Survivors of Valley Forge Return 1778 Mass. Showing Death and Sickness From Rev Wars Most Brutal Campaign!

This return from July 1778 lists the companies in Col. John Bailey's "1st Massachusetts Regiment of Foot," the number of officers and men present in each company, and the number of men "wanting" to make a full regiment. It was prepared by Adjutant Luther Bailey at camp in White Plains, New York.

Among the eight companies in the regiment, a total of 36 officers and 204 men were present and fit for duty. Another 4 officers and 140 men were either sick, on furlough, or on other assignments. The regiment as a whole lacked 6 sergeants, 3 musicians, and 294 rank-and-file. The return also notes that 3 members of the regiment had died, and 1 serjeant and 2 enlisted men had joined. Several officers were absent on furlough in Massachusetts, one was a prisoner of the British, and several more were at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

[REVOLUTIONARY WAR.] Luther Bailey, Manuscript Document Signed, Return for 1st Massachusetts Regiment, July 24, 1778, White Plains, New York. 2 pp., 12.5" x 8.25". Expected folds; some edge chipping; residue of paper mount on one edge of verso; very good.

Historical Background
This return for Bailey's regiment was prepared just weeks after the Continental Army broke camp from its difficult winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The army remained there for six months, from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778. During the winter, from 1,700 to 2,000 soldiers died from disease, compounded by malnutrition. Bailey's regiment entered Valley Forge with 459 men, of whom 297 were fit for duty. Six months later, they left with 392 men, of whom 226 were fit for duty.

The Massachusetts regiments were frequently rearranged and renumbered during the Revolutionary War. This return may be for what was known as the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, also known as Thomas' Regiment and Bailey's Regiment. It was a part of the Massachusetts Line in the 1777 establishment of the Continental Army and was a successor to several provincial regiments. It was known as the 23rd Continental Regiment during its 1776 establishment. Raised on April 23, 1775, under Colonel John Thomas (1724-1776) outside of Boston, Massachusetts, the regiment was commanded for much of its existence by Colonel John Bailey. It participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill, the New York campaign, and the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, Saratoga, and Monmouth. It spent the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge. It was disbanded on November 3, 1783, at West Point, New York.

The companies were commanded by Captain Hugh Maxwell, Captain Samuel Darby (1737-1807), formerly Captain Jacob Allen (1739-1777), Captain Ephraim Burr (1737-1786), Captain Seth Drew (1747-1824), formerly Captain Isaac Warren (d. 1778), Captain Judah Alden (1750-1845), and Captain George Dunham (1750-1819). Captain Jacob Allen was shot and killed at the Battle of Freeman's Farm on September 19, 1777, the first of the battles of Saratoga. Captain Isaac Warren died at Valley Forge on June 12, 1778.

John Bailey (1730-1810) was born in Massachusetts and became a shipbuilder. In 1750, he married Ruth Randall (1730-1820), and they had at least ten children. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, he served as lieutenant colonel of the Plymouth regiment and succeeded Colonel John Thomas, who died of smallpox, as its commander. In the reorganization of the continental army, he became colonel of the 2nd Massachusetts regiment. Though he commanded the 4th Massachusetts brigade from 1778 to 1780, he did not receive the rank of brigadier general and resigned in October 1780.

Luther Bailey (1752-1820) was born in Massachusetts, the son of John Bailey and Ruth Randall Bailey. Luther Bailey enlisted in April 1775 and by September served as an adjutant in Josiah Hayden's Company in Col. John Thomas' regiment. His father soon led the regiment, and Luther Bailey served throughout the Revolutionary War, obtaining the rank of major. In 1784, he married Sylvester Little (1758-1788), and they had at least two children.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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