Revolutionary War Doctor writes home during the Saratoga Campaign, 1777

A Revolutionary War Physician on the march promises his wife to return home as soon as his leaving is not “detremental [sic] to the common cause.“

(Saratoga Campaign) Nathan HARWOOD (1737 – 90) Revolutionary War officer and physician present at Saratoga.

Rare and fine content war-date Autograph Letter Signed “Nathan Harwood” 1p. 200 x 205 mm., Manchester, [Vermont], 25 June 1777. A touching letter form Captain Harwood to his wife while in Manchester, Vermont after responding to an alarm sounded by Colonel Seth Warner on 19 July to defend the Vermont frontier, now under threat by John Burgoyne’s forces marching southward.  After the fall of Fort Ticonderoga (5 July 1777), General Philip Schuyler ordered General Seth Warner together with the Berkshire County militia to gather and protect the forage in southern Vermont lest it fall into the hands of the British. Harwood answered the alarm of 19 July and marched with his company from Windsor, Massachusetts to Manchester in order to drive cattle out of reach of British foraging parties.

Harwood writes, in most part: “[Period spellings retained without comment] Mrs. Harwood I improve this opportunity to Rite to you this I have Nothing Extrodenay to Rite the army is in a [?] Situation this Detachment of the army is in a Brocean Situation. We are Bringing of all the Catel and other Stock With out the Lines and if we are not knowing[?] if the Enynemy makes a fight on us we must retreat for we have not a Sofefan Number to with stand them and it is of the greatis importance to me for us to Be Reinforc’d as for the time I Shall return I can not tel You must manage the bisnas as well as you can and If the Season will admit git Sum of the Nabors [to] as[s]ist and Burn[?] over that pese of ground and Git as much Hay as you can without  Wor[ry]ing your Self I Can not think of Le[a]ving this army Til it is Reinforc[e]d and as Soon as I can Leave it with out being detremental to the common cause I Shall. we all in gay[?] health this from your Efectionate Husband” Harwood adds a short postscript: “My Love to our Children and Tel[l] the[m] to be faithufl and magin Bisness as Well as thay can.”

Harwood would remain in Manchester six more days before departing to his Windsor, Massachusetts home. His work driving cattle away from British hands was instrumental in weakening Burgyone’s army in advance of the climatic battles at Saratoga. Two weeks later, he would march on the Bennington alarm and would march again on the day following Freeman’s Farm on 20 September and remain in service through 14 October where he was present for the Battle of Bemis Heights (7 October).

The letter is affixed to a larger sheet bearing annotations in the lower margin identifying it as a “Letter form Capt. Nathan Harwood from (Manchester, V.t). Jan ye June? 25, 1777 – to his wife Mrs. Huldah Bannaister Harwood in Windsor, Mass. Where Capt. H was a practicing physician when he entered the Army as a Volunteer, on date of the battle of Bennington. Probably the only letter written by him in existence. A. H. H., Ashfield – Mass- White Homestead-”

Toned at margins, partial fold separations, loss to bottom margin affecting some text, else good condition overall. 

(EXA 4110)

Sold

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*Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War, 413: “Harwood, Nathan. 1st Lieutenant, Capt. Joseph Warner, Jr.’s 15th (Plantation No. 5) co., 2d Hampshire Co. regt. of Mass. militia; list of officers chosen by the several companies in said regiment, as returned by Seth Pomeroy and others, field officers, dated Northampton, March 22, 1776; ordered in Council April 8, 1776, that said officers be commissioned; reported commissioned April 5 [?], 1776; also, Captain, Col. John Dickason’s (Dickinson’s) regt.; engaged July 19, 1777; discharged July 31, 1777; service, 15 days; company marched to Manchester on an alarm to join forces under Col. Warner; roll sworn to at Chesterfield; also, Lieutenant, Capt. William Ward’s (Plantation No. 5) co., (late) Col. Ezra May’s regt.; engaged Aug. 17, 1777; discharged Aug. 22, 1777; service, 5 days; company marched on an alarm at Bennington; also, Capt. Christopher Banister’s co., Col. Ezra May’s regt.; engaged Sept. 20, 1777; discharged Oct. 14, 1777; service, 29 days, on expedition to Stillwater and Saratoga, including travel (100 miles) home; also, Captain, Col. Israel Chapin’s (2d Hampshire Co.) regt. of Mass. militia; list of officers; commissioned July 6, 1778.”

