George Washington - Letter Signed - Secures West Point After B. Arnold's Treason

Description: GEORGE WASHINGTON. Historically important Revolutionary War-dated manuscript letter boldly signed by, “Go: Washington,” as Commander of the Continental Army securing West Point less than three months after discovering Benedict Arnold’s treason by increasing the salaries and providing clothing to the soldiers at the military post. HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT REVOLUTIONARY WAR-DATED MANUSCRIPT LETTER BOLDLY SIGNED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON AS COMMANDER OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY SECURING WEST POINT LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AFTER DISCOVERING BENEDICT ARNOLD’S TREASON Reads in full: “I have recd. your Memorial of the 15th. As I think it reasonable that you should have a proper allowance made for your services, I shall give the Quarter Master General directions to make you a suitable compensation, if you made no particular agreement with General McDougal who first appointed you, or with the late Quarter Master General. There is very little Cloathing [sic] at present in the Store, but if you will apply, I will give you an order to procure such as there is.” IN THE UNPUBLISHED LETTER, WASHINGTON INCREASES THE SALARIES AND PROVIDES CLOTHING TO THE SOLDIERS AT THE MILITARY POST: “AS I THINK IT REASONABLE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A PROPER ALLOWANCE MADE FOR YOUR SERVICES, I SHALL GIVE THE QUARTER MASTER GENERAL DIRECTIONS TO MAKE YOU A SUITABLE COMPENSATION…THERE IS VERY LITTLE CLOATHING [SIC] AT PRESENT IN THE STORE, BUT IF YOU WILL APPLY, I WILL GIVE YOU AN ORDER TO PROCURE SUCH AS THERE IS.” On September 23, 1780, Major John Andre was captured by a New York militia near Tarrytown. He was carrying incriminating papers that revealed General Benedict Arnold’s plan to deliver his command at West Point to the British. Arnold escaped to General Clinton in New York City on September 25; unfortunately, Andre was tried and hanged as a spy on October 2. Although the Continental Congress struggled to fund the Continental Army throughout the American Revolution, General George Washington wanted to adequately pay and supply the soldiers at West Point upon the revelations of Arnold’s treason in the present letter. Washington called West Point, “the most important Post in America,” because the Patriots couldn’t afford to lose control of the Hudson River and allow the British to divide the colonies in two. WASHINGTON CALLED WEST POINT, “THE MOST IMPORTANT POST IN AMERICA,” BECAUSE THE PATRIOTS COULDN’T AFFORD TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE HUDSON RIVER AND ALLOW THE BRITISH TO DIVIDE THE COLONIES IN TWO Believed to be unpublished, sent to Superintendent of Boats at West Point Captain John Buchanan, contains one page, measures 12.5 by 7.625 inches, created at the headquarters in New Windsor, [New York] on December 19, 1780, nicely matted and framed with a rare 1897 William Harry Warren Bicknell steel engraving on rice paper of Washington to an overall size of 23 by 19 inches, contains a Goodspeed’s Book Shop label on the verso authenticating the letter (the world’s leading historical documents and relics company from the late 19th century to the late 20th century), and in very good condition with toning, light foxing, separations and very tiny holes along the folds and bottom right corner, and a tape repair on the bottom fold.

Price: 25000 USD

Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina

End Time: 2024-11-17T02:45:17.000Z

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