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1782 Lt. Col. George Reid Handwritten Letter

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American Revolution

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Court Martial of New Hampshire Captain Isaac Frye

1782, Manuscript Letter Signed by Colonel George Reid, concerning the Court Martial of Capt. Isaac Frye, of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment, Choice Very Fine.
Dated at Albany, NY on August 27, 1782, this 2 page, 9" x 7" letter, was written Col. George Reid, of the New Hampshire Battalion, and is addressed to General Edward Hand at Newburgh. Reid discusses the impending court martial of a Captain Frye, who overstayed his leave, and requests that the trial be held in the Albany area rather than at army headquarters. This letter includes the integral cover page and remnants of the original wax seal. There is some edge soiling to the left side of the letter, and some edge wear, resulting in a few missing letters, on the right. There are repairs to the cover page, which is nearly separated from the rest of the letter. This letter reads in full:
"Dear Sir - Agreeable to Genl. Orders of the 10th January last, Capt. Isaac Frye of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment is, I suppose, subject to be Tryed [tried] by a Genl. Court Martial as he has overstaid (sic) the time limited in his furlough., his Reasons this probable will be sufficient excuse for his absence but herewith. Col. Dearborn wishes (if Consistent) that he may be Tryed in this District by a Court Martial of the Line, as his attending at Head Quarters must be very expensive. You will please to send me the Commander in Chief's Directions on this point, & if he can't be Indulged with a Tryal here, I shall order him to Head Quarters without delay. I have not as yet obtained the Annual Report call'd for in the last General Orders; hope I shall be able to transmit it with the Return of Regiments (?), and the weekly Return, by the beginning of next month. - I have the Hon. to be your most Obed. Serv. - Geo. Reid."

George Reid (1733-1815) Revolutionary War military officer. Learning of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, George Reid marched his militia company to Boston, and commanded a company of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was with the 1st New Hampshire during the Invasion of Canada, the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton. In the Spring of 1777, Reid was appointed Lt. Col. of the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment, and with the capture of Col. Nathan Hale at the Battle of Hubbardton by the British Army, George Reid took command of the 2nd New Hampshire and led them during the rest of the Saratoga Campaign, the Battle of Monmouth and the Sullivan Expedition of 1779. When the three New Hampshire regiments were consolidated in 1783, Col. Reid was appointed commander of the combined unit until it was disbandment on January 1, 1784. After the war, now Brigadier General Reid led a militia unit that put down the Exeter Rebellion in 1786, at the then state capital of Exeter, New Hampshire. The Rebellion was over the value and use of paper money issued by the government of New Hampshire. Later an angry crowd surrounded his house and threatened his life, but the old general faced them down alone and dispersed the mob without further incident.

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