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WASHINGTON, George. Letter signed ("G:o Washington") as Commander-in-Chief, Continental Army, to Colonel James Clinton in the Hudson Highlands; Head Quarters, New York, 21 July 1776. 2/3 page, folio, clean partial fold separation (repairable), otherwise in very fresh condition, docketed "Sends Lt. Michine, an Engineer."
AN ENGINEER FOR THE HIGHLANDS AND A SHORTAGES OF ARTILLERYMEN
Washington--busy preparing for the expected British attack on New York--detaches an engineer to help build fortifications in the Hudson Highlands and advises Clinton on a serious shortage of men to man the American cannon. "The bearer Lieut. [Thomas] Michine I have sent to act as an engineer in the posts under your command, and at such other places as may be tho[ugh]t necessary, he is an ingenious man and has given great satisfaction as an engineer at Boston from which he is just returned. I have received from the Secret Committee [of Congress] a representation of your want of Matrosses - [artillerymen] which can be supplied in no other way, but by drafting them that are proper from other Corps and exercising them to the Artillery, it is what we have been obliged to do here. The men thus drafted may be considered as remaining w[it]h their own Regiments, & only doing duty with the train on the present occasion...."
Washington was aware from the early days of the New York campaign of the strategic importance of the American garrison and fortifications on both sides of the Hudson at Bear Mountain (some 46 miles north of New York City). He realized its potential to prevent British naval vessels from ascending the river and later its usefulness as a heavily defended garrison from which the Americans could menace the British lines around New York. The fortifications were added to and improved by various engineers (including Pulaski) over the course of the war and eventually featured a bristling array of posts: Forts Arnold (later Clinton), Montgomery, Meigs, Putnam, plus redoubts, observation posts, signal stations and artillery emplacements (see map in Boatner, p.531). Two chain booms (logs connected by extra heavy iron links) were implaced: one at Bear Mountain, another at West Point (in the end these failed to prevent the British naval raid on Kingston in October 1777). Published in Papers, Rev. War Series, ed. Abbot, 5:413. Provenance: See note preceding 316.
AN ENGINEER FOR THE HIGHLANDS AND A SHORTAGES OF ARTILLERYMEN
Washington--busy preparing for the expected British attack on New York--detaches an engineer to help build fortifications in the Hudson Highlands and advises Clinton on a serious shortage of men to man the American cannon. "The bearer Lieut. [Thomas] Michine I have sent to act as an engineer in the posts under your command, and at such other places as may be tho[ugh]t necessary, he is an ingenious man and has given great satisfaction as an engineer at Boston from which he is just returned. I have received from the Secret Committee [of Congress] a representation of your want of Matrosses - [artillerymen] which can be supplied in no other way, but by drafting them that are proper from other Corps and exercising them to the Artillery, it is what we have been obliged to do here. The men thus drafted may be considered as remaining w[it]h their own Regiments, & only doing duty with the train on the present occasion...."
Washington was aware from the early days of the New York campaign of the strategic importance of the American garrison and fortifications on both sides of the Hudson at Bear Mountain (some 46 miles north of New York City). He realized its potential to prevent British naval vessels from ascending the river and later its usefulness as a heavily defended garrison from which the Americans could menace the British lines around New York. The fortifications were added to and improved by various engineers (including Pulaski) over the course of the war and eventually featured a bristling array of posts: Forts Arnold (later Clinton), Montgomery, Meigs, Putnam, plus redoubts, observation posts, signal stations and artillery emplacements (see map in Boatner, p.531). Two chain booms (logs connected by extra heavy iron links) were implaced: one at Bear Mountain, another at West Point (in the end these failed to prevent the British naval raid on Kingston in October 1777). Published in Papers, Rev. War Series, ed. Abbot, 5:413. Provenance: See note preceding 316.