December 2012 Auction Ends Tuesday, December 18th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/18/2012
Marquis de Lafayette letter signed ''Lafayette'' as Major General from ''Camp Forks of York River.'' He writes to Brigadier General George Weedon in preparation to confront Cornwallis, requesting cavalry stores and ammunition for his Virginia Campaign. Dated 18 August 1781, letter reads in part: ''...I received information this morning that such of the enemy as were at York have crossed over to Gloucester, where Lord Cornwallis is with his whole force. I do not wish to give the militia of the northern neck the least unnecessary fatigue, and for this reason, in place of calling them into the field, I would have them to be in a state of readiness to act on the shortest notice...It is said that there is a stock of Continental ammunition in cartridges at Leesburg. We want nothing so much, except arms, as this article...'' Three pages on card-style stationery measure 6.5'' x 8.5''. Light foxing and toning, in very good condition overall. Abstracted in ''Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution,'' IV:509.
Gloucester, Across the River From Yorktown, Two Months Before the Surrender Was Made, Lafayette Writes That Cornwallis Is There With His Whole Force as the Aforementioned Readies U.S. Troops
Click above for larger image.