Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee Lengthy ALS Important Content, "a resort to arms be unavoidable"

Henry Lee III (1756-1818). Autograph Letter Signed, "Henry Lee", 2pp on one sheet of laid paper measuring 8.125" x 12.625", Richmond, August 15, 1807. Flattened folds, some with minor separation; rectangular area of toning at top half of recto; partial ink erosion at date; mounting remnants at left margin; a few edge tears; else, in near fine condition with bold text.

Lee writes to Captain John Tayloe III (1771-1828), in part, "Lt. Ball presented me with the dispatch entrusted to him this morning. Soon after I had a conference with the Governor & have the pleasure to transmit herewith commissions for yrself & officers. I have placed yr. troops under the law of Congress requiring 30,000 volunteers for one year. It is very probable that the troops under yr. command will be first from the State in that line. You ought to procure a beugle horn & beugler insetad of a French horn. Both are to be met with in Philada. I am compelled to proceed to York town tomorrow in prosecution of my plan for giving voluteers only out of my division, where in case further instructions from me should be necessary yr. letter will find me for a few more days...Whether I shall be employed in the war is unknown to me...If however a resort to arms be unavoidable & myself called to the field I shall be happy in manifesting my respect to yr. principles & zeal."

Born in Virginia and a graduate of Princeton, Henry Lee was commissioned into the Continental Army, where he used his equestrian skills to lead raids on enemy stores. His success drew the attention of General George Washington, earning him rapid promotion and the nickname "Light Horse". At his victory in the 1779 battle at Paulus Hook, New Jersey, Lee captured 400 British soldiers, with the loss of only one man. Washington sent him to fight in the south, and following the British surrender, Lee retired from the Army to begin a political career. He served three terms in the Virginia House of Delegates, the Continental Congress, and as Governor of Virginia. In 1794, Washington ordered Governor Lee to command a militia to quell the Whiskey Rebellion, which he did without losing a single soldier. 

The here-offered letter was written eight months after the birth of Lee's son, Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), the future commander of the Confederate Army, and refers to Virginia Governor William H. Cabell (1772-1853), in office from 1805 to 1808, and whose order Lee is obeying.

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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