Udney Hay, Former Q. Gen of Ft. Ticonderoga, 2 ALS Re: Gun Boats & Raising Militia

A pair of letters from Udney Hay, former Quartermaster General of the Army at Fort Ticonderoga. Both are signed "Udney Hay" from Fishkill, New York and are addressed to Col. Cornelius Wynkoop. The first, dated June 22, 1778, concerns gunboats and other supplies that might be delivered to Fishkill landing. The second, dated August 1, 1780, directs Wynkoop to impress a number of teams to transport provisions. Accompanying the two letters is a clipped engraving of Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain. Both letters have flattened mail folds and light toning. The 1780 letter has edge chipping and separations and tears at the folds. Separations affect a small amount of the text. Both boldly signed.

Highlights from the two letters:

1. June 22, 1778: "Yours of the 14th inst to the General is now before me; by whom I am directed to inform you that he would have no more gunboats made only such as are already begun, and desires you would as soon as possible let them be brought to Fish Kill landing where he chooses they should be fitted out. Be so good as lett me know if cables and anchors could be obtained in Albany, and I will endeavor to furnish you…We expect a quantity of sail cloth from Boston everyday, a couple of tents sewd together will serve to bring them as far as Fish Kill landing…"

2. August 1, 1780: "…you will likewise receive herewith an Impress Warrant from his Excellency the Governor with which you are to impress a sufficient number of Teams for Transporting all provisions & stores that may be thought necessary to forward to Albany for use of the Army. Should you find any Difficulty in turning out an adequate number by that mode, for the above purpose, please make application to the justices in the most pressing manner for their assistance, which, if they should refuse enter a regular Protest against them before two reputable witnesses…"

Udney Hay (1739-1806) was born in Scotland and came to America prior to the Revolutionary War. Following a recommendation from General Horatio Gates, Hay was appointed by the Continental Congress to assistant deputy quartermaster at Fort Ticonderoga. Hay was later recommended the position of first quartermaster general, after the resignation of Thomas Mifflin, but Congress appointed Nathanael Greene instead. However, when Greene was posted with the main army in Rhode Island and Boston, Hay served as Acting Deputy Quartermaster General. He would also serve as a Quartermaster at Fishkill Depot, the Port of Poughkeepsie, and West Point.

Cornelius D. Wynkoop (1734–1792) served first as major and then as lieutenant colonel of the 3d New York Regiment during 1775. He left the Continental Army in November 1776, but continued his support as a civilian. He assisted in recruiting men for the New York Militia and in building gunboats to defend the Hudson River in the spring of 1778. Wynkoop was later killed by one of his slaves in 1792.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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