Description:

JOHN ARMSTRONG
(1758 - 1843) Revolutionary War soldier and aide to generals Mercer and Gates. The distribution of his "Newburgh letters", citing wrongs done unto officers and calling for organized action, alarmed Washington, who took firm steps to avoid a possible mutiny. Fine content war-date A.L.S. with integral address leaf addressed to: "Coll: Lecy - Commanding the Militia Station on the east side of Scuykill [River]". In part: "...A great deal heat and publick clamour hath gone abroad against Genl. Potter and the members of a certain Court Martial...the sentence of which they say was to punish with whipping & also paying for the arms thrown away - which they consider as a double punishment...some persons were whipp'd who in other respects had been well behaved...I am persuaded on the other hand that the whole matter is not fairly stated...there is not a fair opportunity of obviating the people's objections they being so far detached from one another...That instance of discipline was no doubt too high...an officer possessed of many good qualities as Genl. Potter should have such a clamour raised against him...it is chiefly western people who have been offended...I suppose you will escape the censure...Pray were Genl. Irvins Cloathes [sent?]...I procured a Flag, sent to him...I doubt not you will often visit the different partys...and that they will act with spirit...and never be catched napping...". Very good. JAMES POTTER (1729–1789) was a soldier, farmer and politician from Pennsylvania. He rose to the rank of brigadier general of the Pennsylvania militia during the Revolutionary War, and militia troops at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown. On December 11, while the army under Washington was on its way to Valley Forge, after part of it had crossed the Schuylkill River at Matson's Ford, it was found that the enemy under Cornwallis were in force on the other side. "They were met", writes Washington, "by General Potter, with part of the Pennsylvania Militia, who behaved with great bravery, and gave them every possible opposition until he was obliged to retreat from their superior numbers". No doubt Potter was punishing those soldiers who fled the scene of his heroic defense.

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May 13, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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