Autographs
June 1780 Robert Howe Continental Army Major General Hudson Highlands Revolutionary War Autograph Letter Signed Related to the Fall of Charleston, SC. in May 1780
ROBERT HOWE (1732-1786), Continental Army Major General during the American Revolutionary War; the only Major General from North Carolina; Commanded the Southern Department and was defeated at the First Battle of Savannah in 1778, and then sent to New York where he served under Gen. George Washington in the Hudson Highlands; Commanded the fortifications at West Point in 1780 and was a senior officer in the Court Martial which sentenced to death Major Andr; he remained active in the upper Hudson Valley for the remainder of the war.
June 7, 1780-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Extremely Rare Autograph Letter Signed, "R. Howe", datelined "Highlands" (Hudson Valley, New York), 4 large folio pages, measuring 9" x 14.75", Choice Fine. A rare Revolutionary War date Autograph Letter Signed by Robert Howe, with historic Superb Content, referring to the Surrender of Charleston, SC, which occurred on May 12, 1780 when British forces under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton laid siege to Charleston. Here, writing of the need for greater exertions by all the States, and of his command being in dire need of beef, and of his soldiers being on half rations, and hungry!
This Letter is completely written by American General Howe's hand, which is of terrible handwriting (being a challenge to properly transcribe), written in bold brown ink on laid period paper, folded for transmittal, with some fold splits, ink errosion and integral corrections. The fall of Charleston in 1780 was a significant event during the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War. The American forces defending Charleston were commanded by General Benjamin Lincoln, not Robert Howe. In May 1780, British forces under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton laid siege to Charleston, which was defended by a combination of Continental Army and militia troops.
The siege proved to be successful for the British, and on May 12, 1780, General Benjamin Lincoln was forced to surrender the city and its garrison of American troops. The loss of Charleston, SC was a severe blow to the American cause in the South, as it resulted in the capture of a large portion of the Continental Army and a significant quantity of military supplies. This important Revolutionary War Letter reads, in part:
"Highlands, 7th June 1780
Dear Sir, --- Yours of the fourth inst. is this morning received, in a hurry I acknowledge & thank you for it... I have my doubts ... as to its being taken on the 12th of May, tho I think it must, from its exterior line of defence, fall ... I gave an order for once I heard they had let the enemy's... cross the bar. It was not however taken on the day they say. I have every reason to think it was safe on the 10th & ... in no immediate danger, as it would have taken more time to adjust the mere ceremonies of surrender than two days, nor do I think it is believed to be taken in New York, for my spies, one of which was in there only yesterday morning, says it is not credited, tho' they have sanguine hopes of hearing it soon, and are preparing for Sir Henry Clinton's British to operate here.
This ought to have shown the Patriots in every State, for if they do not exert themselves our situation will be more disagreeable, not to say alarming, than ever I expected again to be in, and such as they will have reason to lament. Talk not, dear Wadsworth, of supplies coming in in plenty; they may pass you, but they come not to us, but in such sundry pittances, that we are now on half allowance & not much more than ten days at that. Don't think therefore that we do not want beef, for we can not do without it, and if you cannot have them sent as far as you would wish, have them sent as far as you can. We are hungry, and consequently not very delicate, and tho' fat beef and middling beef is better than poor beef, your poor beef is better than none...
I was (when I applied to you) as confident of having your exertions in favor of the Army, as I am of your continuing them, which convinces me the opinion I formed of you at first was a just one, for with all your faults, I thought you at first sight a clever fellow, and a man I wished to know more of, and that let me tell you, with my knowledge of the world is not a common circumstance with me. God Bless you. Write to me often, and do not be afraid of turning over the sheet next time you write, for if I wrote your hand, I would write a volume.
I am with great Esteem and sincerity, your most obt. Servt., - (Signed) R. Howe"
(Concludes) "Dear Sir, Pray stimulate Colo. Sheldon to hurry down all the mounted & dismounted Dragoons & send him orders for this purpose..."
Robert Howe was an American General during the American Revolutionary War, who played a major role in the Southern theater against the British, although he was not directly associated with the fall of Charleston in 1780.
The fall of Charleston in 1780 was a significant event during the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War. The American forces defending Charleston were commanded by General Benjamin Lincoln, not Robert Howe. In May 1780, British forces under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton laid siege to Charleston, which was defended by a combination of Continental Army and militia troops.
The siege proved to be successful for the British, and on May 12, 1780, General Benjamin Lincoln was forced to surrender the city and its garrison of American troops. The loss of Charleston was a severe blow to the American cause in the South, as it resulted in the capture of a large portion of the Continental Army and a significant quantity of military supplies.
While Robert Howe did play a role in the Southern theater of the Revolutionary War, his involvement was more focused on earlier campaigns, and he was not directly associated with the events leading to the fall of Charleston in 1780. Yet he reported the terrible conditions and issues related to current state of readiness of his troops.