Beschreibung:

WASHINGTON, GEORGE, 1732-1799, President . Letter signed ("G:Washington") as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, to the President of Congress (Henry Laurens of South Carolina), "Head Q[ua]r[ters] near the Gulph," 14-15 December 1777. 5 pages, folio, 325 x 209mm. (12 7/8 x 8 1/8 in.), integral blank, with recipient's docket, damage at fold intersections slightly affecting a few words of text, with a very unfortunate old stain (possibly from an early oil lamp?) affecting portions of each page, although the text remains quite readable.. PREPARING FOR WINTER CAMP AT VALLEY FORGE, AFTER THE LOSS OF PHILDELPHIA TO THE BRITISH, WASHINGTON REPORTS TO CONGRESS A letter of exceptional interest, despite its unfortunate condition, constituting one of the Commander-in-Chief's highly detailed and frank reports to Congress on the military situation at the end of the Philadelphia campaign. American fortunes were in the ascendant in the north, with the surrender of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga (see lot ), but the Philadelphia campaigns, from June to December, culminating in the loss of the capital, Philadelphia, were a severe blow. Washington explains his unwillingness to exchange or parole an important British prisoner, the Baron St. Vicary, whose situation, "thro the interest of the Marquis de Lafayette with an officer in the guards, is much more comfortable than that of any of our officers, who are prisoners,,," Any special dispensation granted the Baron, Washington argues, "would be illy received by our own unhappy officer, who have been longer in confinement..." He then describes, in detail, the unexpected battle at Matson's Ford (near present-day Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, on the Schuylkill) which took place between 3,000 British foragers under Lord Cornwallis and Washington's vanguard on their march to winter qurters at Valley Forge: "On Thursday morning [11 December] we marched from our Old Encampment [White Marsh] and intended to pass the Schuylkill at Maddisons Ford...[w]hen the first Division and a part of the Second had passed, they found a body of the Enemy, consisting, from the best accounts we have been able to obtain, of [4000] Men, under Lord Cornwallis...This unexpected Event obliged such of our Troops, as had crossed to repass and prevented our getting over till the succeeding night. This Maneuver on the part of the Enemy, was not in consequence of any information they had of our movement, but was designed to secure the pass whilst they were foraging in the Neighbouring Country; they were met in their advance, by General Potter with part of the Pennsylvania Militia, who behaved with bravery and gave them every possible opposition, till they were obliged to retreat from their superior numbers. Had we been an Hour sooner, or had had the least information of the measure, I am persuaded we should have given his Lordship a fortunate stroke or obliged him to have returned, without effecting his purpose...[Cornwallis] collected a good deal of forage and returned to the City [Philadelphia] the night we passed the River..." Washington then considers the question of the parole of General John Burgoyne and his army, being held at Cambridge. Burgoyne has asked to be able to return by ship from Rhode Island with his "suite" of aides, which Washington says cannot be permitted; he asks for guidance: "Congress will be pleased to determine upon it and favor me with their Sentiments...that I may know what answer to give him." Washington passes on a report that "this Gentleman [General Burgoyne] either holds, or professes to hold very different Ideas of our power, than what he formerly entertained...without reserve he has said it would be next to impossible for Britain to succeed in her views, and that he should with freedom declare his Sentiments accordingly on his Arrival in England, and seemed to think the recognition of our Independence by the King and Parliament an Eligible measure, under a Treaty of Commerce upon a large an