William Heath letter signed ("W Heath M. Genl."). Two pages of a bifolium, 7.25" x 9.5", Boston; April 4, 1778. Addressed to Samuel Barrett, Esq., "Agent of the Hospital Department." A significant letter where Major General Heath makes arrangements for the captured General Burgoyne's return to England following the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga. Following his defeat at the Battle of Saratoga, British General John Burgoyne conditionally surrendered his army on October 17, 1777, stipulating that he be allowed to return to England safely. Congress approved, but with a resolution that stated the general must settle all of his accounts in America first. Burgoyne and the captured forces known as the "Convention Army" were conveyed to Massachusetts and fell under the control of Major General William Heath in Boston. It reads, in full: "I would request the favor that you would sit out tomorrow morning in company with Major Pollard to attend His Excelly. General Burgoyne to Rhode Island where you will please with Major Pollard to receive from General Burgoyne such sums of money as he is to pay by a mutual agreement under his hand bearing date the Second Instant, copy of which is herewith inclosed [sic], to which you will please strictly to conform, and for which this shall be your sufficient Warrant. You will jointly sign a receipt upon the receiving of the money. Major Pollard has instructions for the transportation of it to this place." Signed, "W Heath / M. Genl." Evidently, the general did not expect Congress to hold firm to their resolution. In Heath's Memoirs, he humorously recounts an exchange with an incredulous Burgoyne that took place on March 19, 1778. After being informed that Congress had granted permission for his return to England, he was aghast to learn that he was actually expected to discharge the debts before boarding. Heath wrote, "He asked if Congress could be serious in their resolution, requiring in specie the same sum which they had expended in paper money. Our general replied that he supposed that honourable body were serious in all their resolutions. He then replied that this was unjust...Our General answered, that as an executive officer, it was not for him to judge or determine whether the orders of his superiors were just or not." On April 5th, the day after penning this letter, Heath recorded that "General Burgoyne left Cambridge for Rhode Island, accompanied by Colonel Pollard and Samuel Barrett, Esq." The captured general had clearly decided not to test Congress' resolution further because one day after Barrett's return on April 18, a wagon arrived in camp laden down with "a large sum of money, received in discharge of the accounts, and for the troops of the Convention." The letter is accompanied by a typed transcription, an engraving of Heath in uniform, a vignette engraving of Burgoyne in uniform, and an engraving of "The Surrender of Burgoyne's Army". Reference: Memoirs of Major-General William Heath. New York: William Abbatt, 1901. Pages 146-149. Condition: Some scattered soiling and foxing with a few creases. HID03101062020 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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