Securing fresh horses for Yorktown - photo 1
Securing fresh horses for Yorktown - photo 2

Securing fresh horses for Yorktown

Lot 648
24.01.2025 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 44 100
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
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The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
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ID 1362208
Lot 648 | Securing fresh horses for Yorktown
Estimate value
$ 20 000 – 30 000
Securing fresh horses for Yorktown
George Washington, 17 September 1781
WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799). Autograph letter signed ("Go: Washington") as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army to Col. Anthony Walton White, Williamsburg, 17 September 1781.

One page, bifolium, 317 x 198mm, addressed in Washington's hand and bearing his franking signature ("Go: Washington") on the integral transmittal leaf (weak at some creases with pinholes slightly affecting several words of text, light dustsoiling to transmittal leaf).

Securing fresh horses for his command at Yorktown. Three days after his arrival in Williamsburg following an extended march southward with Rochambeau (with a long overdue side visit to Mount Vernon), Washington requests fresh horses for himself and his staff. Washington sends his request to his former aide-de-camp, Col. Anthony Walton White, who was stationed at Ruffin's Ferry on the Pamunkey River in command of the 1st Light Dragoons—a place that Washington had crossed on the 13th en route to Yorktown: "You will please to send to this place for the use of the Genl & field officers expected from the head of Elk twelve good Horses—they will be wanted till their own come by land, only—let a Commissioned Officer come with them that he may regularly account for their delivery—He will report himself, & these Instructions to the Marquis de la Fayette upon his arrival." Washington requests additionally, "two of your best horses for my own use, & four for my Aids till our own can be a little recruited from long & severe Service. My two (which are to be relieved) I send to your care, & beg you will commit them to some Dragoon, or other person in whom you can confide, for the necessary attention to them." White responded two days later writing that he had taken " a particular pleasure in taking out the best in my Regiment" for Washington's use and indicated that he had chosen an additional 12 "for the Generals and Field Officers," but advised the Command-in-Chief that due to the fact that "the troops have not yet arrived, &forage being scarce at camp" at Yorktown, he had "taken the Liberty to Detain them, till the following circumstances are known to you". White then explained that his regiment was very short of horses already and requested that Washington discuss the matter with Lafayette to see if some of the horses could be procured from other regiments. Published in the Papers of George Washington. Provenance: Anthony Walton White — by descent to the consignor.
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24.01.2025 – 24.01.2025
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