Details
WASHINGTON, GEORGE. Partly printed document signed ("G:Washington") as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, Countersigned by Jonathan Trumbull Jr., "Headquarters" [New Windsor, N.Y.], 8 June 1783. 2 pages, folio, 9 3/4 x 7 1/4 in., accomplished in manuscript (ink a bit pale in places), with an additional sheet attached at bottom, containing multiple endorsements relating to a land bounty of 600 acres due the recipient, neatly inlaid, a few repairs at edges and folds (slightly affecting 8 letters of printed text). General Washington discharges "...Levi Sterling, Sergeant in the First New York Regiment [for] having faithfully served the United States Seven Years and being inlisted for the War only..." Sterling is also awarded a badge of merit.
The discharge, with its unusual additions relating to Stirling's land bounty (which he signed away), is dated two days before Washington's famous letter to the states announcing his retirement since "the great object"--independence--had been realized after seven years war (even thoughthe final peace treaty had not yet been signed in Paris). Copies of this document are usually in extremely poor condition.
The discharge, with its unusual additions relating to Stirling's land bounty (which he signed away), is dated two days before Washington's famous letter to the states announcing his retirement since "the great object"--independence--had been realized after seven years war (even thoughthe final peace treaty had not yet been signed in Paris). Copies of this document are usually in extremely poor condition.