Lot 1029
Reid, George (1733-1815), Revolutionary War soldier from New Hampshire. War-date Autograph Letter Signed, 2½ pages with integral address leaf (no postal markings), 9 x 13¾ "Mojes [?] Creek about 5 miles below Fort Edward [N.Y.]", July 22, 1777, written as Lt. Colonel of the 2nd N.H. Regiment, to his brother-in-law, Jonathan Nesmith in Londonderry, N.H. In a small, very readable script Reid has penned a detailed account of the American retreat from Ticonderoga and Mt. Independence which began only about 2½ weeks before this letter was written. In part (spelling corrected and punctuation added):
"You have no doubt heard of our unexpected retreat from Ticonderoga and Mount Independence…I can't or won't pretend to say perhaps it was for the best to evacuate both places, there was tis’ true, a very formidable fleet & land Army approaching us and [they] were making Batteries on all Quarters especially levell’d against Ty [Ticonderoga] that in all probability we could not lived on that side any time, whether or not we might have stood a seige some time on the Mount Im not alone to determine. Their force its true was far superior to ours, their Mettle [sic] heavier & their strength by sea or water very considerable."
He then gives details of abandoning Ticonderoga, crossing and cutting the bridge between Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, then being shelled by the British as they were leaving "the Mount". He adds further details of the retreat, of Col. [Ebenezer] Francis’ rejection of British Genl. [Simon] Frazer’s offer of terms for surrender, of various skirmishes on the way to Hubbardton and of his being shot and rescued, etc. He gives names of the officers captured, tells of how their baggage was sent ahead by boat but was captured, and how Col. [Joseph] Cilley, for safety’s sake, had put his son aboard a boat with the baggage. Regarding the latter Reid writes "…Colo. Cilley lost all his baggage with his young son but Genl. Burgoyne treated his son very kindly while with him and has sent him home into our camp with a flag". Finally, Reid talks of their current camp where "Genl. Nixon’s Brigade is arrived to our assistance"and "…we hear Genl. [John] Sullivan is on his way to join us"and "…Genl. [Benedict] Arnold arrived here yesterday, for what purpose I can’t yet tell…" Condition is Fine but with multiple tape repairs along split folds.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
A FASCINATING AND IMPORTANT HISTORICAL ACCOUNT.
With the capture of Col. Nathan Hale [no relation] at the Battle of Hubbardton by the British Army, Lt. Col. George Reid took command of the 2nd N.H. Regiment and led them during the rest of the Saratoga Campaign, the Battle of Monmouth and the Sullivan Expedition of 1779. He was eventually promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.
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| Realized $3,750 |
