Auction details
6:00 AM PT - Apr 19th, 2008
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Grouping of 18th century American Military letters, political letter, and one War of 1812 letter for a total of nine (9) letters. The dated letters span the time period between 1782 - 1815. The majority of these letters pertain to Nathaniel Lawrence (1761-1797), Revolutionary war soldier and 5th Attorney General of the State of New York, succeeding Aaron Burr. A biography of Lawrence is provided by his grandson, John Berrien Lindsley in his Medical Book/Journal (lot#3). Lindsley writes, "Mr. Lawrence joined the army, as a lieutenant in the North Carolina Line. He was taken prisoner by the British, on the capture of Fort LaFayette ---- 1779. It is considered that Mr. Lawrence remained a prisoner about two years. When exchanged he became a captain, in an independent corps, probably in the New York line. He was present when General Washington took his final leave of the officers of the disbanded army - in the city of New York, Dec. 4 1783." Later in the journal, "North Carolina granted him warrants for two tracts of land of 2560 acres each, as a Lieutenant in her Line to be located in that part of her western territory now called Tennessee." One specific letter dated 1782 to Col. Potter discusses waiting on General Washington, The Commander and Chief. The letters written to and from Nathaniel Lawrence generally pertain to business and military matters and hint at the personal difficulties suffered by Continental officers during the Revolutionary war. The War of 1812 letter penned by Colonel Robert Battle and dated January 1815 recounts the results of a skirmish between the British and Americans, giving a glimpse of the burgeoning American pride and patriotism. Transcriptions of these letters are available upon request.
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