Peak season notice: Shipping for this category may take 14–21 business days after cleared payment. Thanks for your patience.
LOT #42009 |
Starting Bid: $2,000
[Revolutionary War-Saratoga Campaign]. Minuteman James Rix Autograph Letter Signed...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Description
A Minuteman Writes Home on the Eve of Battle During the Saratoga Campaign
[Revolutionary War-Saratoga Campaign]. Minuteman James Rix
Autograph Letter Signed ("James Rix"). One page, 7 1/4 x
9 1/2 inches; Stillwater [New York]; September 17, 1777. Docketed
and addressed on the verso.A compelling war-date letter from James Rix, a sergeant in Captain James Sawyer's New York company, written to his wife just days before the opening engagement of the Saratoga Campaign, the Battle of Freeman's Farm. In full (with original spelling as written):
"Dear Wife
I embrace this Oppertunity to let you know that That I am in Sumthing of a poor state of Helth for I have been verey Sick Six or Seven days pass but am a good deal better. I have Stod it out Better than I Expected I Should for we have been Fetigued by Marching from one place to another for Six weeks Past but are now joind the Main Army and are laying in Camp Six Miles from the Enemy; and Do Expect to Give them Battle in three Days time and we do realey Expect to be able to gain the victory with the Blessing of God for our Number is much Superor to thers. I hope you are well and all our Children and I Believe yet that if I live to See November I Shall Come home and See; wages are not yet Drawn. I have 60 Dollars Due the Pay Role is now Makeing up Suppose we Shall be paid of in a short time: Sergt. Carlton is well Perly Haynes is well and Desiers to be Rememberd to there friends
So I Conclude Remaining your
Loveing Husband till Death
James Rix
NB. I have not Seen Brother Clements for He is in the Hospatil Nursing the Sick at the New City above albany also I have the Beth that I Expected: Remember me to all friend &c."
At the time of writing, British General John Burgoyne's army had advanced south from Canada and was pressing toward the Hudson River, while American forces under General Horatio Gates gathered to resist them near Stillwater. Rix's prediction that the battle would commence "in three Days time" proved quite accurate, though just slightly faster than his stated timeline. Two days later, on September 19, 1777, the armies clashed at the Battle of Freeman's Farm, the first major engagement of the campaign. The fighting was intense and particularly costly for the British, who suffered heavy casualties of more than 1,100 men. The battle marked the beginning of a series of American victories that would culminate in Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga in October.
Rix fortunately did "live to see November," serving for two more years in the Continental Army before his honorable discharge on December 4, 1779. An excellent firsthand account from the Saratoga Campaign.
Condition: Browned, with scattered foxing and dampstaining. A few holes and separations, with visible mends to the verso; a few small mends with archival tape on the verso. Still, highly readable with good ink contrast; a good example considering age and wartime handling.
Auction Info
2026 June 19 The John H. Freund Americana Collection Signature® Auction #6331 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
June
19th
Friday
10:50 am CT
Auction Dates
June
19th
Friday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
20 Days
7h 4m 34s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 0
Lot Tracking Activity: 8
Page Views: 90
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% of the successful bid (minimum $49) per lot.
This lot is in: 1 -
Signature® Floor Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 42001-42298) - 11:00 AM Central Time, Friday, June 19, 2026.
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
Exhibition Viewing Times, Title Page, Floor Session and License Information
Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions - Dallas
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms