?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 3,000 - $ 4,000
"WE ARE ENTIRELY DESTITUTE, PARTICULARLY OF SHOES" LAFAYETTE, GILBERT DU MOTIER; MARQUIS DE. Autograph Letter Signed, "Lafayette," as Major General, to Brigadier General George Weedon, reporting on the movements of the conjoined Arnold-Cornwallis force, Baron von Steuben's retreat, and his own force's "entirely destitute" state. With franking signature "Lafayette M G" on address leaf. 3 pages, 4to; small seal hole affecting 2 words near signature. Mechuinks Creek [Albemarle County, VA], 13 June 1781
Lafayette begins with orders for Weedon: "I have received your favor of the 11th and request you will superintend and direct the distribution of the troops north of Rappaonak. While the ennemy have nothing but plundering parties, it is certainly better to divide the militia in defence of their own counties. Should any considerable force appear, your troops must be collected to a point either for attack or retreat." Fighting off the British raiding parties, Lafayette has remained "betwen the ennemy and our stores; nothing has been destroied but what had been contrary to my directions brought to Charlottesville." He also mentions Baron von Steuben's unit: "The Baron having crossed over James River has, it is said, retreated to the south side of Staunton River." He concludes with a report on supplies: "Some cloathing coming from Head Quarters for the light infantry detachment has been stopped by the Board of War, the reason I do not know. I request you will aquaint them that we are entirely destitute, particularly of shoes, and if they any longer detain, . . . want of shoes and of every necessary will put it out of our power to move." Abstracted in Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution, IV:496; quoted in Ward, Duty, Honor or Country, page 197.
