Williams William 1731 - 1811 A fine and rare collection of four documents pertaining to Benedict Arnold's heroic northern campaign of 1776 including an ultra rare William Williams document of the same date

Following the disastrous American attempt to capture Quebec on December 31, 1775, which resulted in the death of General Richard Montgomery, Arnold retreated with the remaining American forces back to Montreal to regroup. Promoted to Brigadier General, Arnold was then charged with the task of preventing a British attack from Canada into New York. He quickly judged Montreal as indefensible by his miniscule force of 1000 men and moved south. As Lake Champlain was the only viable transport route between Canada and Albany, Arnold chose to retreat to the southern end of the lake at Skenenseborough (opposite Fort Ticonderoga) where he began construction on a flotilla of armed galleys to guard the lake.

In response, the British began work on their own flotilla at St. Johns, Quebec, which included a disassembled 180 ton warship which was reassembled for service on the lake. The two fleets would finally meet at Valcour Island on October 11, 1776 where Arnold commanded his vastly outnumbered forces against the British. Ultimately he was defeated and had to scuttle most of his fleet to prevent their use by the British. But by the time Canadian Governor Guy Carleton was ready to move on the American posts at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, snow was already falling, and he was forced to return to Canada for the Winter. If it had not been for Benedict Arnold, Carleton could have very well have captured the entire lake together with its forts and would have been threatening Albany by Christmas. This series of events would have dramatically altered the course of the war. Because of Arnold's efforts in 1776, John Burgoyne would be forced to retrace Carleton's steps the next year, moving even further south, only to suffer an even more ignominious defeat at Saratoga. And it was a defeat, once again, at the hands of Benedict Arnold.

Offered here is a collection of four documents relative to the supply of this fleet that helped save New York in 1776. The first is a manuscript Document Signed by Signer of the Declaration of Independence, William Williams, one page, 8" x 6", Lebanon, July 16, 1776 addressed to the Pay Table committee at Hartford, requesting a draft for •£300 for the purchase of "One Thousand felling Axes for the use of the Northern Army on the request of the honorable Major General Schuyler... " Schuyler was Arnold's immediate superior in the Northern Department. Docketed and signed by Connecticut Governor John Trumbull together with an unsigned endorsement of Oliver Ellsworth .

The next day Oliver Ellsworth pens an Autograph Letter Signed, one page, 8.25" x 8.5", Hartford, July 17, 1776 to state Treasurer John Lawrence ordering " ...into the Hands of Capt. John Deshon One Hundred & Fifty pounds for his Honour Governor Trumbull & also one hundred & fifty pounds for Titus Hosmer Esq- All to be by them improve[e]d for the Purchase of One Thousand felling Axes for the Use of the Northern Army... " Purchasing 1000 axes out of the blue was a tall order in a country with no significant domestic manufactures. Essentially the axes had to be purchased, donated and borrowed from the inhabitants of Connecticut.

On July 20, 1776 Titus Hosmer penned an Autograph Document Signed, one page, 8" x 5", from Middletown to Treasurer John Lawrence asking him to pay his portion of the •£300 to be paid to " ...the bearer Mr Chauncey Whittelsey, who is appointed to purchase the Axes ... " But despite the difficulties in obtaining the axes, Governor John Trumbull ordered in an Autograph Document Signed, one page, 7.5" x 5", Lebanon, July 30,. 1776 to " ...draw an Order on The Treasurer for the Sum of Ten pounds lawfull Money in favour of Mr. Eliphalet Hyde, to be used to bear Expenses to Skeenesborough to Carry Axes for the Use of the Army... "

By August, Arnold could happily report that eight of the galleys were ready. Arnold's fleet met a larger British flotilla under Carleton on October 11, 1776. The American fleet did not fare well in the battle, but fortunately the wind was unfavorable for Carleton and he was unable to deploy the majority of his fleet against Arnold. With most of his ships damaged, Arnold chose to withdraw, deftly sneaking his fleet through the blocking British line during the night and attempted to fine cover at Crown Point. Unable to make that safe haven due to unfavorable winds, Arnold drove his ship ashore in the shallows of Buttonmold Bay where the larger British ships could not follow. In the end, Arnold and the survivors of the battle were forced to burn the balance of the American ships that had reached Crown Point and retreat further south on foot to Ticonderoga. Though the tactical victory went to the British, who now controlled the entire Lake, winter was quickly setting in, making attacks on either Crown Point or Ticonderoga impractical.

A wonderful set of documents concerning the construction of this most important fleet which foiled British plans to split the colonies in two during the 1776 campaign. Three documents signed within weeks of the Declaration of Independence Documents bear the expected wear including creases and light toning, else very good to fine condition. Together, four documents.