Description:

A FRENCH LIEUTENANT ASKS FOR HIS NEGRO SERVANT "OLD JONES"
PIERRE DE CASTAING DE LA GRACE (c. 1740-1800) French military officer appointed a second lieutenant in Col. Henry Jackson''s Additional Continental Regiment, March, 1777, later a aide Continental Army chief engineer, Brig. Gen. Louis Lebègue Duportail. Captured at Charleston, May 1780, but was exchanged in time to participate in the siege of Yorktown. He continued to serve as Duportail''s aide for the remainder of the war. .Fine content war-date A.L.S., 1p. 8" x 13", West Point, Aug. 3, 1779 to Col. Henry Jackson. In part: "...I am very sorry to have had the necessity to depart from Providence without taking your orders though I had waited three days for that purpose. I have not had the pleasure of carrying your letters to General [Greene]. I have not seen that gentleman since my arrival at camp but I had neither letters nor direction from you. I have not paid my respects to him. I still persist in my resolution to serve in your regiment depending upon the goodness of Congress for my extra service...On applying at Headquarters for a waiter [servant] I was directed to the Adj. General who informed me I ought to have one from your regiment. It being his Excellency''s orders [Washington''s] that Aide de Camps and Brigade Major should get their waiters from their respective regiments whether the regiment is absent or present. It is absolutely impossible for me to have one here therefore I take the liberty to recommend myself to your goodness. I do pretend to make my choice but if it is agreeable I do prefer an American and particularly old Jones if he could be spared. I will be obliged to you to send whomever you please as soon as possible. I profess myself to join the regiment at the beginning of the winter..." Light stain at left margin, light and very scattered foxing, else very good. Officers'' "waiters" or "servants" were as a rule either slaves or freed blacks, and thousands of blacks served with the Continental Army as freedmen as well. By the very nature of the name "old Jones" this servant was undoubtedly a black too old to serve in the military and already a servant in Colonel Jackson''s regiment.

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December 10, 2016 11:00 AM EST
Wilmington, DE, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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