June 2020 Auction Ends Thursday, June 25th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2020
Major General Nathanael Greene autograph letter signed, with interesting content regarding the rigamarole of settling his debt incurred during the Revolutionary War. Credited with being the most able General of the War next to George Washington, Greene was given land in various southern states including North Carolina as a result of his service in the war. He had a difficult time, however, getting reimbursed for expenses he personally incurred during the war, such as providing clothing and provisions to his soldiers, so much so that his heirs were still dealing with the debt after he passed away. In this letter to Providence, Rhode Island merchant Welcome Arnold, Greene tries to shuffle monies between various individuals in order to settle his Revolutionary War debt. Dated 5 December 1783 from Newport, Rhode Island, Greene writes on his custom stationery bearing a watermark of his coat of arms. Letter reads in full,
''Dear Sir / Brother Jacob tells me your have in your possession a sett of bills which I draw on him in favor of Mr. Stanley of North Carolina and that you wish to have bills on some body in Philadelphia. It will be agreeable to me to give a draft on Col [John] Cox [Deputy Quartermaster General of the Continental Army] of Trenton for the payment. It was my intention to have negotiated them in another way and have written to Mr. Stanly on the subject. Nor did I know of his having posted north the bills until my arrival here. I owed Mr. Stanly a much larger sum payable at the same time all of which I have paid many months before it became due which authorised me to claim longer payment on those bills. But if they are out of his hands I will take measures to have them paid and settle the matter with Stanley upon a table of interest.
I return you many thanks for your kindness to Mrs. Greene and beg my affectionate compliments to your good Lady. / I am dear Sir / with esteem & affection / your most obedt & / humble Serv- / Nath Greene''. Three page letter on Greene's bifolium stationery measures approximately 7.625'' x 12.25''. With red wax seal on integral address leaf. Folds, light chipping, and small holes at intersecting folds. Overall very good condition given age with bold handwriting.
Major General Nathanael Greene Autograph Letter Signed Shortly After the Revolutionary War -- Heavy in Debt Due to Paying for His Soldiers' Clothing During the War, Greene Here Negotiates Money Owed
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