Lot 284
GEORGE WASHINGTON
(1732 - 1799) First President of the United States and commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Very fine content war-date L.S. "Go: Washington" as Commander in Chief, 1p. legal folio, "Head Quarters", Newburgh Jan. 1, 1782 [sic, 1783] to Colonel Joseph Vose concerning a new place for meeting British representatives under a flag of truce. Washington writes, in full: "I approve of your conduct respecting the Flag. Messrs Lewis and Nicholson are to be permitted to proceed on their Journey, but Mr Kinloch will be under the necessity of returning back as I have informed him. Mr. Mott, who was detained some days ago may also return. In future, Flags of truce from the Enemy properly authenticated and conducted are to be received at the New Bridge on the Croton until further directions. Other Instructions will be given in a few days on this subject to the Officer commanding on the Lines." In a short postscript he adds, "You will please to send a safe guard back with Mr Kinloch if he chooses it." Body in the hand of aide David Humphreys and published in Fitzpatrick. Despite the Yorktown victory, Washington thought continuation of the war was likely and took his American army north to keep in check the British at New York. However, with Lord North out of office, in April 1782 exploratory talks were opened between British and American representatives in Paris. Meanwhile, Sir Guy Carleton was appointed to succeed Sir Henry Clinton as British Commander-in-Chief and he arrived in New York City on May 6, 1782 with instructions to open military negotiations to end the war. In August, Carleton was informed by his government that the peace talks in Paris would result in the independence of the United States. Carleton provided this information to Washington, along with his sense that further hostilities were pointless and should be brought to a close.
Washington was now faced with an unusual problem: the war was not officially over and free intercourse between the opposing sides was impossible, yet its pending completion and the inevitable British evacuation from New York meant that there would be extensive matters that would need to be dealt with and many negotiations conducted by the parties that would require passage to and from the lines. There were over 10,000 American prisoners of war in New York City, and with newly obtained British cooperation, their needs could now be attended to by American representatives. Patriots who had evacuated in 1776 wanted to return to secure their property. Over 30,000 loyalists realized that they were being abandoned and were streaming into New York to be resettled in crown colonies like Nova Scotia, while other loyalists who had previously fled to British-held areas saw the handwriting on the wall, were willing to live in the new United States, and were seeking to return home via entry through the American lines. And the changeover of sovereignty in New York itself would require cooperation between the former belligerents. To control access to and from the American lines, Washington established one crossing point, writing that flags of truce are "confined to Dobbs Ferry" and saying "The intention of confining the Flags to Dobbs Ferry was to prevent the disadvantages arising from the continual and unrestricted intercourse that was kept up with the Enemy..." Meanwhile, Congress had passed a measure aimed at loyalists that forbade entry into the United States by anyone coming through the British lines without special permission. Washington felt himself bound by that statute. Thus there was more need than ever for a secure exchange and negotiations point, yet confusion existed among the increased number of people seeking to use it about who could and could not pass.
An example of this problem arose December 29 when loyalist Cleland Kinloch sought to reenter the United State s, apparently to return to his rice plantation at Weehaw, South Carolina. He was turned back by American sentries. This confusion Washington determined to bring to an end, even as he decided, with winter upon him, to replace Dobbs Ferry with a reliable, ice-free crossing place. He wrote to Col. Joseph Vose, commander of the new check point, naming a place on the Croton River about 30 miles south of his headquarters, and issuing instructions about access. The same day, Washington notified Carlton about his new, preferred location for crossings:"...I have the honour to inform your Excellency, that whenever it is found more convenient for your flags to proceed by land, they will be received by the Officer Commanding at the New Bridge on the Croton..." He also wrote Kinloch explaining his decision to turn him away. "I am to acknowledge the recet. of your Letter of the 29th Decr. and am extremely sorry that I cannot consistently comply with your request, Congress having by their Resolves of October last directed that 'no Subjects of his Britannic Majesty coming directly or indirectly from any part of the British Dominions be admitted into any of the United States during the War.' The only mode therefore by which you may obtain the permission you desire is by an application to the Executive power of the State of which you mean to become a Citizen or to the Delegates of that State in Congress; their permission will be sufficient for me to admit you within our lines."
The identity of "Messrs. Lewis & Nicholson" cannot be known with certainty, but it is likely that they were American officials traveling to New York City to discuss prisoner matters with General Carleton. Lewis may be Francis Lewis, Jr., a New York politician who served in that state's assembly and was the son of a signer of the Declaration of Independence of the same name. Fitzpatrick identifies Nicholson as politico John Nicholson of Virginia, but we consider sitting New York Assemblyman John Nicholson a more likely candidate. The Mott family were New York loyalists, one of whom, John, was a printer and another of whom, Jonathan, served as an officer in the King's 17th Regiment. After the war John left for Nova Scotia and Jonathan fled to New Brunswick, Canada. The Mr. Mott that Washington refers to was likely a member of this family, perhaps seeking to sell or secure some property behind the American lines before leaving. As for the exchange point, in the spring it was returned to Dobbs Ferry where, on May 6, 1783, Washington met personally with Carlton to advance arrangements for the British evacuation. Letter has been laid-down on another sheet for stabilization purposes, usual folds, one lightly soiled spot and a very small marginal tear at left margin, else very good to fine condition. A remarkable document from the closing days of the American Revolution.
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