September 26, 2018 O'Connor's Americana Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2018
CHRISTIE, John, as Lieutenant in the 60th or Royal Americans, autograph letter signed to Sir William Johnson, dated Michilimackinac, 24 February 1768. 5 pages, folio, with some marginal and text loss due to rodent graze(?), light tonining, otherwise fine. Docketed on recto of final sheet, "From Lt. Christie concern[in]g. Majr. Rogers Proceedings since Confinement."
Lord Jeffery Amherst had been superceded by Thomas Gage (hitherto Quartermaster General), as commander in chief of the British forces in America. Gage was politically aligned with Sir William Johnson, the powerful Superintendent of Indian Affairs and his deputy, former frontier trader William Croghan. All three resented the fact that Rogers had essentially gone over their heads to obtain such an enviable appointment--for Michilimackinac was essentially the gateway to the northern fur trade.
They could not replace Roberts without good reason and by 1767, seem to have determined upon a plan of action that might lead to Rogers' replacement, instructing trusted officers and agents at or dealing with Michilimackinac to essentially spy on Rogers and report back to them.
Unaware of Gage and Johnson's plotting, Rogers saw the need for peace and unity on the frontier, and in addition to his Indian negotiations and gifts, he began to cultivate the friendship and loyalty of the settlement, largely British and French traders and habitants of French extraction. Rogers dreamed of a vast interior British colony or province, to be administered by himself as governor and Privy Council reporting to the King's ministers, largely circumventing the local authority of Gage and Johnson. Meanwhile, Gage and Johnson's supporters in the garrision hiearchy, especially Benjamin Roberts, Johnson's agent who arrived in June 1757, reported on Rogers' activities--real and imagined-- and "lavish" expenditures, allowing them to defame Rogers, portraying him as an profligate opportunist and possibly a traitor to the Crown. On 6 December 1767, Captain Frederick Spiesmacher with a file of soldiers from the Royal Americans, under authority of an order received from General Gage, arrested Rogers on the parade ground and confined him in irons. What follows is Christie's narrative report, in form of a letter, from this point forward:
"In my last from this I informed you that Major Rogers was Confined For Treason by General Orders. he at that time seemd. to submit to his fate, saying he had it in his power to satisfy the world of his innocence and Loyalty to his King."
"As subtill as Hell itself as this traitor been [missing] happy are we here who have found out his Treacherous D[esigns] as You'll see by his behaviour since his Confinement ....about the last of January a Canadian...came privatley [sic] to Capt. Spiesmacher told him he had a secret of the greatest Consequence...but wanted his Honour in pledge as he thought his life might be in danger from the soldiers and Others if he was known...he then informed him that Major Rogers had sent him several Messages by his former servant David Fullerton soldier in the 2d. Battn. 60th Regiment to do what he could to save his life, that the Major was in the French interest and would make his Fortune if he would befriend him [the informant asked Roger's servant] how many Friends he had in the Garrison to assist Rogers his designs of getting his Liberty [to which Fullerton stated that] ...all the soldiers in the Garrison Except three or Four, one man of the Artillery and Lt. Christies servant."
"The Night after....the Major then begd. him to get Savages in his interest to decoy the Commandant and Lieut. Christie out of the Fort to ride in a Careole or other ways take them prisoners" Christie continues in great detail describing elements of the purported escape and betrayal plot of Rogers and the methods Christie undertook to discover and prevent it, noting that "I gave my honour in Pledge that Rogers should not break from his Confinement till all was brought to Light, I could not at this
time trust the Troops Even those on duty, the want of Sleep and other Nourishment for six days and nights so Fatigue'd me that I have scarce recovered yet." Eventually, Christie and Spiesmacher privately confront Fullerton who "burst into Tears begd. for his life Cursing Rogers and spouse and Confided his Treacherous Designs as above taken upon oath...and Serjeant McMurray, Rogers and he is now in Irons and men to Guard them in their different apartments day and night till the Vessel arrives [later that spring, when Rogers was to be sent eastward for trial." It would not be until 20 October 1768 that Rogers could confront his accusers in a court martial convened at Montreal. Although acquitted of all charges eleven days later, Rogers was kept in prison by Gage until February 1769 and did not fully gain his freedom until June, when a letter was received from London that signified the King's approval of the court's findings. Gage refused to reinstate Rogers at Michilimackinac, creditors were hounding him and his reputation was ruined--the once proud Ranger was left a broken man. Lieutenant Christie's unpublished letter to Johnson, provides new details on the captivity and actions of Rogers, some of which contradicts the testimony presented by the same during the court martial.
Item Dimensions: 17 - 1/4" x 14 - 1/2".