Details
GATES, HORATIO, 1728-1806, General. Autograph letter signed ("Horatio Gates," with flourish), to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, "Head Quarters," 28 August 1777. 1 1/4 pages, 4to, 198 x 158mm. (7 7/8 x 6 1/4 in.), integral address leaf in Gates's hand, paper foxed, two seal holes in integral address leaf.
ON THE EVE OF SARATOGA, GATES SHARES NEWS FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON: "THE SKY CLEARS ALL AROUND US, AND THE POLITICAL CLOUDS SEEM TO BE GATHERING ALL AROUND OUR ENEMIES...I SOON HOPE TO ACQUAINT YOU THAT NEW YORK IS IN OUR POSSESSION"
A scant two months before the electrifying American victory over Burgoyne at Saratoga, the American commander writes to General Lincoln, commanding state militia forces gathered to bolster regular Continental troops: "I did myself the pleasure to write to you by an Express I sent around by Albany, since then I have heard from General Washington, his Letter is dated the 20:th, he says he is now of Opinion that Sir William Howe is gone [to] South Carolina. I hope soon to acquaint you, that N[ew] York is in Our Possession; & that the reinforcements from all parts are in One, or Other, of Our Incampments. The Riffle men must be here tomorrow, unless the late Northerly Winds has dely'd them in the Rivers. I find the Indians, & Canadians, have mostly left the Enemy. I daily expect General [Benedict] Arnold, with His Division, & a larger Number of Indians [Arnold was marching East from Fort Stanwix with 1200 men, arriving at Saratoga the first week of September]. The Sky clears all around us, and the political clouds seem gathering all around Our Enemies; that Providence may continue to Bless us with prosperity is the Fervent Prayer of...your Humble Servant..." In a postscript he sends "my respects to General [John] Star, & Col. Seth Warner" (commanding Vermont militia).
General Washington's letter of 20 August, referred to here by Gates, informed him of important reinforcements he had sent from the Hudson Highlands to join Gates's army, and speculated on the recent mysterious sailing of a British force under General William Howe from New York, destination unknown. Washington was delighted Howe did not plan to march north from New York to join Burgoyne in a pincer movement, and believed Howe's army was bound for Charleston, South Carolina. Washington proved wrong. The day after his letter to Gates, the British fleet appeared in the Chesapeake, landed at Head of Elk and began its march on Philadelphia. The Americans did regain Philadelphia in time, but (see notes to preceding lot), Washington was never able to retake New York until the British withdrew in 1783.
ON THE EVE OF SARATOGA, GATES SHARES NEWS FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON: "THE SKY CLEARS ALL AROUND US, AND THE POLITICAL CLOUDS SEEM TO BE GATHERING ALL AROUND OUR ENEMIES...I SOON HOPE TO ACQUAINT YOU THAT NEW YORK IS IN OUR POSSESSION"
A scant two months before the electrifying American victory over Burgoyne at Saratoga, the American commander writes to General Lincoln, commanding state militia forces gathered to bolster regular Continental troops: "I did myself the pleasure to write to you by an Express I sent around by Albany, since then I have heard from General Washington, his Letter is dated the 20:th, he says he is now of Opinion that Sir William Howe is gone [to] South Carolina. I hope soon to acquaint you, that N[ew] York is in Our Possession; & that the reinforcements from all parts are in One, or Other, of Our Incampments. The Riffle men must be here tomorrow, unless the late Northerly Winds has dely'd them in the Rivers. I find the Indians, & Canadians, have mostly left the Enemy. I daily expect General [Benedict] Arnold, with His Division, & a larger Number of Indians [Arnold was marching East from Fort Stanwix with 1200 men, arriving at Saratoga the first week of September]. The Sky clears all around us, and the political clouds seem gathering all around Our Enemies; that Providence may continue to Bless us with prosperity is the Fervent Prayer of...your Humble Servant..." In a postscript he sends "my respects to General [John] Star, & Col. Seth Warner" (commanding Vermont militia).
General Washington's letter of 20 August, referred to here by Gates, informed him of important reinforcements he had sent from the Hudson Highlands to join Gates's army, and speculated on the recent mysterious sailing of a British force under General William Howe from New York, destination unknown. Washington was delighted Howe did not plan to march north from New York to join Burgoyne in a pincer movement, and believed Howe's army was bound for Charleston, South Carolina. Washington proved wrong. The day after his letter to Gates, the British fleet appeared in the Chesapeake, landed at Head of Elk and began its march on Philadelphia. The Americans did regain Philadelphia in time, but (see notes to preceding lot), Washington was never able to retake New York until the British withdrew in 1783.