THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR
[REVOLUTIONARY WAR]. MILLIGAN, James (1726-1814), Lieutenant, Continental Army. Autograph letter signed ("Jas. Milligan") to General Edward Hand (1742-1802), Lancaster [Penn.], 2 November 1777. 2 full pages, 4to. Very Fine condition.
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[REVOLUTIONARY WAR]. MILLIGAN, James (1726-1814), Lieutenant, Continental Army. Autograph letter signed ("Jas. Milligan") to General Edward Hand (1742-1802), Lancaster [Penn.], 2 November 1777. 2 full pages, 4to. Very Fine condition.
EUPHORIA OVER THE VICTORY AT SARATOGA OVERSHADOWS A LOSS ON THE HUDSON. A very rich, newsy letter from a fellow officer, reporting critical war news, especially the Saratoga success and expressing the hope Ticonderoga would soon be recaptured. "I have just time to inclose you returns of the Army once commanded by the great and mighty Genl [John] Burgoyne [surrendered 7 October]; you will see he renders a very pretty, concise account...in a few lines to his master Howe. This with his late letters & former Proclamations form a fine contrast. In short it is a glorious event. History records but few equals to it." Milligan then employs a dice game metaphor: "This is throwing sixes, if we can but throw another pair at Philadela. we shall Gammon them. Matters look well in the River Delaware as you will see by the inclosed handbill, if we can keep the River the enemy must leave the City, especially if the victorious Yankees under Gen. Gates joins Genl. Washington as is expected. I have given Captn. O'Hara a copy of the [articles of] Capitulation [at Saratoga]...It is not yet printed...It is a good deal too favorable for the enemy, but General [Henry] Clinton with 4,000 men having taken Fort Montgomery and advanced as high as [Esopus or Kingston, NY], must have induced Genl. Gates to grant such favorable terms. It is said Clinton has since destroyed Ft. Montgomery & a great deal of private property and retreated to New York. Genl. [John] Stark with a body of Militia is gone against Mount Independence & Ticonderoga. I think there is a great possibility of his succeeding. In short our affairs have never looked so well." In closing he reports that "I have a prospect of being fixed [assigned] at Yorktown in the same character as at Albany...."
EUPHORIA OVER THE VICTORY AT SARATOGA OVERSHADOWS A LOSS ON THE HUDSON. A very rich, newsy letter from a fellow officer, reporting critical war news, especially the Saratoga success and expressing the hope Ticonderoga would soon be recaptured. "I have just time to inclose you returns of the Army once commanded by the great and mighty Genl [John] Burgoyne [surrendered 7 October]; you will see he renders a very pretty, concise account...in a few lines to his master Howe. This with his late letters & former Proclamations form a fine contrast. In short it is a glorious event. History records but few equals to it." Milligan then employs a dice game metaphor: "This is throwing sixes, if we can but throw another pair at Philadel