HATFIELD, Pa. – On Thursday, Dec. 12, Alderfer Auction Co. will sell to the highest bidder an important handwritten letter detailing the Revolutionary War battle of Germantown that was fought on October 4, 1777, between British forces led by Gen. William Howe and the Continental Army led by Gen. George Washington. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.
Making this letter, written on October 30th, 1777, even more historic is that it was written by Thomas Rodney, an American colonial and politician to his brother Caesar Rodney, famed Continental politician and signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Rodneys were both from Delaware and were instrumental to the Continental government in helping the Colonies obtain their independence from Great Britain.
In the months leading up to the battle of Germantown, the Continental forces under Washington had suffered losses at the battles of Brandywine and Paoli and the British had occupied Philadelphia. Howe moved approximately 9000 British troops to Germantown, Pennsylvania. George Washington felt the time was right to engage the British forces at Germantown and gathered 11,000 Continental troops and moved them towards Germantown hoping to surprise the British. Several events including weather spoiled the surprise attack and the British were worthy adversaries that as the battle ended had inflicted over 1,100 casualties to the Continentals. When the battle ended the British still held the field.
The Rodney letter gives various details regarding the engagement with much of the news proclaiming advantage and apparent victory to the Colonial forces. As historians now show, the British under Howe really were the victors, but the Colonials really needed a victory and knew the value of propaganda.
After the battle the British did not pursue Washington and his forces to destroy them. Washington took his army and went into winter camp at Valley Forge enabling them to rest, retrain and consolidate to become a viable fighting force to be reckoned with. These retrained forces would be instrumental in ensuring the independence of the United States.
The letter being sold is a “piece” of history that is tangible evidence of the events that forged a nation.
Also selling in Thursday’s auction is an indenture on vellum dated Jan. 20, 1703 for 50 acres of land in Germantown, Pennsylvania, which features the signature of Francis Daniel Pastorius (1651– 1720), a German educator, lawyer and poet. Pastorius is credited as a founder of Germantown, Pennsylvania, which is considered the first permanent American settlement for German immigrants that set the stage for German immigration to America that would last well into the 20th century. Of interesting note is that this document exhibits the early seal of Germantown featuring a three-leaf clover.
The other indenture on vellum dated April 20, 1728 for a plot of land in Germantown, Pennsylvania features the signature of Christopher Witt (1675–1765) a physician, scientist, botanist, clock maker, artist, musician and astronomer. Witt was a member of the Theosophists, a group of men that helped colonize Germantown and the surrounding area. Witt is credited with many firsts and influences in science and the arts in Pennsylvania.
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