Beschreibung:

WASHINGTON, GEORGE, President. Letter signed (G: Washington) as General of the Continental Army, in the hand of Richard Kidder Meade, to Commodore John Hazelwood at Fort Mifflin, Skippack Camp [Northeast of Philadelphia], 11 October 1777. 1 page , folio, 230 x 375mm. (9 x 14 1/2 in.), tiny losses at fold intersections not affecting text, slight discoloration. [ With ] Autograph free frank ("G: Washington"), on integral cover sheet addressed to Hazelwood, labeled "On public Service" in another hand, recipient's docket, seal hole. THE PHILADELPHIA CAMPAIGN WINDS DOWN: WASHINGTON BELATEDLY ATTEMPTS TO HOLD ONTO THE RIVER FORTS A FINE LETTER TO AN AMERICAN NAVAL HERO, WRITTEN A FEW DAYS AFTER THE CONTINENTAL ARMY'S REPULSE IN THE BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN (4 OCTOBER 1777), AND WEEKS BEFORE GENERAL WASHINGTON ORDERED HIS TROOPS TO VALLEY FORGE FOR THE WINTER. HERE WASHINGTON BELATEDLY ATTEMPTS TO STRENGTHEN THE AMERICAN HOLD ON THE IMPORTANT DELAWARE AND SCHUYLKILL RIVER FORTS, WHICH THREATENED THE BRITISH ARMY'S POSSESSION OF THE AMERICAN CAPITAL. "COLO. SMITH INFORMS THAT THE ENEMY HAVE BEEN RAISING BATTERIES NEAR THE LANDING PLACE AT WEBBS FERRY, WITH AN INTENT TO COVER THEIR PAASAGE OVER TO THE PROVINCE ISLAND. IF THE BATTERY IS ERECTED UPON THE MEADOWS OR UPON THE WHARF IT MAY BE MUCH INJURED OR THE APPROACH TO IT FROM THE CITY RENDERED VERY DIFFICULT BY CUTTING THE MEADOW BANKS IN FIVE OR SIX PLACES FROM THE MOUTH OF SCHUYLKILL UP TO THE MOUTH OF HOLLANDER'S CREEK AND LAYING THE WHOLE COUNTRY UNDER WATER. IF THE DYKE THAT DAMS OUT HOLLANDERS CREEK WAS LIKEWISE OUT IT WOULD CONTRIBUTE MUCH TO RAISE THE WATER. THIS SHOULD BE DONE IN THE NIGHT, AND WHEN IT IS ONCE EFFECTED THE GALLEIS [ SIC ] MIGHT KEEP ANY PERSONS FROM REPARING THE BREACHES. I BEG THIS MAY BE DONE AS SPEEDILY AS POSSIBLE AND WITH SECRECY. ON THE SECURITY OF THE FLEET AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS DEPENDS UPON KEEPING POSSESSION OF FORT MIFFLIN AND RED BANK[.] I HOPE YOU WILL COOPERATE WITH THE GENTLEMEN IN THE LAND SERVICE AND ENDEAVOUR TO MAKE USE OF EVERY MEAN TO EFFECT SO SALUTARY A MEASURE. P.S. WAS ANY THING EVER DONE TOWARDS DESTROYING THE HAY UPON THE MEADOWS BELOW PHILAD[ELPHIA]. I THINK I RECOMMENDED IT TO YOU BY COLO. SMITH WHEN HE WENT DOWN." ONCE GENERAL HOWE CAPTURED PHILADELPHIA, HE NEEDED TO CLEAR THE DELAWARE RIVER OF AMERICAN TROOPS AT FORT MIFFLIN, FORT MERCER AND MUD ISLAND. IN ORDER TO DO THIS, HE MOVED TROOPS FROM GERMANTOWN TO PROVINCE ISLAND AND BESIEGED FORT MIFFLIN ON 10 OCTOBER 1777. COMMODORE HAZELWOOD WAS COMMANDER OF ALL PENNSYLVANIA FLEETS AND, CONSEQUENTLY, HE, NOT WASHINGTON, WAS IN CHARGE OF DEFENDING THE RIVER. HAZELWOOD WAS PROMOTED TO COMMODORE IN EARLY 1777 AND WAS MADE COMMANDER OF ALL PENNSYLVANIA FLEETS 6 SEPTEMBER 1777; HE WAS ALSO COMMENDED BY CONGRESS FOR HIS BRAVERY WHEN HE REFUSED TO SURRENDER TO GENERAL HOWE AFTER HOWE CAPTURED PHILADELPHIA. AND, AFTER HAZELWOOD VALIANTLY DEFENDED THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER, DESTROYING TWO BRITISH MEN-OF-WAR AND DRIVING FOUR OTHERS AWAY ON 22 OCTOBER 1777, CONGRESS PRESENTED HIM WITH A SWORD.