Autographs
William Howe “1778” Dated Autograph Letter Signed As Revolutionary War Commander-in-Chief of British Forces
WILLIAM HOWE (1729-1814). 5th Viscount Howe was a British Army Officer who rose to become Commander-in-Chief of British Forces during the American Revolutionary War of Independence.
October 14, 1778-Dated Revolutionary War, Autograph Letter Signed, “W Howe”, 4 pages, measuring 7.25” x 9.25”, Cholderton, Choice Very Fine. This Letter is very bold in its written rich brown text, being upon high quality, fairly crisp and lightly folded period laid paper.

On May 24th 1778, the day General Howe sailed home for England, General Clinton took over as Commander-in-chief of British armies in America. Howe arrived back in England on July 1st, 1778 where he and his brother faced censure for their actions in North America. It is likely that the resignation of both William and his brother Richard was due to their desire to hurry home to vindicate their conduct during the campaign. In 1779 Howe and his brother demanded a parliamentary inquiry into their actions in America. The inquiry that followed was unable to confirm any charges of impropriety or mismanagement levelled against either of them. Also after returning from American to England, William Howe was elected a member of Parliament for Nottingham, representing that constituency until 1780. This Letter is addressed to “Mark Hail Esqr.” and reads, in full:

“Cholderton. Oct. 14th, 1778.

My Dear Sir --- I am much obliged to you for the list of Corporation & for your favors of the 7th. -- I conclude Smith is now with his Colleague & my hopes are that he will find it in his interest to be a Tory Member in the case we may still keep the peace upon a future occassion. -- Be assured did not my sentence upon your conduct perfectly coincide with your determination, I should most readily have given up my own opinion to your Judgement that has not to my certain knowledge was erred in your influential services you have been to good together to my late brother --

I freely own to you and am much concerned that Lt. Gen. Howe should have written to Mrs Geo. Bromley without your necesary consideration upon a matter of such importance - but she has suffered so much distress from it since she has apprehended your consequence from the receipt of your letter that I have given her every comfort I could & will. Your letter, which she sent to me, is extremely proper & as she has explained herself to you how it came about, I am hopefull you have given her the satisfaction of knowing that you consider her inadversety in no other light than that in which he has mentioned it to her. -- It is very unfortunate that medically I should have declined after he had recd. (received) her letter, as it will appear to the world before the find view of it that not informed is extremely weak & that we have deverted me fact friends the Corporation to join the Tories.

I see a Multitude of evils that may arise from that letter, as the true reason is what she has given you will not be sufficiently known. It appears to me to have been rather Sufficient in my Cousin - but my private opinions & investigation was from his ill will to qts. (question) Something. I have only a word for her to trouble you with upon this subject, which is that I shall be ever ready to give Jay be all for Nottingham when my friends shall have a wish for another Representative, get all we give it began under my hand. I never will decline their service as long as I receive encouragement from them to continue it, & no efforts on my part shall ever be wanting in the protection of their inclinations. Obediently D(ear) Sir - Most Humbly -- W Howe”

This Letter continues on its final page, where it reads, in full:

“Thursday Oct. 15th --- Last night late / the time our proof comes in I got yours of the 10th -- I should have acquainted Lt. Howe with your transactions preparing at Nottingham...” and continues on discussing some financial arrangements.
William Howe was born August 10, 1729, and was the third son of Emanuel Howe, 2nd Viscount Howe and his wife Charlotte. His grandmother had been the mistress of King George I and as a result Howe and his three brothers were the illegitimate uncles of King George III. Attending Eton, Howe followed his two elder brothers into the military on September 18, 1746 when he purchased a commission as a coronet in Cumberland's Light Dragoons.

A quick study, he was promoted to lieutenant the following year and captain in 1750. While with the regiment, he befriended Major James Wolfe, one of his future commanders.

Howe in the French & Indian War:

On January 4, 1756, Howe was appointed major of the newly formed 60th Regiment (redesignated 58th in 1757) and traveled with the unit to North America for operations against the French. In this capacity he took part in Major General Jeffery Amherst's successful siege of Louisbourg that summer. With the death of his brother, Brigadier General George Howe at the Battle of Carillon that July, William attained a seat in Parliament representing Nottingham. Remaining in North America, Howe served in Wolfe's attack on Quebec in 1759.

On September 13th, Howe led the initial light infantry assault which secured the road up to the Plains of Abraham prior to the Battle of Quebec later that day. Promoted to lieutenant colonel that December, he helped defend Quebec through the winter before aiding in Amherst's capture of Montreal the following year and the siege of Belle Isle in 1762. After serving as the adjutant general of the force that assaulted Havana, Cuba in 1763, Howe returned to England. Appointed colonel of the 46th Regiment of Foot in Ireland in 1764, he was elevated to governor of the Isle of Wight four years later.

