American Revolution
August 31, 1783 Three Months Prior to "Evacuation Day" Occupied New York City British Military Forage Receipt
August 31, 1783-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Partly-Printed Receipt Voucher for Wood for the British Army as they continued their occupation of New York City, by the "The Barrack Major Generals Department," Choice Crisp Extremely Fine.
In mid-August 1783, Sir Guy Carleton, the last British Army and Royal Navy commander in the former British America, received orders from his superiors in London for the evacuation of New York. This rare Partly-Printed Document, being in Receipt for "Ten Cords and Six Inches of Wood" for use in "The Barrack Major Generals Department," Signed, "James Putnam".
This document, is printed and fully accomplished on fine quality watermarked clean crisp laid period paper, measuring 6.5" x 8" that was issued before the signing of the Treaty of Paris (September 3, 1783) when the British held full sway in New York. George Brinley, whose printed name appears on the first line of this document was the Deputy Commissary in charge of the Forage Department. His primary function was to obtain provisions for the British Army while they occupied New York. Sourcing goods locally saved the British Army much money instead of having to import supplies and foodstuffs. Docket completed on the blank reverse. This is the first official, fully completed such form we have offered. An important addition to any New York City related Revolutionary War collection.
"Evacuation Day" is celebrated on November 25th as it marks the day in 1783 when the British Army departed from New York City on Manhattan Island, after the end of the American Revolutionary War. In their wake, General George Washington triumphantly led the Continental Army from his headquarters north of the city across the Harlem River, and south through Manhattan to the Battery at its southern tip.
In mid-August 1783, Sir Guy Carleton, the last British Army and Royal Navy commander in the former British America, received orders from his superiors in London for the evacuation of New York.
He informed the President of the Confederation Congress that he was proceeding with the subsequent withdrawal of refugees, liberated slaves, and military personnel as fast as possible, but that it was not possible to give an exact date because the number of refugees entering the city recently had increased dramatically (more than 29,000 Loyalist refugees were eventually evacuated from the city).[14][15] The British also evacuated over 3,000 Black Loyalists, former slaves they had liberated from the Americans, to Nova Scotia, East Florida, the Caribbean, and London,[16] and refused to return them to their American slaveholders and overseers as the provisions of the Treaty of Paris had required them to do. The Black Brigade were among the last to depart.[17]
Carleton gave a final evacuation date of 12:00 noon on November 25, 1783. An anecdote by New York physician Alexander Anderson told of a scuffle between a British officer and the proprietress of a boarding house, as she defiantly raised her own American flag before noon.[18] Following the departure of the British, the city was secured by American troops under the command of General Henry Knox.[