American Revolution
Revolutionary War Dated Military Commission Acceptance
March 16, 1778, Revolutionary War Dated Autograph Letter Signed, "Otho Holland Williams" (1749-1794), Colonel, and Later a Brigade General, Very Fine.
This original, 13" x 8.5" Revolutionary War Letter is addressed to Thomas Johnson, Governor of Maryland, by Otho Holland Williams, a Lieutenant in the Continental Army from Prince George's County, MD. Williams accepts his appointment as Colonel to command a Regiment, and also asks for assistance to better equip this ill-equipped Regiment. He closes, "I heartily desire to join the Army as soon as possible, but certainly it had better be reinforced by a Regiment without a Colonel, than by a Colonel without a Regiment." This letter is boldly signed, dated and with good Revolutionary War period content and is in overall very good condition. It reads, in full:
"The very Honorable appointment which the assembly of the State of Maryland hath been pleased to make me adds an obligation to my natural duty and inclination to serve my country with my best abilities. I have not been able to obtain a State of the Regiment which I expect the Honor to command but from the best information learn there is not above one hundred effective men with Lt. Col. Ford and those very indifferent Clothed. --- The Laws for recruiting and equiping men in this State (of themselves deficient) I find very badly executed and I co.'d wish it in my power to afford some assistance which cannot possibly do untill I am instructed where to get cash and how to subsist the recruits 'till they are equip'd and fit for duty. It wo.d give me great pleasure to be advised on this subject.
I heartily desire to join the Army as soon as possible, but certainly it had better be reinforced by a Regiment without a Col. than by a Colonel without a Regiment.
I am Yr. Excellency's Mo: Obdt. Hble Servant
Oth H Williams"
The letter has crisp brown-inked writing and is on firm laid paper, with normal folds and a few small edge splits--nothing affecting the clean signature. This is a wonderful, insightful Revolutionary War letter!
Otho Holland Williams (1749-1794), soldier in the Revolutionary War, was born in Prince George county, Maryland. His ancestors were among the earliest settlers in Maryland from England after Lord Baltimore became proprietor of the province. Otho was left an orphan at twelve years of age, and a few years later placed in the clerk's office of Frederick, Maryland, whence he was transferred to the clerk's office at Baltimore. In 1775 he was appointed a lieutenant in a rifle corps that was raised in Frederick county. The company to which he was attached marched to Boston, and the captain having been promoted, young Williams succeeded to the command. When Fort Washington was attacked he was a major. He was severely wounded, taken prisoner, and carried to New York, where he was released on his parole. He acted as deputy adjutant-general of the southern army under General Horatio Gates. When General Nathanael Greene took command of that army, he appointed Colonel Williams adjutant-general. During Greene's retreat he led the light corps that acted as a rear-guard. He was later promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. At the end of the war, Williams settled in Baltimore, and was appointed by governor collector of the port. He held that office until the adoption of the Federal constitution, and was then reappointed by Washington, remaining in office until his death.
Revolutionary War Dated Military Commission Acceptance
March 16, 1778, Revolutionary War Dated Autograph Letter Signed, "Otho Holland Williams" (1749-1794), Colonel, and Later a Brigade General, Very Fine.
This original, 13" x 8.5" Revolutionary War Letter is addressed to Thomas Johnson, Governor of Maryland, by Otho Holland Williams, a Lieutenant in the Continental Army from Prince George's County, MD. Williams accepts his appointment as Colonel to command a Regiment, and also asks for assistance to better equip this ill-equipped Regiment. He closes, "I heartily desire to join the Army as soon as possible, but certainly it had better be reinforced by a Regiment without a Colonel, than by a Colonel without a Regiment." This letter is boldly signed, dated and with good Revolutionary War period content and is in overall very good condition. It reads, in full:
"The very Honorable appointment which the assembly of the State of Maryland hath been pleased to make me adds an obligation to my natural duty and inclination to serve my country with my best abilities. I have not been able to obtain a State of the Regiment which I expect the Honor to command but from the best information learn there is not above one hundred effective men with Lt. Col. Ford and those very indifferent Clothed. --- The Laws for recruiting and equiping men in this State (of themselves deficient) I find very badly executed and I co.'d wish it in my power to afford some assistance which cannot possibly do untill I am instructed where to get cash and how to subsist the recruits 'till they are equip'd and fit for duty. It wo.d give me great pleasure to be advised on this subject.
I heartily desire to join the Army as soon as possible, but certainly it had better be reinforced by a Regiment without a Col. than by a Colonel without a Regiment.
I am Yr. Excellency's Mo: Obdt. Hble Servant
Oth H Williams"
The letter has crisp brown-inked writing and is on firm laid paper, with normal folds and a few small edge splits--nothing affecting the clean signature. This is a wonderful, insightful Revolutionary War letter!
Otho Holland Williams (1749-1794), soldier in the Revolutionary War, was born in Prince George county, Maryland. His ancestors were among the earliest settlers in Maryland from England after Lord Baltimore became proprietor of the province. Otho was left an orphan at twelve years of age, and a few years later placed in the clerk's office of Frederick, Maryland, whence he was transferred to the clerk's office at Baltimore. In 1775 he was appointed a lieutenant in a rifle corps that was raised in Frederick county. The company to which he was attached marched to Boston, and the captain having been promoted, young Williams succeeded to the command. When Fort Washington was attacked he was a major. He was severely wounded, taken prisoner, and carried to New York, where he was released on his parole. He acted as deputy adjutant-general of the southern army under General Horatio Gates. When General Nathanael Greene took command of that army, he appointed Colonel Williams adjutant-general. During Greene's retreat he led the light corps that acted as a rear-guard. He was later promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. At the end of the war, Williams settled in Baltimore, and was appointed by governor collector of the port. He held that office until the adoption of the Federal constitution, and was then reappointed by Washington, remaining in office until his death.
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Auction details
Coins-Currency-Autographs-Americana
9:00 AM PT - May 18th, 2008
offered by
Early American
P.O. Box 3507
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
