Nov 17, 2016 - Sale 2432

Sale 2432 - Lot 27

Price Realized: $ 6,250
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 500 - $ 750
(AMERICAN REVOLUTION--1777.) Graham, Richard. Making uniform buttons for the Continental Army. Autograph Letter Signed to Colonel Leven Powell in Loudoun, VA. 3 pages, 8 x 6 1/4 inches, plus integral address panel (no postal markings) on one folding sheet; separations at folds and numerous early paper repairs. (MRS) Dumfries, VA, 11 May 1777

Additional Details

A chatty and informative letter from a civilian contractor. "We had just got into a good way of button making & yesterday the man that casts broke the moulds, I suppose from want of practice. I wish we had George the 3d here, they say he is a good hand at the business. . . . We are informed & I believe it may be relyed on that Gen. Washington was joined abt 10 days ago by six northern regiments tho he is still exceedingly pressing for our southern troops. I begin to think that he has certainly some design of making a stroke at Howe's army before his reinforcements arrive from Brittain. . . . Congress have sent down Dr. Tilton, one of the hospital surgeons, to inoculate all the troops as they come here." Provenance: Sotheby's sale, 27 May 1986, lot 413, to the consignor.