Description:

George Washington
"Head Quarter" [near Preakness, NJ], July 11, 1780
George Washington PSA NM 7 Signature Dated Same Day Rochambeau's Fleet Arrived In Newport, & Washington Activated Culper Ring Prior To Planned NYC Invasion
Signature

The signature of future 1st U.S. President George Washington (1732-1799), then in his role as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, as "Go. Washington" at the center of a laid paper fragment, likely clipped from a letter signed. Secretarially inscribed as "Given at Head Quarter / July 11th 1780" at top. "Head Quarter" referred to Bloomsbury, Colonel Theunis Day's 4-story brick Georgian mansion near Preakness, in present day Passaic County, New Jersey, where General Washington maintained his military field headquarters from July 1-July 29, 1780. The clipped signature is mounted on a larger cream-colored paper fragment. Encapsulated and PSA/DNA certified and graded NM 7. Expected wear including minor ink bleed-through from the reverse just touching the "G" of Washington's signature. Else near fine. The mount measures 4.75" x 2.875" while the slab measures 7.125" x 4.25."

Washington's bold and dark signature was accomplished on July 11, 1780, a day of some significance in the course of the Revolutionary War. That was the day that French commander Jean-Baptiste de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau (1725-1807) arrived in Newport, Rhode Island with military reinforcements. Previously, the French had generously supplied the Patriots with arms, munitions, and credit; but their alliance become much more tangible with Rochambeau's arrival with some 450 officers and 5,300 French soldiers on July 11th. In New Jersey, General Washington expected news of the arrival of the French fleet any day; he received confirmation just three days later, on July 14th.

Also on July 11, 1780, General Washington alerted two important intelligence contacts that the French were coming, and directed them to start making preparations for the planned Franco-American invasion of British-controlled New York City. General Washington directed his principal spymaster Benjamin Tallmadge (1754-1835) in a letter dated July 11, 1780 to resume "correspondence with the Culpers" in order to ascertain the "movements and position of the enemy upon Long Island" including their known position in Brooklyn. The Culper Spy Ring operated out of southern Connecticut, Long Island, and New York City between 1778-1783. Culper, Sr. was the code name of Setauket farmer and ex-New York militiaman Abraham Woodhull; and Culper, Jr. was the alias of Oyster Bay resident Robert Townsend.

The Culper Spy Ring would reveal several vital pieces of military intelligence in 1780. Earlier that year, Tallmadge's agents discovered that the British were gathering supplies in order to counterfeit American money, in an attempt to devalue the wartime currency. Later in Fall 1780, the Culpeper Ring verified that Benedict Arnold and Major John André had been in communication, thereby substantiating growing suspicions of Arnold's treason.

The other person whom General Washington contacted on July 11, 1780 was Captain William Dobbs (1718-1781), a veteran mariner headquartered in Fishkill, New York, and his preferred New York Harbor pilot and navigational resource. General Washington requested that Captain Dobbs begin contacting pilots who could assist the combined Franco-American force in besieging the city.

General Washington had planned to reconnoiter and attack New York City In the months leading up to July 1780. But as events transpired, Franco-American forces instead pivoted to the south. There they would participate in the final Yorktown Campaign.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: slabbed: 7.125" x 4.25"
  • Medium: Signature

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