Lot 234
Gates, Horatio (1727-1806) Revolutionary War general; took part in the unsuccessful Conway Cabal which planned to oust Washington and make Gates Commander-in-Chief. Autograph Letter Signed as Adjutant General, 1¼pp and integral address leaf, 12¼ x 7½ in., Headquarters, July 29, 1775. To Lt. Col. (Loammi) Baldwin, Commanding at Chelsea (Mass.), conveying General Washington's wishes. "The General received your letter acquainting him with the Inhabitants being now sending out of Boston to Chelsea. His Excellency Orders you upon no Account to suffer any that are sent thither by General Gages Order, and permission, to come to this Camp, or the Camp at Roxbury until you receive his positive Commands for it. The General Court of the province were wrote to immediately upon your Letter arriving this afternoon, & they will no doubt forthwith give proper directions for the disposal, & the provision necessary for all the Inhabitants that come from Boston to Chelsea. As there can be nothing Hostile to apprehend with you, while this Transaction is going on, the General does not see any morning relating to the misbehaviour of Capt. Lindsay. If there are any reasons for your demanding a reinforcemnt, more than what appears by your last letter, will inform the General thereof by return of the Express." Some splitting along folds and minor paper loss on address leaf, else fine.
Gates took command of the Northern Department in August of 1776. He took credit for the victory at Saratoga, even though it was Benedict Arnold and Philip Schuyler who actually defeated the British; Arnold, in fact, referred to Gates as "Granny Gates" for his reluctance to engage in combat. After the failure of the Conway Cabal, Gates took command of the Eastern Department (November 1778), then in May 1780 of the Southern Department. After suffering a diastrous defeat at the battle of Camden, Gates was replaced by Nathanael Greene and never commanded in the field again.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000.
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| Realized $3,290 |
