![CONTINENTAL ARMY – State of Massachusetts-Bay In the House of Representatives, April 30th, 1777. [Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes, 1777.]](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2017/NYR/2017_NYR_14376_0244_001(continental_army_state_of_massachusetts-bay_in_the_house_of_representa060614).jpg?w=1)
![CONTINENTAL ARMY – State of Massachusetts-Bay In the House of Representatives, April 30th, 1777. [Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes, 1777.]](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2017/NYR/2017_NYR_14376_0244_000(continental_army_state_of_massachusetts-bay_in_the_house_of_representa030417).jpg?w=1)
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CONTINENTAL ARMY – State of Massachusetts-Bay In the House of Representatives, April 30th, 1777. [Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes, 1777.]
Massachusetts issues a draft call for troops in order to rebuild the Continental Army after thousands of enlistments expired on 1 January 1777, reducing Washington’s forces to critical levels. The circular, issued to restate and amend the draft call issued in January 1777 for one-seventh of all able-bodied male inhabitants of the state over the age of sixteen. “Whereas this court have undoubted intelligence that our enemies are determined ... to enslave the inhabitants of America ... Resolved, that in such towns ... as have not already ... inlisted a number of able-bodied men ... shall on the said 15th day of May, call their several companies together, and endeavour to compleat the same...” At the end of 1776, thousands of soldiers left the Continental Army, citing that their terms of enlistment had expired—despite entreaties from Washington and two important battlefield victories at Trenton and Princeton. By the time the army settled in Morristown for their winter cantonment, the army only numbered a few thousand. By the time the army left winter quarters in May 1777, successful recruiting efforts had swelled the ranks to over 8000 (Boatner). Rare: Evans records only six copies in institutional holdings. Evans 15432; Ford, W. C. Mass Broadsides; Cushing, J.D. Mass. Laws, 996.
Broadsheet, two pages, (345 x 223 mm). Several contemporary ink emendations, one indicating that this copy was originally directed to “Hopkinton” but redirected to “Ashfield,” Massachusetts (toned at folds).
Massachusetts issues a draft call for troops in order to rebuild the Continental Army after thousands of enlistments expired on 1 January 1777, reducing Washington’s forces to critical levels. The circular, issued to restate and amend the draft call issued in January 1777 for one-seventh of all able-bodied male inhabitants of the state over the age of sixteen. “Whereas this court have undoubted intelligence that our enemies are determined ... to enslave the inhabitants of America ... Resolved, that in such towns ... as have not already ... inlisted a number of able-bodied men ... shall on the said 15th day of May, call their several companies together, and endeavour to compleat the same...” At the end of 1776, thousands of soldiers left the Continental Army, citing that their terms of enlistment had expired—despite entreaties from Washington and two important battlefield victories at Trenton and Princeton. By the time the army settled in Morristown for their winter cantonment, the army only numbered a few thousand. By the time the army left winter quarters in May 1777, successful recruiting efforts had swelled the ranks to over 8000 (Boatner). Rare: Evans records only six copies in institutional holdings. Evans 15432; Ford, W. C. Mass Broadsides; Cushing, J.D. Mass. Laws, 996.
Broadsheet, two pages, (345 x 223 mm). Several contemporary ink emendations, one indicating that this copy was originally directed to “Hopkinton” but redirected to “Ashfield,” Massachusetts (toned at folds).