American War of Independence. Collection of Manuscript Receipts (7) Signed by Various British Generals (or their aide-de-camp) and Officers at Boston, October 3rd, 1775

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Seven (7) Signed Manuscripts, oblong octavos. Payments made by General Thomas Gage, as Commander-in-Chief, North America and Governor of Massachusetts Bay (through his Deputy Quarter-Master General at Boston, Major William Shirreff) to his Generals and Officers for forage (horses). The manuscript receipts, all with different amounts, ranging from 41£ to 412£, in function of assignment and number of rations per day, all for a period of 165 days, were issued for the following British Generals and Officers: 1.Commander-in-Chief (Gage), signed by Sam Kemble, as (Confidential) Secretary (Sam Kemble was the brother of Gage's wife, Margaret Kemble Gage). 2.Sam Kemble, signed by him as Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief. 3.Major General Sir Henry Clinton, signed by Duncan Drummond, Aide-de-Camp. 4.General Robert Pigot, signed by him. 5.General Robert Donkin, signed by him as Aide-de-Camp. 6.General Valentine Jones, signed by him as Brigadier General. 7.Henry Boohr (?), signed by him as Aide-de-Camp. Key American War of Independence dates to understand these receipts: 1.April 19th, 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord Battles, the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. 2.June 17th, 1775: Battle of Bunker Hill. While the result was a victory for the British, they suffered heavy losses: over 800 wounded and 226 killed, including a notably large number of officers. 3.September 26th, 1775: Gage called to England (order received on that day in Boston). 4.October 3rd, 1775: Signature of these receipts. 5.October 10th, 1775: Gage surrendered command to Howe. 6.October 11th, 1775: Gage sailed to England. Interestingly enough, the period of 165 days of forage takes us back exactly to the Battles of Lexington and Concord. So the period covered is from the date of those battles to October 3rd, 1775, the time of the receipts! Perfect match ! These money compensations are timely and fit perfectly well within the time frame, as Gage wanted to pay tribute to his surviving officers, just before sailing back to England after his recall. Important set. Seller Inventory # 000443

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