Washington, George. Revolutionary War-date manuscript document signed ("G. Washington")...

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Washington, George. Revolutionary War-date manuscript document signed ("G. Washington") Washington, George. Revolutionary War-date manuscript document signed ("G. Washington"), being a Ship's Passport, 1 page (7 ¼ in. x 9 ¾ in.; 184 x 247 mm.), 14 February 1779, from "Middlebrook, New Jersey," where Washington's haggard Continental Army was wintering. Washington's complete, intact red wax signet is present at the upper left corner, clearly showing his coat-of-arms. General foxing; archival repair to two minor areas of paper loss. General Washington authorizes a British supply ship to embark for Hampton Road, Virginia to supply a large contingent of prisoner's-of-war being held by the Continentals near Charlottesville. The letter reads in full: "Permission is hereby granted to the Brig. Lady Howe, Steady, Master, laden with cloathing, Stores &c, for the use of the Convention Troops to proceed from the Port of New York to Hampton Road, Virginia, there to receive further direction from His Excellency the Governor of the State of Virginia." With this passport, Washington authorizes a British supply ship to venture down the eastern seaboard for Hampton Road, Virginia. The supplies aboard the ship were destined for the so-called Convention Army - nearly 5,000 British and Hessian troops taken prisoner by Continentals at the Battle of Saratoga in the fall of 1777. The prisoners had been marched in winter from Massachusetts to Charlottesville, Virginia, beyond easy reach of rescue, and scarce supplies in the colonies had made it necessary for Washington to request that the British send provisions and clothing for their incarcerated soldiers. In another communication the same day (written to Henry Clinton), Washington reveals that he preferred to have the ship wait for instructions from Virginia Governor Patrick Henry rather than proceed directly to Richmond, as he believed the governor could better direct the final conveyance of the cargo after its arrival at Hampton Road. One final note: while General Burgoyne and other high-ranking officers were soon paroled, by the end of the war, disease and prisoner escapes had reduced the Convention Army to about half of its original numbers, and many of the remaining soldiers chose to settle in America. This passport is most certainly the very document carried by Capt. Steady en route to Virginia.