Lot 870

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Description:

TRYON'S RAID ON CONNECTICUT, 1779
WILLIAM BURNET (1730-1791) Physician born in Elizabeth, N.J., served as Surgeon-General for the Eastern District for the Continental Army. Fine content A.L.S. 3pp., legal folio, [n.p. prob. Fishkill, n.d., c. July, 1779], to his wife Mary in Newark, N.J., concerning the couples long separation together with a lengthy postscript on military matters on the lines surrounding New York. The body of the letter is an affectionate tome to his wife, which reads in part: "...Oh cruel Fate! O more cruel Tyrant of Britain! who with relentless Fury, doth cunning blowfly deprive us of Domestic Bliss, & this plant Daggers in our Breasts by barbarously driving us away from the Beloved of our Souls. May tenfold vengeance alight upon his guilty Head! may Despair & languish wring his tortured Mind, till he is compelled to do Justice to this much injured suffering People..." His postscript proves more informative as to his activities: "...I went down on Monday... to Genl. Heath's opposite West Point, who commands the left Wing of the Army, that is all on this side. North River Genl. Putnam commands the Right wing on the other side of the River - Genl. Heath is a very agreeable Gentleman, & I believe will be very popular - The Officers like him much - He keeps a good Table - Sheldon's light Horse were surprised the Beginning of the Week, at Pocono ridge by the enemy's Horse, I believe not much to their Credit - They went between 30 & 40 miles through the Country & returned without receiving much damage. Genl. Tryon with about 3000 Men is making terrible havock [sic] in New England. They have taken Possession of New-Haven, Essex, West Haven, Fairfield, Stratford &c & have committed the most horrid Barbarities, exceeding even themselves in Cruelty - It is said they have butchered the President of Yale college & a Number more of the Inhabitants after they surrounded & burned a good many houses - Few of the Women who fell into their Hands escaped their more than brutish lesser Officers & Men... they seem to be returning towards N. York..." Some loss to third page resulting in the loss of some text, moderate uneven toning, the expected folds with a few pin holes at intersections, else very good. In July 1779, British Major Gen. William Tryon and 2,600 men embarked onto a Royal Navy fleet led by Adm. George Collier, and raided the Connecticut ports of New Haven, Fairfield, and Norwalk. Military and public stores, supply houses, and ships were destroyed, as were private homes, churches, and other public buildings. The raids were ineffectually resisted by militia forces. The raid was part of a larger strategy designed by the British commander in chief, Lt. Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, to draw Washington's army onto terrain where it might be more effectively engaged. The strategy failed in this goal, and Tryon was criticized for the severity of the action by both sides.

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July 8, 2015 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

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