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(Washington, George) - Muster Roll From Newburgh, NY

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
(Washington, George) - Muster Roll From Newburgh, NY
<Our item number 118593><B>&#40;[Washington, George&#41; - Original Muster Roll as Commander-in-Chief.</B> A unique, original manuscript muster roll in an unknown hand, 5½ pp, 16&#34; x 10¼&#34;, n.d &#40;according to Ted Crackel and his colleagues at the Papers of George Washington, the date is probably mid February to March 1783&#41;, New Windsor-Newburgh encampment. beginning with &#34;His Excellency General Washington, Comm.r in Chief&#34; and listing all 183 officers, surgeons, chaplains, waggon masters, aides-de-camp, paymasters, and others who were with him at the New Windsor-Newburgh, New York encampment. Among those listed are the duplicitous Major General Horatio Gates, author of the Newburgh Conspiracy, and Dr. Craike, who was with Washington when he died in 1799. Written on laid paper, watermarked with a fleur de lis on one side and &#34;WHT&#34; on the other. The script is bold and easily read; light age toning, a few archival fold repairs and some small edge tears; the last page &# 40;5/6&#41; is uneven at the top edge and missing tiny areas at the right margin, affecting the column containing the number of horses and the name of one lieutenant on the last page. Still in fine condition.<BR><BR>This amazing manuscript documents the officers with Washington at the end of the Revolutionary War. Each individual is listed by rank and name, the office he held, brigade, regiment, batallion, and the number of horses he brought with him. Of particular note are the following:<BR><BR>&#34;His Excellency General George Washington, Comm.r in Chief.&#34; Washington is followed by his four aides-de-camp: Lt. Col. Tench Tilghman, Lt. Col. David Humphry &#40;actually Humphreys, Washington&#39;s first biographer&#41;, Lt. Col. David Cobb, and Lt. Col John Walker. Next is Washington&#39;s secretary, Lt. Col. Jonathan Trumbull, who served with him though most of the war. <BR><BR>Ten generals are listed. <B>Brigadier General Edward Hand</B> became a Major-General on Sept. 30, 1783. < B>Major-General Horatio Gates</B> tried to supplant Washington as Commander-in-Chief several times. There had been several mutinies within the army from 1780 onwards as a result of Congress not being able to pay the soldiers, many of whom had not been paid for six years. This eventually led to the Newburgh Conspiracy, a plot to replace Washington with Gates as Commander-in-Chief and to use the army to &#34;persuade&#34; Congress and the states into imposing an impost duty. On March 15, 1783, Washington appeared unexpectedly at a meeting of his officers &#40;listed in this muster roll&#41; chaired by Gates. After speaking briefly, Washington pulled a letter from a member of Congress from his pocket and, fumbling to put on his spectacles, said, &#34;Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.&#34; With this dramatic yet poignant statement, he gained the sympathy of his officers and defused the threat , saving the country from chaos and helping to conclude the war. Other generals listed are <B>Major-General William Heath</B>, <B>Major-General Alexander McDougall</B>, <B>Brigadier-General John Paterson</B>, <B>Brigadier-General John Greaton</B> &#40;he retained this rank from Jan. 7, 1783-Nov. 3, 1783&#41;, <B>Brigadier-General John Starke</B>, <B>Brigadier-General Elias Dayton</B> &#40;he retained this rand from Jan. 7, 1783-Nov. 3, 1783&#41;, and <B>Brigadier-General Rufus Putnam</B>.<BR><BR>Of particular note is the appearance at the bottom of the first page of the name of Dr. James Craike, or Craik &#40;1730-1814&#41; as the Physician in Chief of the Continental Army. He was a lifelong friend of Washington&#39;s, serving with him from the frontier during the French and Indian War period through the Revolutionary War. He promoted the story that Washington could not be killed because an Indian prophet claimed he was protected by a spirit. Craik&#40;e&#41; was one of the attending p hysicians at Washington&#39;s bedside when he died on December 14, 1799. <BR>Estimated Value &#36;25,000-35,000. <BR><BR>Our item number 118593<BR><IMAGES><P ALIGN="CENTER"><IMG SRC="http://www.goldbergcoins.net/liveauction/43jpegs/118593.jpg"> </P></IMAGES>