[Revolutionary War] Joseph Brant. ALS. Brant was a Mohawk war chief and an interpreter for the Indian Department (beginning in 1766). Shortly before writing this letter, Brant he had been given the rank of Major. Although he fought in the campaign to take New York in July 1776, it was not until around the spring of 1777 that he raised a unit of Mohawks and white Loyalist volunteers. Operations involving men under Brant’s command included the Raid on Springfield, German Flats, the Battles of Minisink and Oriskany, and the Wyoming Massacre. ALS reads: “Falmouth 31th May 1776/ Sir/ This is to acquaint you that I was here in England this five months, I came over with Coll. Johnson and his people, We are now ready to return to America only waiting for fair wind./ I was with Coll. Johnson since sir Willms. deaght, gave me much trouble for he was a strange sort of a man- Sir I hope you will not be angry with me for having not wrote you, since you wrote me Last/ I had no oppertunity to send any thing to you- I have no news to tell you at present, only what happen Last year, we Lost thirteen Indians by the rebels/ I hope we will have our satisfaction some way rother- Nothing cou’d give me so much Pleasure is to see you in america/ I want you. I shou’d be together these warliketimes- I shou’d be very glad if you will Let me know how you did this good while- Capt. [name illegible, but possibly “Jim”] desire to remember you- My Love to you and your family shall always remember your goodness to me/ Sir yr. Most true friend & Humble Servt./ Jos. Brant/ Thaeadanegea./ P.S. I was made a major when I was in London for my satisfaction/ J.B Sir keep my bad writing.” Brant varied the spelling of his birth name: “Thayendanagea” is much more common. The Colonel mentioned in the text is Guy Johnson, who had taken Brandt to England in November 1775. “Sir William” is William Johnson (Superintendent of Indian Affairs). Joseph Brant’s wife, Molly, was William Johnson’s mistress, and inherited money and slaves when William Johnson died in 1774. 7 7/8 x 6 1/4 in, text on both sides. Text leaf has slight tear to fold. Blank leaf has a tape repair to most of its vertical fold and is separated from the text leaf. Blank leaf docketed by an early owner.