Details
[TICONDEROGA CAMPAIGNS]. TENNENT, WILLIAM, Continental soldier. Autograph letter signed ("Wm. Tennent") to his wife Susanna in Greenfield, [Massachusetts?], Ti[c]onderoga, 15 October 1776. 2 pages, small 4to, 197 x 165 (7 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches), integral address leaf marked "By Major Raymond," slight fold separations, but otherwise in good condition.
TICONDEROGA IN 1776: "WE EXPECT THE ENEMY EVERY DAY"
A fine letter from a soldier of unknown rank and unit to "my dear and most lovely partner," giving a vivid account of the celebrated Battle of Valcour Island, fought 11-13 October, in which an American naval force (usually referred to as the Champlain Squadron), commanded by Benedict Arnold was decimated by a superior British force of shallow draft warships moving towards Crown Point and Ticonderoga from the north. Tennent sends Susanna "almost all the money I have by me," and reports that "contrary to our expectations ye Enemy are now at Crown-Point. They attacked our fleet on friday last [the Battle of Valcour Island, on 11-13 October]. The engagement lasted from 10 in ye morning till sun set, with the loss of one capital ship on our side. On Sunday morning the attack was renewed again and our fleet are all destroyed by the enemy & ourselves excepting 5 vessels & one [the Washington] that was taken [captured]. I refer you to ye bearer [Major Raymond]...who was in the whole engagement & is now with General Watterbury [Waterbury] & a number of others on their parole of honor. This is a sad blow. It has greatly weakened us here as we had great dependance upon our fleet...Our situation is critical but ye Lord reigns.....Should I never see you again I wish you every blessing from the fountain of all goodness & beg you not to grieve for me but for ye Land [the country]. should I be brought into captivity, your Philander will be constant to his Constantia & never cease to pray for her! ....We expect the enemy every day. The matter must soon be decided...."
TICONDEROGA IN 1776: "WE EXPECT THE ENEMY EVERY DAY"
A fine letter from a soldier of unknown rank and unit to "my dear and most lovely partner," giving a vivid account of the celebrated Battle of Valcour Island, fought 11-13 October, in which an American naval force (usually referred to as the Champlain Squadron), commanded by Benedict Arnold was decimated by a superior British force of shallow draft warships moving towards Crown Point and Ticonderoga from the north. Tennent sends Susanna "almost all the money I have by me," and reports that "contrary to our expectations ye Enemy are now at Crown-Point. They attacked our fleet on friday last [the Battle of Valcour Island, on 11-13 October]. The engagement lasted from 10 in ye morning till sun set, with the loss of one capital ship on our side. On Sunday morning the attack was renewed again and our fleet are all destroyed by the enemy & ourselves excepting 5 vessels & one [the Washington] that was taken [captured]. I refer you to ye bearer [Major Raymond]...who was in the whole engagement & is now with General Watterbury [Waterbury] & a number of others on their parole of honor. This is a sad blow. It has greatly weakened us here as we had great dependance upon our fleet...Our situation is critical but ye Lord reigns.....Should I never see you again I wish you every blessing from the fountain of all goodness & beg you not to grieve for me but for ye Land [the country]. should I be brought into captivity, your Philander will be constant to his Constantia & never cease to pray for her! ....We expect the enemy every day. The matter must soon be decided...."