Early publication of Iroquois creation story

A rare edition of David Cusick’s account of the Iroquois creation story

David CUSICK (c. 1780 – 1831). David Cusick’s Sketches of Ancient History of the Six nations, -Comprising- First – A Tale of the Foundation of the Great Island, (Now North America,) the Two Infants Born, and the Creation of the Universe… (Lockport, N.Y.: Turner & McCollum, 1848). 35pp. 8vo. 220×143 mm. bound in blank wraps. Four woodcut illustrations. more…

19th Century Manuscript map of Clear Creek & Central City, Colorado mines

(Colorado Gold & Silver Mining) Manuscript map, ink on linen, 9 7/8 x 19 1/4 in. [n.d., c. 1865 – 1880] detailing mining claims in the Clear Creek Valley in the vicinity of Idaho Falls and Central City, Colorado. The map identifies approximately forty claims in the region, identified by red lines, which are mostly clustered around the Clear Creek tributaries of Mill Creek and Fall River. more…

1884 Election Broadside Advocating Protectionism

(Election of 1884 and Protectionism) Broadside, 37 1/2 x 23 in. (sight), titled “ELECTION OF 1884” (Philadelphia: Avil & Co, Show Printers, 3941.5 Market St., 1884).

A superb illustrated campaign broadside extolling Republican pledges to protect American manufacturing from “JOHN BULL AND ALL OTHER FOREIGNERS FOR FREE TRADE”. A dramatic illustration below depicts stalwart American workers on the ramparts awaiting the arrival of an armada of foreign ships on the horizon behind which stands the vague figure of “John Bull” (with he clouds forming a subtle Union Jack to drive the point home). The illustration is headed: “Hungry John Bull with his cargo of merchandise waiting for Democratic Free Traders to open American Ports”.

Beneath the “WAR FOR BREAD” slogan is a quote from Blaine assuring that he favors “‘PEACE WITH THE WHOLE WORLD. COMMERCIAL EXPANSION IN EVERY PRACTICABLE DIRECTION. ENCOURAGEMENT OF EVERY FORM OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY. PROTECTION TO EVERY CITIZEN, NATIVE OR NATURALIZED, AT HOME OR ABROAD'”. Interestingly enough, an anti-Catholic/immigrant slur by a prominent Blaine supporter would galvanize the Irish and Catholic vote against Blaine which in November cost him the state of New York, and the election.

Several minor losses at folds affecting several words in text, some marginal ships and tears, else very good. Framed. Not examined out of frame.

(EXA 4499) SOLD

Election of 1872 Broadside for Horace Greeley

(Election of 1872) Broadside, 23 x 17 in. (sight), “GREELEY! – On Saturday Night, July 20, 1872!” ([Wooster, Ohio, 1872]). A superb and large broadside promoting the newspaper man’s 1872 bid for the presidency. Although there was great hoopla for Greeley in Wooster in July, by November his star had faded. Grant won in Wayne County (and the rest of the state as well)

Light dampstains throughout, minor tears at some folds, light soiling, else very good. Matted and framed. Not examined out of frame. 

(EXA 4498)  SOLD

1872 Broadside for a rally for Ulysses S. Grant in Lewes, Delaware

(Ulysses S. GRANT) Broadside, 23 1/2 x 17 1/2 in. (sight), “Republican Meeting at LEWES” (Milford, Del.: News and Advertiser, print, 1872). Signed in type “CHARLES F. RICHARDS, Chairman“.

An impassioned call for “A MASS MEETING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY… On Thursday, October 17th, 1872” featuring speeches by Nathaniel B. Smithers¹, Col. Jacob Moore², Maj. James R. Lofland³, and George V. Massey.

The broadside warns of the organizational prowess of their Democratic opponents who have “maintained a compact organization, and battled bravely and consistently or the principles if professed—thereby commanding the respect of even those most hostile to its doctrines. But now, despairing of success in an honorable warfare, it seeks it by indirection, and its trading managers for the spoils of office have ‘sold out’ the honest masses, and attempted to deliver them into the hands of life-long enemies—the sore-headed Republicans, led by Horace Greeley.” While Sussex and New Castle Counties went for Grant, Kent County swung toward Greeley.

Several tears and losses at folds, some of which have been restored with ink, mounted to a board and framed. Overall very good. Not examined out of frame. 

(EXA 4497)  SOLD

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Pair of rare handbills from the Chicago Haymarket Riot

Two rare handbills that helped set off the riot that inspired International Worker’s Day (May Day). 

