Andrew Lewis letter signed ("And. Lewis"). Three pages of a bifolium, 9.25" x 11.5", Williamsburg; June 12, 1776. Addressed to "The Honble. Charles Lee Major General and Commander of the Continental Army in the Southern District of North America." Brigadier General Andrew Lewis apprises Major General Charles Lee of Lord Dunmore's activities shortly before the Battle of Gwynn's Island. Andrew Lewis (1720-1781) was an Irish-born veteran of the French and Indian War and Lord Dunmore's War. He was made a brigadier general in March 1776 and was stationed in Virginia to aid in its defense as commander of the Virginia troops. John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore (1730-1809), was the loyalist governor of the colony of Virginia who, at this time, was in command of a large number of vessels and chose Gwynn's Island off the coast of Gloucester County as a base for his forces while awaiting reinforcements from Great Britain. In this lengthy letter, he updates Major General Lee on their movements around the island in preparation for the battle and a skirmish with five British troops. He also references a case heard on behalf of "Mr. Stadler," the transport of military supplies, and the arrival of Doctor William Rickman as director and chief physician of the general hospital. It reads, in part: "I received your Favour dated Wilmington the first of June which was the first Notice I had of Clinton's sailing from Cape Fear. As he has not yet appeared on our Coast I have all the Reason imaginable to believe he has steered his Course for Charles Town or more Southernly. I had before the Receipt of your Letter wrote you twice...the last June the 3rd. informing you of the Enemy's abandoning their Post at Portsmouth, and the whole Fleet sailing to Gwins Island [sic] &c. to which Information I can only add that they are still in Possession of that Island. I have ordered several Pieces of Cannon at Gloucester Town to be mounted, which the Workmen are about, in Order to have them mounted opposite to the Enemy, and if possible to prevent some small armed Vessels geting [sic] out which lie between the...Sand and the Island. I have sent under the Command of Colo. Mercer three Companies to reinforce Colo. Dangerfields Battalion. And should (e'er now) have sent more, had it not been to us very uncertain what steps Clinton might take... Our Men took a small sloop endeavoring to get out of the Narrows between the Island and our Great Work. She having men a Ground, a few Men in two small Canons boarded her, five Men who were all her Crew endeavored to escape by swimming three of which were shot from the Shoar [sic] and sunk...Deserters say that Lord Dunmore is in dayley [sic] expectation of two Regiments. A great Mortality among the Enemy some of both white and black are discovered float[ing] every Day..." With holographic closing in Lewis' hand that reads, "I am with Great Respect / Your Most obedt and / Very Humble Servant / And. Lewis." Lewis' assertion that British General Henry Clinton was sailing to Charlestown proved correct. He bypassed Virginia and instead sailed to South Carolina where, two weeks after this letter was penned, Major General Lee and Clinton clashed at the Battle of Sullivan Island. The British forces were soundly defeated and forced to retreat to New York City. On July 8, 1776, the Battle of Gwynn's Island took place between Lewis and Dunmore. The batteries Lewis had "mounted opposite the Enemy" were instrumental in Dunmore's defeat. Unbeknownst to the British, the artillery was moved within range of their flagship (also named Dunmore) and began hammering the ship during the morning hours. His force, already weak from a smallpox epidemic and lack of fresh water, could not endure a drawn-out fight. As evidenced by the harrowing line "A great Mortality among the Enemy, some of both white and black are discovered float[ing] every Day", Lewis was well aware of the sickness devastating Dunmore's men, which was made of up of both white and black troops. Among them was the Ethiopian Regiment, which was organized following Dunmore's Proclamation in 1775 and comprised of formerly enslaved black loyalists. The bombardment threw the British into confusion and Dunmore was quickly forced to retreat from the island, abandoning hundreds of sick troops on the beach in the process. Demoralized and defeated, Dunmore returned to Great Britain shortly thereafter. With Dunmore's exit, the Virginia troops were free to march north to aid General Washington in the northern campaigns. It marked the beginning of a period of peace in Virginia for the American forces that lasted until General Cornwallis' arrival a few years later. Lewis, blaming poor health, resigned from service on April 15, 1777, and died in 1781. As he served as a brigadier general for only seven months, his autograph material from that period appears infrequently, and this particular example, signed on the precipice of Dunmore's last stand in America, contains exciting wartime content. The letter is published in The Lee Papers. Reference: The Lee Papers, Vol. 2, "Collections of the New York Historical Society for the Year 1871". New York: Printed for the Society, 1871, pages 62-65. Condition: Fold crosses signature with soiling just touching one letter. Near complete separation along integral fold. Edgewear, with previous closed tear with archival tape on page two. Splitting starting along all other horizontal folds, crossing some text. Scattered dampstaining and soiling. HID03101062020 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,001 and $3,000,000, plus 15% of any amount over $3,000,001 per lot.