Description:

(SIEGE OF BOSTON)
GAD SMITH Veteran of Bunker Hill who served under General Luke Drury in Col. Jonathan Ward's regiment. Manuscript D.S. signed twice, 1p. oblong 8vo., Dorchester, Nov. 6, 1775, a promissory note "For Value Rec'd do promos [sic] to pay to Ebenezer Phillips on his order the Sum of Seven Shillings on demand as witness my hand...". Ebenezer Phillips was a Lexington Minuteman. At bottom, Smith requests that Capt. Drury: "...Stop the Said Sum above mentioned out of my wages...". In addition to a serious lack of basic supplies including guns, powder, clothing and tents, one of the primary complaints of the Continental Army was a lack of pay. The men of Drury's company went months without drawing their wages and used an improvised system of IOU's to transact business in the meantime. The pay situation would not improve as the war progressed as the supply of hard currency evaporated and the paper currency issued by Congress became virtually worthless. Many soldiers were induced to join with promises of land in the west in exchange for their services. Later the month of this document, Washington sent Henry Knox up to Fort Ticonderoga to bring captured British cannons. After he successfully returned, the cannons were secretly moved up to Dorchester Heights, and the British were forced to withdraw from Boston. Light wear, very good condition.

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December 16, 2010 11:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

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