(Haymarket Square Riot) Two broadsides, 10 1/8 x 6 7/8 in. ea. calling for a mass meeting at Haymarket Square in Chicago to protest the killing of strikers during the general strike that commenced on 1 May 1886. The first copy features a controversial call for workers to arm themselves which was removed in the second after objections by labor leaders. more…

Early broadside for William Henry Harrison

(William Henry HARRISON) An excellent, early broadside, 18 x 12 in. (sight), simply and directly titled “HARRISON” above a woodcut of an American eagle and shield. (Newburgh, [N.Y.], 10 January 1840.)

The broadside announces that “A general meeting of the People will be held at the United States Hotel, in the village of Newburgh on Saturday Evening January 18th at 7 o’clock. Speeches will be delivered by HON. H[erman]. M[eyer]. ROMELYN, and other gentlemen.”
The Whig Party nominated William Henry Harrison very early in the election season, meeting at Harrisburg in December 1839. The speaker, Herman M. Romelyn (1792 – 1850) was a prominent Ulster County attorney practicing in Kingston, N.Y. A prominent abolitionist, Romelyn served as Sojourner Truth’s attorney in her efforts to free her son, Peter in 1828.¹

Light creases, some mild foxing and toning from ink transfer, minor losses at folds not obscuring text, else very good. Matted and framed.

(EXA 4273)  SOLD

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William Heath orders payment 
to a Boston Tea Party participant, 1777

William Heath orders payment 
to a Boston Tea Party participant

(American Revolution) William HEATH (1737 – 1814) Manuscript Document Signed “W Heath M[ajor] G[eneral]” 1p. 7 1/4 x 6 in., Boston, 12 April 1777 an order “To Ebenezer Hancock Esqr. Depy Paymaster Genl. to the Forces of the United States of America” requesting he more…

Armored vest worn by Herbert Hoover during his 1928 tour of South America

[Herbert HOOVER] An unusual relic, a 1920s period armored vest possibly used by Herbert Hoover during his 1928 tour of South America. The vest, which features cloth-encased flexible armor for both chest, back and crotch, was standard issue for U.S. Post Office employees who worked processing mail aboard railroad cars to offer protection against robbers armed with shotguns and pistols. The vest was kept by sailor Sulo H. Keisala, who served aboard the U.S.S. Utah when it was part of a naval contingent that sailed to Latin America carrying then President-Elect Hoover on a goodwill tour of Latin America in late 1928.¹ The tour, which Hoover announced only days after his election to the Presidency, included visits to eleven nations. Due to poor relations with many Latin American countries at the time, there was some fear that someone might attack the president-elect. Those fears were confirmed with the arrest of an Argentine anarchist who had threatened to shoot Hoover.

The vest is accompanied by several documents including a short note, signed “SK” reading: “Keep this for me ‘Protector Vest’ Mr Hoover wore this at port” The vest is also accompanied by a short note in the hand of LOU HENRY HOOVER on her personal calling card to which has been affixed a seal from the U.S.S. Utah, writing “Merry Christmas Mr and” just before her printed name, “MRS. HERBERT HOOVER”. The ledger includes several pieces of ephemera from the cruise including a race ticket from the Swift & Co. Race Course in Montevideo printed on “UTAH DAY DECEMBER 12, 1928”; a Y.M.C.A. guide to Rio De Janeiro; a trade card for the “ANGLO-AMERICAN JEWELRY SHOP” in Rio De Janeiro as well as two dinner menus for banquets held aboard ship.

Also included are two letters from the Washington Naval Museum to a previous owner of the vest. One, dated 11 July 1990, notes that: “…It appears that the Secret Service issued Mr. Hoover one of the vests for his Central and South American cruise in late 1928. The Navy did not use body armor at that time…” The vest itself is quite worn with some moth damage and fraying at some seams, but still retains the armor and the original buttons. A very unusual relic from the first time a sitting or elected president was requested to wear any sort of protective body armor. Certainly worthy of further research. Interesting to note that the present President of the United States also routinely wears a bullet-proof vest!

Vest bears some wear including moth holes, album bears the expected wear, else very good overall.

(EXA 3912) SOLD.

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¹According to census records Keisala was born in Fitchburg, Mass. in 1906. His papers, which accompany this lot, and are housed in a large ledger book, and indicate he served in the Navy for some time, first aboard the U.S.S. Seattle and then the U.S.S. Utah. Keisala served in the navy until at least 1942 as his name appears on the watch list of the U.S.S. Broadbill on 19 October 1942 (included in this collection).