LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2006 October Grand Format Autographs #629  / 

25005

Three George Washington Fair Copies

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Three George Washington Fair Copies
<B>Three George Washington Fair Copies of Revolutionary War Letters.</B></I> 6.5 written pages, 8" x 13", fair copy of letter from Washington to Congress with letter from the officers of the Continental Army represented by Maj. Gen. William Heath and Washington's response to the officers (3 communications). These are copied sequentially on both sides of 3 sheets of ledger paper, and part of a fourth sheet corresponding to Series 4 images 117-118; 78-80 and 101-104 of the George Washington papers at the Library of Congress. The first is Washington's letter dated 7 June 1783 to the President of Congress summarizing the concerns of the officers of the Army: "These enclosures will explain the distresses which resulted from the measure now carrying into execution in consequence of the resolutions of Congress of the 26th of May.The two subjects of complaint with the Army appear to be the delay of the three month's pay which has been expected and the want of a settlement of accounts..." He continues noting that he and the officers have made a slight alteration in the furloughs from what was first proposed. The letter from the officers represented by Maj. General William Heath is dated 5 June 1783 in the original. Heath was especially upset that the Army was to be released without pay: "[I]t is with a mixture of astonishment & chagrin that we view the late resolve of Congress, by which the soldiers for the war and a proportionate number of Officers are to be furloughed without any one of those important objects being accomplished [pay and settlement of accounts] and to complete the scene of woe are to be compelled to leave the Army without the means of defraying the debts we have necessarily incurred in the course of service or even of gratifying those menials in the pittance which is their due, much less to carry with us that support & comfort to our families, of which from our long military services they have been deprived. No less exposed than to the insults of the meanest followers of the Army, than to the arrests of the Sheriffs [sic] deprived of the ability to assist our families & without an evidence that any thing is due to us for our services & consequently without the least prospect of obtaining credit for even a temporary subsistence until we can get into business..." He continues to request that no soldier or officer be furloughed until receiving pay and "certificates" [the script to be redeemed later, but upon which the soldiers could obtain credit to resume their lives]. "...We still wish to believe that the Country to which we have been so long devoted will never look with indifference on the distresses of these of her sons who have so essentially contributed to the establishment of freedom, the security of property & the rearing of an Empire. But they were loosing faith" Washington's response to the officers was to quote part of a communication from the Superintendent of Finance in which the latter noted that the states had been remiss in payments to the government, yet the expenses incurred in such basics as feeding the Army were continuing. So instead of six month's pay, or even 3 months' pay and three months' notes, the Finance department will only be able to issue three months' "script" and hope the states would honor them. Washington then addresses the issue of furloughs, suggesting that rather than releasing all who have served their three years, he will have those who wish to stay voluntarily sign up and make up the remainder with the three-year men, for the same number furloughed as under the Congressional plan. He lastly implies that the accounts be settled quickly, so the Army can disperse and the government can save on food, etc. necessary to maintain them. In April 1782 the House of Commons voted to end the war and rumors of peace began circulating. By November, a preliminary peace plan had been signed, but still needed the approval of a number of parties. The formal announcement of peace, however, was not made to the Armies until 8 April 1783, timed eight years to the day after the beginning of hostilities in Lexington and Concord. For the previous year, however, the size of the Army had been contracting, with redefinition of sizes of units, and many states' militias reduced significantly in numbers. But even after the announcement of peace, all parties had not yet signed, so Congress decided that rather than release the troops, they would just be furloughed. Then if the peace did not hold, they could be quickly recalled. Beginning about the same time, as part of the furlough plan, was the debate, which continued for years, on whether to maintain a Federal army at all, and, if so, how large. Most of the men were a year or more behind in pay, and the idea of being furloughed with no pay, and losing faith in Congress that they would be able to claim anything later, the Army was near mutiny. Congress saw the state of mind of the troops as an important reason to send them home, although cost-saving was certainly a consideration. Fine condition overall, with a very nice "period" feel. Pages are cleanly separating horizontally along original fold lines.
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