On the Continental Army's "glorious prospects" after the Battle of Virginia Capes - photo 1
On the Continental Army's "glorious prospects" after the Battle of Virginia Capes - photo 2
On the Continental Army's "glorious prospects" after the Battle of Virginia Capes - photo 3

On the Continental Army's "glorious prospects" after the Battle of Virginia Capes

Lot 134
27.06.2024 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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$ 23 940
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1236365
Lot 134 | On the Continental Army's "glorious prospects" after the Battle of Virginia Capes
Estimate value
$ 10 000 – 15 000
NELSON, Thomas, Jr. (1738-1789). Letter signed as Governor of Virginia to an unidentified correspondent, presumably an officer from the War Office, [n.p., n.d., but Williamsburg, c. 10-11 September 1781].

One page, 190 x 295mm. (laid into a larger sheet, one split across an upper fold spanning text, spots of surface loss affecting a few characters, folds reinforced with tape on the verso.) Matted and framed.

Shortly before the siege of Yorktown, Nelson awaits the arrival of General Washington and conveys news of the French successes at the Battle of Virginia Capes. Then in command of the Virginia militia, he forwards an enclosure (not present) to his recipient and sends "…an account of the return of the French Fleet they have formed a junction with the ships that were at Rhode Island and brought in two British frigates that they have captured." Expecting Washington's arrival any day, Nelson writes of the critical need for supplies for the upcoming siege: "I cannot too often repeat to you the necessity of sending on supplies of all kinds with all possible expedition. Gen. Washington's troops are expected on every day and unless we can procure large quantities of every thing that is necessary our present glorious prospects may vanish." The Battle of Virginia Capes occurred just a week prior to the writing of this letter, in which the French victory cemented their control over the Chesapeake Bay and stopped the Royal Navy from supplying or evacuating the besieged forces of Lord Cornwallis in Yorktown. On 10 September 1781, French Admiral de Barras arrived off the Capes with a squadron of troops and siege artillery from Newport, Rhode Island (referenced here). Their arrival solidified the French Navy's numerical advantage in the area and further doomed Cornwallis's forces, as Admiral Thomas Graves opted to leave the Chesapeake Bay to repair his damaged fleet and gather reinforcements in New York. Washington arrived at Yorktown on 17 September and the siege began formally on the 28th. Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 25 May 1984, lot 173 – Arthur J. Stegall Jr. Collection.
Artist:Thomas Nelson II (1738 - 1789)
Place of origin:USA
Auction house category:Letters, documents and manuscripts
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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