Details
[AMERICAN REVOLUTION]. GATES, Horatio (1728-1806). General, Continental Army. Manuscript document signed ("Horatio Gates"), a lengthy warrant of payment for Continental forces guarding the Convention Army, Boston, 15 January 1779. 1 page, double folio (18¾ x 15½ inches), light blue paper, minor repairs to folds, otherwise fine.
GATES ASSURES THE PAYMENT OF SOLDIERS GUARDING BURGOYNE'S SURRENDERED ARMY FROM SARATOGA. A unique and highly decorative document by which General Horatio Gates endorses the payment of Massachusetts soldiers detailed to guard the surrendered British Army of Saratoga for three months in 1778. The document encompasses a detailed "Pay Abstract of the Commissioned, Non Commissioned Officers and Soldier's of the Regiment of Guards Commanded by Colonel Jacob Gerish Raised in the State of Massachusetts Bay for the purpose of Guarding Lieut Genl. Burgoynes Army for the Month of Octor, Novr. & Decr. 1778. Also their Travell & Subsistence from the Garrison to their Respective Homes." Divided into 12 neat columns accounting for time of enlistment and discharge, distance from home, subsistence money, sum total of pay, etc. the regiment is broken down by rank. The total pay accumulated for the time of service amounted to 6693 pounds, or 22,310 dollars. The account has been signed by Colonel Jacob Gerrish. On the verso, Gates has signed a lengthy note addressed to Paymaster Ebenezer Hancock requesting the regiment be paid. Beneath Gates' signature, Gerrish acknowledges that the pay was received.
When Burgoyne had no option but to seek surrender terms after his dramatic defeat at Saratoga, the terms were negotiated by convention and were officially accepted and signed on October 17, 1777. The 4,991 prisoners, known collectively as the Convention Army, were to be marched to areas around Boston until exchanged. The exchange was delayed by disagreements and animosity on the part of Colonists and British alike and the prisoners spent the remainder of the war under close guard, first around Boston and then in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
GATES ASSURES THE PAYMENT OF SOLDIERS GUARDING BURGOYNE'S SURRENDERED ARMY FROM SARATOGA. A unique and highly decorative document by which General Horatio Gates endorses the payment of Massachusetts soldiers detailed to guard the surrendered British Army of Saratoga for three months in 1778. The document encompasses a detailed "Pay Abstract of the Commissioned, Non Commissioned Officers and Soldier's of the Regiment of Guards Commanded by Colonel Jacob Gerish Raised in the State of Massachusetts Bay for the purpose of Guarding Lieut Genl. Burgoynes Army for the Month of Octor, Novr. & Decr. 1778. Also their Travell & Subsistence from the Garrison to their Respective Homes." Divided into 12 neat columns accounting for time of enlistment and discharge, distance from home, subsistence money, sum total of pay, etc. the regiment is broken down by rank. The total pay accumulated for the time of service amounted to 6693 pounds, or 22,310 dollars. The account has been signed by Colonel Jacob Gerrish. On the verso, Gates has signed a lengthy note addressed to Paymaster Ebenezer Hancock requesting the regiment be paid. Beneath Gates' signature, Gerrish acknowledges that the pay was received.
When Burgoyne had no option but to seek surrender terms after his dramatic defeat at Saratoga, the terms were negotiated by convention and were officially accepted and signed on October 17, 1777. The 4,991 prisoners, known collectively as the Convention Army, were to be marched to areas around Boston until exchanged. The exchange was delayed by disagreements and animosity on the part of Colonists and British alike and the prisoners spent the remainder of the war under close guard, first around Boston and then in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
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