Autographs
Rare Brigadier General “Moses Hazen” Continental Army 1780 Court Martial Trial of ISAAC TICHENOR (Vermont)
MOSES HAZEN (1733-1803). Brigadier General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He saw action in the French and Indian War with Rogers' Rangers. Hazen served throughout the Revolutionary War, seeing action in the 1775 Battle of Quebec, 1777 Philadelphia campaign, and at Yorktown in 1781.
April 18, 1780-Dated Revolutionary War, Autograph Letter Signed, “Moses Hazen,” 1 page, measuring 12.5” x 7.75” at Springfield, New Jersey, Choice Extremely Fine. This Letter is neatly penned being written upon fresh, clean period laid paper that is only lightly folded. It is easy to read and has an exceptional choice full signature “Moses Hasen” measuring over 2.5” long. This is an excellent, high quality example for display.

This historic Letter is written in regard to a relatively famous and important Continental Army Court Martial Trial of ISAAC TICHENOR (1754-1838), then an Deputy Commissary, and later became Twice elected early Governor of the State of Vermont. In 1777 Ticheror was appointed Assistant Commissary and bought supplies for distribution to the Northern Department of the Continental Army. He was brought up on numerous charges that he was misusing his purchasing powers. Ultimately, Isaac Tichenor was fully acquitted of all charges in this well documented Court Martial. See: The Writings of George Washington, which fully describes this incident in significant detail.

Here, Hazen writes to Colonel Jonathan Chase (1732-1800). In 1775, Chase was appointed Colonel of the 13th New Hampshire Militia Regiment. He led his regiment to Fort Ticonderoga in 1776 to support the Continental Army and served in General William Whipple's Brigade of New Hampshire Militia during the Saratoga Campaign of 1777. At the surrender of General John Burgoyne, Col. Chase actually drew up the “Articles of Convention for the Surrender” of General Burgoyne's Army for General Horatio Gates.

This Autograph Letter Signed by then Colonel Moses Hazen is in regard to the Court Martial of Isaac Tischnor, the twice future Governor of the State of Vermont from: Oct. 16, 1797 - Oct. 09, 1807 and from Oct. 14, 1808 to Oct. 14, 1809. In 1814 he was again elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served until 1821. This Letter reads, in full,

“Springfield 18th April 1780 ----

The court martial for the trail of Mr. Isaac Tichenor, Commissary of Purchases has been convened at this place. The court has found it necessary to adjour to Charlestown and thre to meet on Monday the 24th instant at 10 o’clock in the fore noon. Your evidence will be necessary on that day, or as soon after as you can possibly attend. Not so much on the principal charges exhibited against Mr. Tichenor, as for the Credit of; justice due; and future protection of your own country - which will much depend on the event of this trial. I have desired this letter to be forwarded to you by express where ever you may be, and beg you will not omit giving your personal attendance at Charlestown in this trial. --- I am --- Dear Sir --- your very Humble Serv’t. --- (Signed) Moses Hazen”.

Docket upon the blank reverse reads: “Colo(nel) Hazen Leter (sic) April 18th 1780.”
Mozes Hazen was apprenticed to a tanner when the French and Indian War broke out. In 1756, he enlisted with the local militia, which included a number of family members. He first served at Fort William Henry near Lake George, where he probably first met, and may have served under, Robert Rogers of Rogers' Rangers.

Rogers eventually recommended him for an officer's commission in a new company of the Rangers; in 1758, after having worked for his brother providing supplies for the British Siege of Louisbourg, he was commissioned as a first lieutenant in John McCurdy's company of the Rangers at Fort Edward. In McCurdy's company, he saw action at Louisbourg, including the initial landings, when the action was quite fierce.

After Louisbourg, the company was stationed first at Fort Frederick (Saint John, New Brunswick), and then at Fort St. Anne, where the company was part of a campaign against Indians and Acadians that had taken refuge there from the ongoing expulsion of the Acadians. These raids were sometimes quite brutal; the company was known to scalp Acadian settlers. In one particularly brutal incident, Hazen was responsible for the scalping of six men, and the burning of four others, along with two women and three children, in a house he set on fire.

