Military surgeon during the Revolutionary War [not to be confused with the politician or the loyalist of the same name]. ALS to his wife, Sally, requesting news from home and updating on life in the army and movement of the enemy. 1 p.
ALS, New York. To John Halsted. Enclosing a certificate [included] from Major Frederick Weisenfel attesting to Halsted's service as commissary to the army in Canada from 1775-1776; with other bits of news. 1 p.
DS. Written oath that between October 1783 and December 1784 his only source of income was from half pay as a reduced lieutenant in Brigadier General Hinner's New Jersey volunteers. 1 p.
American Lieutenant Colonel. ALS, Quebec. Giving his eyewitness account of the Battle of Quebec [December 1775]. Explaining the circumstances of his assuming command and ordering retreat after the death of Major General Richard Montgomery. 11 pp.
Commander of the 1st Pennsylvania regiment. ALS, Mount Prospect Camp. To Edward Hand, Brigadier General Commanding the Western Department. Describing various military operations and speculating on General Washington's plans. 2 pp.
Continental soldier writing to his family from war.
ALS, Roxbury. To his mother, Sarah, thanking her for her letters and packages, giving description of a recent battle. 1 p.
ALS, Roxbury. To his brother, Nathaniel, describing the men from his regiment and a few of their military activities. 1 p.
AL, Roxbury. To his mother, Sarah, discussing a possible timeframe for his return home from military service. 1 p.
ALS, Brookline. To his brother, Nathaniel, giving brief accounts of various military skirmishes. 2 p.
ALS, New York. To his mother, Sarah, complaining about the high prices and lack of food, asking her to send him provisions. 1 p.
Assistant Commissary. ALS, Commissary General's Office, Newport. To Samuel Barret enclosing a return of provisions. 1 p.
DS, Boston. A list of the field and staff officers in Colonel Craft's artillery regiment. 1 p.
ALS, Morristown. Describing the enemy's surprise ambush of General Lincoln's forces near Bound Brook, commenting on the growth of the army, and questioning the delay in expected reinforcements from Virginia. 1 p.
Captain in the Continental Army.
ANS to Isaac Reddington, requesting a gun for a Mr. Balch, who wishes to join the regiment at Winter Hill. On a small slip of paper.
ADS noting that Nathaniel Peas Cogswill and Samuel Harriman have refused to pay a tax related to the Continental Army. 1 p.
ALS, "Northkingstown." To Ephraim Bowen. Concerning a change in procedure for filing returns with the quartermaster. 1 p.
ALS, Brunswick. To William Paterson. Explaining that the death of her husband and the loss of her estate at the hands of British plunderers left her family in desperate need of money; she therefore feels justified in suing the equally destitute Mr. Courtland for money owed her. 2 pp.
ALS (draft), Middletown. To Captain John Patten. About the procuring of wagons requested by General Washington. 2 pp.
Copy of a letter written to the Commanding Officer at Winter Hill reporting the escape of a number of enemy prisoners. 2 pp.
Kearny was a captain for the British. Printed British press warrant granting Kearney permission to impress seamen to man His Majesty's ships. Signed by Lords Sandwich, Buller, and Penton. 1 p.
ADS. Ordering Captain Thomas Allen to immediately call his company of men together. Signed as colonel. 1 p.
ALS, Boston. To Samuel White. Sympathizing with his difficulties and offering to help. 2 pp.
American Revolutionary soldier. AMs journal. "Journal for Jas. McMichael commencing the 27th May A.D. 1776 containing a brief account of the marches of the Penna. Rifle Regt. with the distance in miles from place to place--and some remarks on the country and inhabitants." Original autograph manuscript journal of an officer during the American Revolution, who took part in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, the retreat through New Jersey, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, and the winter at Valley Forge. 126 pp., bound.
French infantry captain. ALS in French. To his uncle, M. de St. Esteve. Containing an account of the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. 3 pp.
British officer in the American Revolution. ALS, Boston. To London bankers Arnauld & Albert Nesbit. Planning to pay some debts for "the unfortunate Mr. Delap," and mentioning the "disagreeable war" and intentions to "sally out on the enemy this very night." [Written just days before the battle at Bunker Hill.] 1 p.
Read was the Commissary, Barrack Master, and Clerk at Fort Island. ALS, Fort Island. To Owen Biddle. On business commissions he is undertaking. 2 pp.
American Revolutionary soldier. ALS, Trenton. About the difficulty of buying supplies; asking for money. 2 pp.
American Revolutionary officer. ALS, Elizabethtown. Recipient unknown. Describing the dire situation of the troops under his command, saying that wood is so scarce they have started burning fences and that hay & grain are often unavailable; begging for some help. 1 p.
Secretary of the Committee of Observation of Brookhaven, New York. AMsS. Copy of the minutes of a meeting of the Committee, giving resolutions to cooperate with Congress in order to seek redress for grievances against the British government. 2 pp.
ALS, Philadelphia. To the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania. Referring to his contract to supply armed vessels for the defense of the province and the necessity of a cash advance to complete his duties as contracted. 1 p. with separate address sheet.
American Revolutionary Officer in the Pennsylvania militia. ALS, Bucks County. To General John Lacey. Apologizing for the poor quality of soldiers coming from his county, reporting a rumor that the general illegally confiscated horses from some racers and jockeys, sharing his suspicions that the seal on a letter written him by the President was broken before the letter reached him. 3 pp.
Letters to his children.
ALS, New York. Giving directions regarding his upcoming trip to Newark. 1 p.
ALS, New York. Describing the upcoming evacuation of New York by the British and how it affects his business dealings; with family news. 4 pp.
American Revolutionary general. LS, Elizabeth Town. To New Jersey Governor William Livingston. Saying that the soldiers in the New Jersey militia have not been receiving their monthly pay and as a consequence many will likely abandon. Requesting that a paymaster be appointed to oversee the situation and informing Livingston of a lack of ammunition. 3 pp.
Yeates was politician and justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. This files consists of letters written to him by his nephews and a fellow Pennsylvanian concerning the war.
Yeates' nephew.
Long Island. Sending money as partial repayment of a loan and giving instructions as to his possessions should he die in the war. 1 p.
New York. Giving his account of the Battle of Long Island. 1 p.
West Chester. Reporting the enemy's landing on Long Island, damage to English ship Rose under "infamous" Commander [James] Wallace, and the capture of American prisoners. 2 pp.
Fort Pitt. Discussing plans to combat the "savage barbarity" of the Indians, with the exception of the friendly and compliant Delaware tribe. 1 p.
Fort Pitt. Describing an attack on an Indian camp believed to be full of warriors, which actually consisted of women and children. 2 pp.
Yeates' nephew. ALS, Elizabeth Town. Giving account of a small skirmish and stressing that no major engagements are yet anticipated. 1 p.
Hartley (1748-1800) was an American soldier and politician from Pennsylvania. ALS, Camp at Sorel. Reporting on the attack on the British forces at Three Rivers, the defeat of the Americans, and the retreat to the Sorel, mentioning all prominent officers, [John] Burgoyne, and the overall British plan. 5 pp.