2. JOHN STARK (1728 - 1822) American Revolution brigadier general engaged at Bunker Hill, Trenton and Princeton, winner of the battle at Bennington against Burgoyne, and served on the court-martial that condemned Major John Andre. Fine content war date A.L.S. "John Stark", 2pp. legal folio., Dumbarton, [N.H.], June 24, 1781 with integral address leaf, to Col. Peabody at Concord. Despite his valuable services at Bunker Hill, Bennington, and blocking Burgyone's retreat from Saratoga, the state of New Hampshire had not paid Stark in nearly three years. In the winter of 1780-81, he requested a furlough in order to return to the state to secure his back pay from the legislature. Stark was so destitute he was forced to appeal personally to Washington for a loan to allay his travel expenses, to which the commander-in-chief replied that there was "not a single farthing in my military chest" Both were victims of the general financial crisis due to Congress' inability to collect necessary funds from the states (who were nearly bankrupt themselves), and its regrettable habit of simply printing additional currency to fill deficits. Recoiling in disgust from the state's initial offer of a third of his original request, Stark writes indignantly: "I have weighted the objections made to my petition delivered in last friday [sic] to the General Assembly but am still of opinion that there can be neither justice nor honor in refusing to grant the prayer of it. Can any reasonable mortal say, that ££12- is ££37...10? Surely no, but at the same time you will perceive that the report of the committee on the business, argue as much as if they thought so. Is public honor to be thus sported with, that a man cannot trust a state for a trifling sum, without being in danger of having it lopped of[f], or wet down to one third of the sum put in; if that is the case, it is not a matter of very great difficulty to guess the [illeg.] of public credit being reduced to its present desponding condition. For my part I conceive that there is as much propriety, and justice in reducing the certificates given out to pay taxes with, to one third of the nominal sum, as to reduce my wages, but to the point in hand - The act made for my wages, was plain and clear, that I should receive equal wages to what other Brigadiers in the Army had and did receive, - I think no one can or will deny that the other Brigadiers in the Army recd. their proper wages, agreeable to bargain [?]; but because I was imployed by New Hampshire I am to be put with one third of my wages by New Hampshire. However Sir I presume that I need not be very particular to you, as I am sensible you despise those little pusillanimous principles that govern some others, and shall only again request that the matter may be brought on the carpet again, when it will be most likely to succeed...". A superb illustration of Stark's plain-spoken and direct manner, one of many qualities that endeared him to his men. Having fought in the service of New Hampshire at the Battle of Bennington - a key turning point in the Saratoga Campaign - Stark was rightly indignant at what he considered shabby treatment. Though Stark could be prickly, he would continue in loyal service to the end of the war and avoid the intrigues of the 1782 Newburgh Letters circulated among other general officers angry over their lack of pay. Extremely light foxing, expected folds, right margin reinforced with silk, otherwise fine. $2,000-3,000