Recognized as a gifted commander, Howe was promoted to major general in 1772, and a short time later took over training of the army's light infantry units. Representing a largely Whig constituency in Parliament, Howe opposed the Intolerable Acts and preached reconciliation with the American colonists as tensions grew in 1774 and early 1775.

His feelings were shared by his brother, Admiral Richard Howe. Though publicly stating that he would resist service against the Americans, he accepted the position as second-in-command of British forces in America.

Howe in the American Revolution:

Stating that "he was ordered, and could not refuse," Howe sailed for Boston with Major Generals Henry Clinton and John Burgoyne. Arriving May 15, Howe brought reinforcements for General Thomas Gage. Under siege in the city, the British were forced to take action when American forces fortified Breed's Hill on the Charlestown Peninsula overlooking the city. While Clinton favored an amphibious attack to cut off the American line of retreat, Howe advocated a more conventional frontal attack. Taking the conservative route, Gage ordered Howe to move forward on June 17th.

In the resulting Battle of Bunker Hill, Howe's men succeeded in driving off the Americans but sustained over 1,000 casualties in capturing their works. Though a victory, the battle deeply influenced Howe and crushed his initial belief that the rebels represented only a small part of the American people. A dashing, daring commander earlier in his career, the high losses at Bunker Hill made Howe more conservative and less inclined to attack strong enemy positions. Knighted that year, Howe was temporarily appointed commander-in-chief on October 10th (it was made permanent in April 1776) when Gage returned to England.

Howe's Inability to Crush the Rebellion:

Forced out of Boston on March 17, 1776, after General George Washington emplaced guns on Dorchester Heights, Howe withdrew with the army to Halifax, Nova Scotia. There, a new campaign was planned with the goal of taking New York. Landing on Staten Island on July 2nd, Howe's army soon swelled to over 30,000 men. Crossing to Gravesend Bay, Howe flanked and defeated Washington at the Battle of Long Island on August 26/27. Falling back to fortifications at Brooklyn Heights, the Americans awaited a British assault. Based on his earlier experiences, Howe was reluctant to attack and began siege operations.

This hesitation allowed Washington's army to escape to Manhattan. He was soon joined by his brother who had orders to act as a peace commissioner. Though the Howes met with American leaders, they were only permitted to extend pardons to those rebels who submitted. Their offer refused, they began active operations against New York City. Landing on Manhattan on September 15th, Howe ultimately forced Washington from the island and later drove him from a defensive position at the Battle of White Plains. Rather than pursue Washington's beaten army, Howe returned to New York to secure Forts Washington and Lee.

Again showing an unwillingness to eliminate Washington's army, Howe soon moved into winter quarters around New York and only dispatched a small force under Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis to create a "safe zone" in northern New Jersey. Recovering in Pennsylvania, Washington was able to win victories at Trenton and Princeton in December and January. As a result, Howe pulled back many of his outposts. While Washington continued small-scale operations during the winter, Howe was content to remain in New York enjoying a full social calendar.

In the spring of 1777, Burgoyne proposed a plan for defeating the Americans which called for him to lead an army south through Lake Champlain to Albany while a second column advanced east from Lake Ontario. These advances were to be supported by an advance north from New York by Howe. While this plan was approved by Colonial Secretary Lord George Germain, Howe's role was never clearly defined nor was he issued orders from London to aid Burgoyne. As a result, though Burgoyne moved forward, Howe launched his own campaign to capture the American capital at Philadelphia. Left on his own, Burgoyne was defeated in the critical Battle of Saratoga

Sailing south from New York, Howe moved up the Chesapeake Bay and landed at Head of Elk on August 25, 1777. Moving north, Howe defeated Washington at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11th. Outmaneuvering the Americans, Howe captured the city without a fight eleven days later. Concerned about Washington's army, Howe left a small garrison in the city and moved northwest. On October 4, he won a near-run victory at the Battle of Germantown. In the wake of the defeat, Washington retreated into winter quarters at Valley Forge.

Under severe criticism in England for failing to crush the Americans and feeling he had lost the king's confidence, Howe requested to be relieved on October 22nd. After attempting to lure Washington into battle late that fall, Howe and the army entered winter quarters in Philadelphia. Again enjoying a lively social scene, Howe received word that his resignation had been accepted on April 14, 1778. After an extravagant festival in his honor on May 18th, Howe turned command over to Clinton and departed.

Arriving in England, he entered into the debate over the conduct of the war and published a defense of his actions. Made a privy counselor and Lieutenant General of the Ordnance in 1782, Howe remained in active service. With the outbreak of the French Revolution he served in a variety of senior commands in England. Made a full general in 1793, he died on July 12, 1814, after a prolonged illness, while serving as governor of Plymouth. An adept battlefield commander, Howe was beloved by his men but received little credit for his victories in America.

American Revolution: General Sir William Howe

By Kennedy Hickman