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(AMERICAN REVOLUTION--NEW YORK.) Elting, Peter. Letter to Benedict Arnold's aide, written just after the treason became known. Autograph Letter Signed to Elting's brother-in-law Colonel Richard Varick at West Point. 2 pages, 12 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches, plus integral address leaf; short closed separation on center fold; inked library stamp and release stamp on address leaf. (JMR) Kingston, NY, 2 October 1780
Richard Varick received an important promotion in August 1780, becoming an aide-de-camp to Benedict Arnold. On 24 September, Arnold defected to the British, calling the loyalty of his aides into question. His brother-in-law Peter Elting reacts to the news: "I was very happy then to find you had again got a place in the army, and more so since it was in General Arnold's family, a character I alwais had a good opinion of. But to my great surprise I have found my mistake as well as yours, almost to the total destruction of our cause and country. I doubt not but you shall be called to account as belonging to his family, and trust you shall be cleared with honour. If not, I shall be still more deceived by you than by the General." Varick did emerge with his reputation intact, and later served as George Washington's private secretary.
