PHILLIPS WILLIAM Letter Signed W Phillips Major General of t

Sale 2276 - Lot 95

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PHILLIPS, WILLIAM. Letter Signed, "W Phillips Major General" of the British Army, to Major [Griffith] Williams, dictating the artillery placement for the next day's final assault on Fort Ticonderoga. With postscript Signed "WP." 2 pages, folio, on the recto and verso of a single sheet; short closed separations at folds, contemporary ink smudge in text, docketing below postscript signature. "On board the Inflexible" [Lake Champlain, NY], 5 July 1777

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The British began their siege of Fort Ticonderoga on 2 July, and occupied all of the high ground surrounding the fort. This letter describes some of their plans for a 6 July bombardment. The Americans, seeing the poor prospects for success, abandoned the fort on the night of the 5th. Here Phillips write: "The two light 24 pounders with two eight inch howitzers to be landed at daybreak tomorrow morning with as much ammunition as you have ammunition carts to carry it. . . . The German Brigade will have orders to draw these cannon to the head of the Second Brigade of British who will continue them on to the advanced corps. The utmost diligence to be used in this, that they may set off as early as possible, and I am to desire that Captain Mitchelson may have this command."