Preparing the Continental Army for the Campaign of 1777 - photo 1
Preparing the Continental Army for the Campaign of 1777 - photo 2

Preparing the Continental Army for the Campaign of 1777

Lot 110
17.01.2024 11:00UTC -05:00
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$ 35 280
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
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ID 1119138
Lot 110 | Preparing the Continental Army for the Campaign of 1777
Estimate value
$ 7 000 – 10 000
Preparing the Continental Army for the Campaign of 1777

Alexander Hamilton, 27 May 1777

HAMILTON, Alexander (1757-1804). Autograph letter signed ("A Hamilton") to Robert R. Livingston, Morristown, 27 May 1777.



One page, bifolium, 310 x 188mm with integral transmittal panel addressed in his hand (mild marginal wear including some small losses form seal tear, fold separations reinforced on verso, moderate toning to address panel).



On consolidating the Continental Army for the Campaign of 1777: "a collected army is best fitted both for the purpose of defence and offence." After Washington's army spent the winter of 1776-1777 scattered througout the New Jersey countryside in a successful effort to conceal their drastically reduced numbers from the British, fresh recruiting in the spring allowed for the consolidation of forces, as Hamilton reports here: "We are assembling the whole army on the heights of bound brook, except a division under General Sullivan at Princeton," and assuring his correspondent that the reason behind this "will be obvious—a collected army is best fitted both for the purpose of defence and offence." Hamilton closes, apologizing for his haste, adding only "that Head Quarters in a day or two will be removed to the Grand Camp."



Largely unaware of Burgoyne's plans to march overland to Albany, most rightly suspected that Howe would make a renewed push against Philadelphia. In May, Washington resolved to consolidate his forces and encamp them at Middle Brook, on the Raritan River, seven miles from the British post at New Brunswick—a strong position that allowed him great flexibility to react to a variety of contingencies. The day after Hamilton sent this letter to Livingston, Washington established himself at the "Grand Camp," with most of the army fully assembled there by 31 May. However, Howe had no intention of moving against Philadelphia by land, and Washington had similar expectations. Instead, the next several weeks consisted of opposing maneuvers with a failed attempt by Howe to force a general battle on 26 June. With that failure, Howe abandoned his post at New Brunswick and evacuated most of New Jersey over to Staten Island by the end of June (Boatner, 857). Later the next month, Howe made his anticipated move against Philadelphia by sea, successfully capturing the city in September 1777. The recipient, Robert R. Livingston (1746-1813) was then a member of the New York Council of Safety and was in active correspondence with Hamilton. No direct answer to this letter appears extant, but on 7 June he wrote Hamilton in reference to "your letter directed to Mr. Jay," agreeing with the move to consolidate the army, "least the enemy should take advantage of our former dispersed state & the necessity that drove us into it. But they have wanted the spirit of enterprize or been deceived greatly as to our strength." (Livingston to Hamilton, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol. I, 267). Not published in the Papers of Alexander Hamilton.

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