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(AMERICAN REVOLUTION--1780.) [Washington, George.] Letter concerning the need for ammunition in the wake...

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(AMERICAN REVOLUTION--1780.) [Washington, George.] Letter concerning the need for ammunition in the wake of the Battle of Springfield. Manuscript Letter from George Washington to General Henry Knox, in the hand of Washington's aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman, with Washington's signature removed. One page, 11 1/2 x 8 inches, with docketing in Knox's hand on verso and no postal markings; separation at folds stabilized with early repairs, tape staining, moderate edge wear. Pequanic [Pequannock], NJ, 26 June 1780

An original letter from General Washington; the words are his, but the handwriting is not, and the signature is lacking. It was written three days after the Continental victory at the Battle of Springfield. As Washington's army headed north, he stayed for two nights at the Henry Doremus house in Pequannock, from where he sent this letter.
The letter reads: "It is highly necessary that an estimate should be formed of the quantity of ordnance stores necessary for the expected cooperation in its fullest extent, that by comparing it with the return of those on hand, we may be able to ascertain the deficiency, which I very much fear (notwithstanding the pressing call upon the Board of War and ordnance last fall when Count D'Estaing was expected for an ample supply of every thing in this way) will be considerable. I know not whether you have such of your papers with you, as will enable you to form such an estimate with accuracy, but I would wish you to make out the best that circumstances will admit, and furnish the committee at Morris Town with one copy and me with another. Some of the states may perhaps have considerable quantities of private stores, and therefore the sooner we can come to a knowledge of our wants the better, that we may have the more time to make application to the states for what they can spare, and to draw them towards the probable place of operation."
The original retained draft is in the Washington papers at the Library of Congress; this is the final letter sent to General Knox. It sheds light on at least one minor point. The placement of the end parenthesis in the original draft was unclear, and was transcribed in the Washington papers as being after "was expected", but it is clear here that it falls after "in this way"--which makes more sense. This final version also reduces "General Return" to simply "Return," and in the final sentence switches "as we shall" to "that we may."

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(AMERICAN REVOLUTION--1780.) [Washington, George.] Letter concerning the need for ammunition in the wake of the Battle of Springfield. Manuscript Letter from George Washington to General Henry Knox, in the hand of Washington's aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman, with Washington's signature removed. One page, 11 1/2 x 8 inches, with docketing in Knox's hand on verso and no postal markings; separation at folds stabilized with early repairs, tape staining, moderate edge wear. Pequanic [Pequannock], NJ, 26 June 1780

An original letter from General Washington; the words are his, but the handwriting is not, and the signature is lacking. It was written three days after the Continental victory at the Battle of Springfield. As Washington's army headed north, he stayed for two nights at the Henry Doremus house in Pequannock, from where he sent this letter.
The letter reads: "It is highly necessary that an estimate should be formed of the quantity of ordnance stores necessary for the expected cooperation in its fullest extent, that by comparing it with the return of those on hand, we may be able to ascertain the deficiency, which I very much fear (notwithstanding the pressing call upon the Board of War and ordnance last fall when Count D'Estaing was expected for an ample supply of every thing in this way) will be considerable. I know not whether you have such of your papers with you, as will enable you to form such an estimate with accuracy, but I would wish you to make out the best that circumstances will admit, and furnish the committee at Morris Town with one copy and me with another. Some of the states may perhaps have considerable quantities of private stores, and therefore the sooner we can come to a knowledge of our wants the better, that we may have the more time to make application to the states for what they can spare, and to draw them towards the probable place of operation."
The original retained draft is in the Washington papers at the Library of Congress; this is the final letter sent to General Knox. It sheds light on at least one minor point. The placement of the end parenthesis in the original draft was unclear, and was transcribed in the Washington papers as being after "was expected", but it is clear here that it falls after "in this way"--which makes more sense. This final version also reduces "General Return" to simply "Return," and in the final sentence switches "as we shall" to "that we may."

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Time, Location
16 Apr 2019
USA, New York City, NY
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