December 13-15, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/14/2022
Lot consists of 3 scarce Revolutionary War letters concerning the western frontier. (A) Letter datelined Fort McIntosh Oct. 30, 1779, addressed "Dear Sir" and with partial signature of "John..." The letter concerns drafts of men from the addressee's county with the request that they be hurried forward since many of the men under General McIntosh's command are due to be discharged and he is, "sensible that it is in Vain to pretend to keep militia after their times are up." He says those that men can be armed after arrival, but that it would better they be armed in the county, and lists several officers sent to assist in rounding up deserters and assist in gathering those who have enrolled but not joined the battalion, noting that a captain, lieutenant, and ensign must have fifty men and they are short in making up companies from the men on hand. A very interesting letter from an officer serving closely with McIntosh who might be identifiable. Fort McIntosh was built by Gen. Lachlan McIntosh in 1778 at the present site of Beaver, Pennsylvania, to protect the western frontier from attacks by the British and their Native American allies. CONDITION: Good. Small losses to right edge, but fully legible. (B) Letter of recommendation by Thomas Hartley, officer of the 6th Pennsylvania and Colonel of Hartley's Additional Continental Regiment, recommending former lieutenant John Grier of Chambersburg to be captain in the 6th Pa Battalion: "he is exceedingly worthy of notice in an Expedition- he is well acquainted in the Indian country- a good woodsman and a man of honour and a soldier..." Hartley adds a note about another lieutenant who would "probably be useful on the western expedition." This likely refers to the September 1778 expedition against Queen Esther's Town, but there was plenty of concern about the frontier and possible expeditions into Indian territory. CONDITION: Excellent. (C) August 1776 letter from Pittsburg by Ephraim Douglas to Colonel Eneas MacKay at Edmondstone. Douglass was a trader at Fort Pitt and Fort Kittaning, where he joined the 8th Pennsylvania under Colonel MacKay as Quartermaster. The letter concerns the hiring of a Mr. Coxe as armourer, which he regards as a necessity and the rate of pay he expects to be reasonable. In early 1777 the regiment marched across Pennsylvania to join Washington in New Jersey. MacKay died of fever soon after. Douglass became aide to General Lincoln, was captured and spent 3 years as a prisoner of war, returning to active service in 1780 and later acting as a peace emissary to Indian leaders at Fort Detroit and Niagara. He returned to civilian life but was appointed a brigadier general in the Pennsylvania militia and took part in suppressing the Whiskey Rebellion. CONDITION: Excellent.
Item Dimensions: 15" X 9 - 1/2"