May 04, 2017 - Sale 2446

Sale 2446 - Lot 27

Price Realized: $ 938
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 700 - $ 1,000
"THE ENEMY INTEND TO . . . ESCAPE . . . ON ACCOUNT OF COL. ARNOLD'S EXPEDITION" (AMERICAN REVOLUTION.) RENSSELAER, JAMES VAN. Autograph Letter Signed, to Philip van Rensselaer, reporting that [Ethan] Allen's failed attack upon Montreal resulted in his being captured, and stating that the enemy intend to escape in anticipation of [Benedict] Arnold's expedition to Quebec. 1 page, 4to, with integral address leaf; moderate toning overall, slight fading to text, few tiny holes at fold intersections, few scattered tissue repairs to address leaf. (MRS) "Camp Near Saint Johns" [Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu], 28 September 1775

Additional Details

"This day we Received Information from Col. [Timothy] Bedel who is Stationed with 600 men one mile North of St. Johns that Col. Allen with 60 Canadians and 30 of our men had made an attack upon Montreal The Commanding Officer with the Canadians of that place Sallied out upon them with their Field Pieces and Intirely Defeated them and made Col. Allen a Prisoner. This proceeding of his was done without the Least Intimation of the General and is much Blaimed [sic] for the Rash Attempt for it is feared he has hurt our Cause much among the Canadians. We have Lost only Two men killed in our Battalion which Began to play up on the fork Yesterday. By all the Information we Can git [sic] we are Certain the Enemy Intend to make their Escape if possible on account of Col. Arnold's Expedition to Quebec. They have 2 Schooner and one Long Boat in the River. . . ."