final armed action of the war. A desirable piece of correspondence from one Revolutionary War hero to another and one of the few such examples to ever be offered for public sale.
Sign In to Bookmark Lot