Clinton, James

Autograph letter (retained copy) signed ("Jas Clinton"), 2 pages (9 1/2 x 7 1/2 in.; 240 x 190 mm), Albany, New York, 20 June 1779, to Lt. Col. Frederick Weissenfels; formerly folded, some edge soiling, small hole from ink corrosion at bottom edge. Red half-morocco drop-box.



With:
Clinton, James. Document signed ("James Clinton, B. Genl."), 1 page (15 1/2 x 13 in.; 394 x 330 mm), West Point, New York, 7 July 1780, being the "Muster Roll of Captain Jonathan Titus' Company in the 4th N.York Regiment in the service of the United States of America commanded by Lieut. Col. Commander Fredk. Weissenfels for May and June 1780;" folded with a few creases, lightly browned with a few spots and fold tears. Cream half-cloth clamshell box.

Regarding the first: formerly folded, some edge soiling, small hole from ink corrosion at bottom edge, and the second: folded with a few creases, lightly browned with a few spots and fold tears.
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Clinton's Preparations for the Sullivan Expedition, and his later muster roll from West Point.

Brigadier General James Clinton (1736-1812) assembled a brigade at Schenectady, New York, in June 1779 with the aim of marching west to Otsego Lake and down the Susquehanna River to meet General John Sullivan at Tioga (now Athens), Pennsylvania, and of destroying all the Iroquois villages he found en route. The plan was in consequence of General Washington's order of 31 May 1779 (Writings 15:189 ff.) as four nations of the Iroquois Confederacy sided with the British during the war. General Clinton writes to Weissenfels who was to accompany the expedition.

Clinton begins by complimenting him at finding a supply of flour, and goes on to comment on the recruitment process: "I am glad that the Recruiting Business meets with such good success — tho' I am affraid the Drafts who inlist, will not receive their Cloathing untill the Expiration of the Term for which they are now ingaged — as there is no Store in this Place, however you will receive a small supply of light cloathing which you may dispose of as you think proper. Any nine month's man who will inlist an able Bodied Man during the War, who is not now in the Service, may be discharged ... The Enemy are advanced as far [as] King's Ferry [on the Hudson across from Stony Point] — for further Particulars I refer you to the Doctor whom I have detained for the purpose of sending you further information. In the meantime I request that you will be on your guard, as it is probable they intend to attack our frontiers."

The muster roll is signed by Colonel Nicholas Fish, Inspector at West Point, 5 July 1780, and it lists Sergeants, Corporals, and Privates, as attested by the signatures of Lt. Rudolph Z. Howenbarg and Ensign Joseph Morrel.