Apr 17, 2012 - Sale 2276

Sale 2276 - Lot 176

Price Realized: $ 3,600
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 500 - $ 750
"LET GEN. WASHINGTON KNOW THEIR INTENTION WITHOUT LOSS OF TIME" (YORKTOWN, SIEGE OF.) [SEAWELL, JOSEPH?] Autograph Letter, unsigned, to "Commanding Officer at Gloster C House" [Brigadier General George Weedon], advising that he has observed the British making preparations for an escape through Gloucester. 1 page, folio; wax seal remnant on recto obscuring two words, minor edge wear grazing text, remnants of prior mounting on verso. [Gloucester, VA?, circa 10 October 1781?]
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Additional Details

This anonymous letter was apparently written during the last days of the Siege of Yorktown by a civilian who had been making observations on the British across the river: "No doubt 'ere now you have been informed of the enemy's intentions of evacuating York Town & taking their rout thro' Gloster. . . . This has been my opinion for 3 or 4 days past & by having a watchful eye on their movements & intreagues it is reduced with me to a moral certainty that an attempt of this kind is now premeditating. . . . Would it not be prudent to let Gen. Washington know their intention without loss of time?" He seems to fear reprisals: "Nothing woud have induced me to run the risque I now do in giving this intelligence but the welfare of my country & the lives of my dear countrymen."
The British did make an abortive attempt at a breakout much like the one anticipated here on the night of Tuesday, 16 October. When it failed, they began negotiations for surrender the following day. The letter is dated simply "Wednesday 3 oclock." It could have been written on 10 October, or could have been misdated on Tuesday 16 October, or perhaps the informant wrote on Wednesday 17 October and was unaware of the previous night's attempt.
The docketing identifies this unsigned letter as "Intelligence from Mr. Seawell." The likely author would be Joseph Seawell (circa 1710-1786), proprietor of a tavern called Seawell's Ordinary where General Weedon had made his headquarters earlier in the siege. The building still stands, and was in operation as a tavern until recently. See Fonzo, "Seawell's Ordinary," in The Family Tree Searcher, December 2011.