December 6-8, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2023
Lot consists of three items: A) Letter datelined New York 8 March 1819 signed by Isaac Chauncey to “Commodore W. Bainbridge / Comd’g Naval Forces / etc etc etc / Boston.” Both Chauncey and Bainbridge were prominent US naval officers in the War of 1812 and earlier. Bainbridge apparently asked Chauncey to check if a John Williams was a deserter from any of his ships. Williams had apparently run off to join the army and Chauncey is inclined to leave him there if the Secretary of the Navy approves. CONDITION: Very good. Small tear at top. (B) August 1812 return approved and signed by Zebulon Pike: “Z.M. Pike / Col Comg /15 Reg” forwarding a request for 6 “additional drum heads for use of the 15 Regt. Infy.” Docketed on reverse. CONDITION: Very good. Pike (1779-1813) was an army officer and explorer for whom Pikes Peak is named. During Jefferson’s administration he led two expeditions corresponding to those of Lewis and Clark: 1805-06, exploring the northern Mississippi, and 1806-07 into the southwest, New Mexico and Texas regions, during which his men crossed the Rocky Mountains, were captured by the Spanish near Santa Fe, and eventually released in Louisiana. He rose to Colonel of the 15th US in July 1812 and General in March 1813, and was killed at the Battle of York in April. (C) 11 Feb. 1815 copy of the New York Weekly Museum newspaper, which includes a 1 2/3 column extract of a letter by Andrew Jackson describing the Battle of New Orleans. Jackson notes the British loss as “immense,” having computed it to be 1,500 and then revising it to be 2,600, with a loss to himself of “only seven killed and six wounded.” CONDITION: Very good. Minor stains. All Ex-Lattimer Collection, Isaac Chauncey document comes with a James Spence Authentication Full Letter of Authenticity.
Item Dimensions: 12" X 9"