NELSON THOMAS Letter Signed Thos Nelson Jr as Governor of Vi

Sale 2276 - Lot 89

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BOATS TO PURSUE CORNWALLIS, FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE SURRENDER NELSON, THOMAS. Letter Signed, "Thos Nelson Jr," as Governor of Virginia, to Brigadier General George Weedon, ordering boats to be made ready for the pursuit of Cornwallis. 1 page, 8vo, with integral address leaf; minor foxing, minor wear to address leaf. "Camp before York" [Yorktown, VA], 14 October 1781

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With the Siege of Yorktown entering its final days, the governor has gone to the front lines, and here anticipates a last desperate attempt at flight by Cornwallis: "That the army may be expeditiously transported across York River in case the enemy remove from York to Gloucester, it is necessary that as many vessels as can be procured be immediately collected at some safe & convenient place or places in York, Mattapony, or Pamunkey Rivers. You will oblige me by having this done, & you are hereby authorized to empower proper persons to impress for this purpose all the vessels, together with their crews, which are in these rivers, & which will answer this end. You will also be pleased to direct their stations, & inform his Excellency Genl. Washington or myself of them." Governor Nelson was perhaps even more interested in the siege than the average patriot; his home in York was occupied by the British and was under heavy bombardment.