American Revolution
Virginia Major General Adam Stephen & His Officers Urge the Revolutionary War Banishment of Tories and Execution of an Army Deserter
February 21, 1777-Dated Revolutionary War, Period Manuscript Fair Copy Document Signed, at Chatham, Virginia, Choice Very Fine.
Excellent historical content, Contemporary Revolutionary War-date fair copy Manuscript Document Secretarially Signed, ("Adam Stephen B Gl.) as Brigadier General, of a report prepared by Continental Army Major General Adam Stephen and four officers under in his command, 1 page, quarto, measuring 8.5" x 11", Choice Very Fine. Easily readable and well written in brown pen upon clean fine quality period laid paper. Other than for a couple of trivial right edge short splits, it is in excellent above average overall quality. This Document is written just two days after Adam Stephens' promotion by George Washington to Major General. This Document reads, in full:



"Upon examining the Tories within mentioned as far as Evidence and Circumstances pointed out to us. It appears that Wm Drake, living contiguous to the Enemy, is a dangerous person and ought to be removed to a Distance, on some part of the Frontiers of some of the States until the end of the War. That Adam Clark is an active Tory living within their lines and ought to be removed in the same manner. That John Hottam endeavored to take up a Deserter from the Enemy in order to bring him back and ought to be hanged or banished during the war. That Jeremiah Turner was active in forwarding the Intrest of the Enemy and ought to be banished during the war. That James Pratt was of an enimical Disposition to America, and assisted some neighbours to move within the Enemy's Lines and ought to be removed. It appears that Samuel Oliver is a Man enimical to us: engaged in the Service of our Enemies and ought to be banished to the end of the war".



An important Revolutionary War military action Document of Major General Adam Stephen of Virginia, a historic figure himself, who's material is rarely ever available to collectors. Also listed below that of General Adam Stephen are four of his officers including; James Hendricks Lt. Colonel 6th Virginia, Ebenezer Sprout Lt. Colonel, Richard Clough Anderson Captain 5th Virginia, and Arthur Smith Captain 4th Virginia. This example being an extraordinary and important account of his wartime decisions.




Adam Stephen was born in Scotland. He earned a degree at King's College in Aberdeen, and studied medicine in Edinburgh. He then entered Royal Navy service on a hospital ship before emigrating to the British province of Virginia in the late 1730s or early 1740s. There he established a medical practice in Fredericksburg.



He entered the provincial militia in 1754, and became lieutenant colonel of the Virginia Regiment under George Washington. That year he participated in Washington's disasterous expedition that climaxed with the Battle of Jumonville Glen and the Battle of Fort Necessity, the opening battles of the French and Indian War.



He continued to serve with the regiment and was involved in the disastrous Braddock Expedition of 1755 and other expeditions. In 1761 Stephens ran and lost against Washington for a position in the Virginia House of Burgesses. When the war ended in 1763, he took over command of the regiment from Washington, and assisted in putting down Pontiac's Rebellion.



When the American Revolutionary War broke out, he offered his services to the Continental Army, again serving under Washington. He was with the army during the New York and New Jersey campaigns of 1776 and early 1777, and, as a Major General, he was given command of a division in Washington's Continental Army during the defense of Philadelphia. During the October 1777 Battle of Germantown he led his troops into a situation where they became engaged in "friendly fire" with those troops of General Anthony Wayne. The ensuing court martial found that Stephen was drunk at the time of the battle, and he was stripped of his command and cashiered out of the army.



During the Revolutionary War Stephen was promoted to General for his part in the Battle of Trenton. Major General Adam Stephen took part in the August 21st War Council at the Moland House. In one of his most notable achievements, he forced the retreat of British General Dunmore from Norfolk, Virginia. Stephen was eventually court martialed for unofficer-like behavior.



Perhaps his greatest contribution to America's future was his stirring speech at the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1788 which influenced the Virginia delegates to ratify the United States Constitution, which in turn led other states to ratify the Constitution at their state conventions. In 1788 he was elected to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, which ratified the Constitution of the United States.



The General Adam Stephen House and Triple Brick Museum is the stone home of the founder of Martinsburg, Revolutionary War General Adam Stephen. It is furnished in 1750-1820 period, and the town museum includes artifacts and local history items such as quilts, military uniforms at 309-313 East John St., Martinsburg, WV. 25401