Uriah Tracy Claims He is Still General, Despite Sedgwick's Appointment of Another

Autograph Letter Signed, "Uriah Tracy", 2pp, on bifold stationery measuring 8" x 13", New Hartford, Connecticut, April 15, 1791. Integral address leaf in Tracy's hand to Colonel Jonathan Humphrey in Simsbury. Docketing to verso. Remnants of red wax seal with opening tear. Expected folds with separation and minor loss. Toning, foxing and isolated areas of discoloration. Scattered ink splatter. In very good condition.

General John Sedgwick (1813-1864) had recently appointed another man to Tracy's post as Brigade General, and Tracy claims that this appointment was invalid. In part: "This has been done, without my resignation, or any removal from him, or any complaint on his part of any neglect or misdemeanor on my part...I am told he says, my office was vacated upon the Resignation of Genl Swift: this I deny and refer you to the Statute Law directing the appointment of Staff Officers, when I think it is plainly indicated that, a removal from office must be by reason of misdemeanor or neglect of duty...I think myself abused by Genl Sedgwick, & he says not a word to me, but proceeds as tho' I was dead." Tracy tells Humphrey that he has written letters to all the Colonels, keeping them abreast of the situation, and asking that they send the returns to him, as he is still the rightful Brigade General.

Though both Sedgwick and Tracy had been involved in helping to suppress local troubles after Shay's Rebellion three years earlier, they apparently had a falling out. Sedgwick, thirteen years old than Tracy, carried more political weight, his brother being Theodore Sedgwick, then Representative to Congress from Massachusetts' first congressional district.

Uriah Tracy (1755-1807) was an American lawyer and politician from Connecticut. He is listed among those in a company from Roxbury that responded to the Lexington Alarm at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. He later served in the Roxbury Company as a clerk. In 1778, Tracy graduated from Yale University. He was admitted to the bar in 1781 and then practiced law in Litchfield for many years. Tracy served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1793-1796) and the U.S. Senate (1796-1807). 

At this time, Uriah Tracy had practiced law for nearly ten years and was serving as state legislature. In 1803, he and several other New England politicians proposed secession of New England from the union due to growing influence of Jeffersonian democrats and the Louisiana Purchase, which they felt would further diminish Northern influence.

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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