Joseph Bellefontaine, a leader of the local militia and the father of one of the women, claimed that he was forced to witness this event in an attempt to coerce his cooperation with the Rangers. (Bellefontaine escaped into the woods with two of his grandchildren.) General Jeffrey Amherst, who did not hear of the incident until after he had promoted Hazen to captain, noted, "I am sorry that to say what I have since heard of that affair has sullied his merit with me as I shall always disapprove of killing women and helpless children."

In January 1759, Captain McCurdy was killed when a tree felled by one of his men fell on him; Hazen was given command of the company. Later in 1759, his company was at the siege of Quebec, where the company was primarily engaged in scouting and raiding in the countryside; he was away on one of those raids during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. In another notable atrocity that may have involved Hazen's company, a priest and thirty parishioners in a parish near Quebec were killed and scalped.

Hazen also fought at the 1760 Battle of Sainte-Foy, where he was severely wounded in the thigh. In February 1761, he purchased a commission as a first Lieutenant in the 44th Regiment of Foot in the British Army. He spent the remainder of the war on garrison duty at Montreal, retiring on half-pay in 1763. General James Murray wrote approvingly of Hazen in 1761, "He discovered so much still bravery and good conduct as would justly entitle him to every military reward he could ask or demand.

At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775, Hazen was living on half-pay in Saint-Jean. When Benedict Arnold raided Fort Saint-Jean on May 18, Hazen reported the news of that raid (as well as the capture of Fort Ticonderoga) first to the military authorities in Montreal, and then to Governor Guy Carleton in Quebec, before returning home to consider the consequences the conflict might have on him and his lands.

The American invasion of Quebec arrived near his home at Saint-Jean on September 6. On that day, Hazen met with General Philip Schuyler, explaining to him that Fort Saint-Jean was well-defended and unlikely to be taken by siege, and that the local habitants were unlikely to assist the American effort. This gloomy portrait led Schuyler to consider retreating; but the arrival of additional American troops, and a more optimistic assessment from James Livingston, a grain merchant living near Chambly, encouraged the Americans to renew the attack. Livingston went on to form the 1st Canadian Regiment in November 1775.

Hazen and his regiment spent the Winter of 1779 at Washington's main encampment in Morristown, New Jersey. There Hazen was again involved in litigation; he was rejected for service on a court martial considering charges against Benedict Arnold due to their previous confrontations, and he also opened complaints of supply mismanagement during the summer's roadbuilding activities. A detailed review of the army in the Spring of 1780 by Baron von Steuben led to the recommendation that the regiments of Hazen and Livingston be merged, as Livingston's had shrunk to 103 men. Hazen and Livingston had a political tussle over seniority; although Hazen lost the claim to seniority, he ended up in command of the combined regiment.

In January 1780 the regiment was involved in a failed attack on Staten Island; word of the operation leaked to the British. Hazen's regiment was then transferred to the brigade of Enoch Poor. By the time the transfer was effected, Hazen was given command of the entire brigade, although repeated requests he had made for promotion to Brigadier General were rejected. During the summer the brigade was relocated to the West Point area. While en route, Hazen allowed his men to stop for water, breaking the army column. Baron Von Steuben ordered Hazen's arrest for this transgression of military discipline. Hazen was acquitted, and promptly countercharged Baron von Steuben with behavior unbecoming an officer and gentleman; von Steuben apologized.

Hazen's regiment was garrisoned opposite West Point that fall when British Major John André was captured and General Arnold defected. One hundred of Hazen's men, including his nephew, Benjamin Mooers, witnessed Major André's hanging.

On June 29, 1781, Hazen was finally promoted to Brigadier General and assigned command of a brigade under Lafayette during the Siege of Yorktown. Hazen's brigade served on the right of the line, and was deeply involved in the October 14 battles for the redoubts.