George Washington: 1783 Army Discharge. 8" x 13," framed to an overall size of 15" x 20." Across the top of the appro...
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Description
George Washington: 1783 Army Discharge. 8" x 13," framed to an overall size of 15" x 20." Across the top of the approximately 8"x 13" certificate is the proud header, "By His Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America." Below, the partly printed document reads as follows: "THESE are to CERTIFY that the bearer hereof Daniel Mulliken, Serjeant (sic) in the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, having faithfully served the United States Six years two months and Seven Days and being enlisted for the War only, is hereby DISCHARGED from the American Army. GIVEN at Head-Quarters the Seventh Day of June 1783 - G: Washington (signed)." Washington's name appears again, in printed text form, on the reverse of the document, where a disclaimer to the discharge states, "THE within CERTIFICATE shall not avail the Bearer as a Discharge, until the Ratification of the definitive Treaty of Peace; previous to which Time, and until Proclamation thereof shall be made, He is to be considered as being on Furlough. GEORGE WASHINGTON" (printed - not a signature).On April 19, 1783, from his headquarters at Newburgh, General Washington issued an order for the cessation of hostilities which served as a formal end to the fighting (though there had been virtually no military action in the colonies since the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown eighteen months earlier). Newburgh served as the headquarters of the Continental Army from March 1782 until its disbandment in late 1783 and was the sight of many important actions by Washington that shaped the newly founded republic including: his reputed refusal to become king; his diffusion of the Newburgh Conspiracy, whereby a group of disenchanted officers threatened a mutiny over pay grievances; the creation of the Badge of Military Merit, the predecessor of today's Purple Heart; and the site where the general penned a letter to the governors of the separate States that would influence the writing of the Constitution.
Condition: Small loss to the left, but this piece is in particularly good condition.
Provenance: LOA from PSA/DNA
Auction Info
2026 March 18 The Dan Madsen Collection of Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain Memorabilia Americana & Political Signature® Auction #6335 (go to Auction Home page)
Bidding Begins Approx.
February
16th
Monday
Auction Dates
March
18th
Wednesday
Proxy Bidding Begins Approx.
29 Days
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: N/A
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 21
Auction Type
Signature®: Heritage Live®:After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum bid placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. Many of our proxy bidders are successful at winning lots in these auctions, and usually below their secret maximum. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.)
Signature® Floor Sessions
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. During the live auction event, bidding in person is encouraged, and Heritage Live includes streaming audio and often video during the event.
Signature®: Heritage Live®:After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum bid placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. Many of our proxy bidders are successful at winning lots in these auctions, and usually below their secret maximum. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.)
Signature® Floor Sessions
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. During the live auction event, bidding in person is encouraged, and Heritage Live includes streaming audio and often video during the event.
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