Description:

Ellsworth Oliver



Oliver Ellsworth, Revolutionary War Content on Buying Saltpeter During Disastrous Gun Powder Shortage

 

ALS, 8" x 6.5". Dated "January 9, 1777", and signed by Oliver Ellsworth, "Oliv Ellsworth". Near fine with vibrant inks. Fine condition. Accompanied by a lovely engraving of Ellsworth.

 

Oliver Ellsworth signed letter authorizing the purchase of Saltpeter and having the cost charged to the state. Given the letter was written during the Revolutionary War, Saltpeter was a hot and difficult to find commodity. In the 18th Century, gunpowder was made using a longtime recipe that called for 15 percent charcoal, 10 percent sulphur and 75 percent potassium nitrate (also known as saltpetre). 

 

Some armies have been ground to a halt because they’ve run out of gasoline. Others have been sidelined for lack of warm clothes or food. For the Continental Army in 1775, a critical shortage gun powder was the problem.

In fact, gunpowder was so scarce it actually threatened to end the American Revolution before it began, according to historian Michael Stephenson in his fascinating 2007 book Patriot Battles. Stephenson describes how at the war’s outset, American general John Sullivan reported that had the British known how desperately short of powder the colonists were, they could have crushed the entire rebellion in one stroke. In fact, according to one eyewitness, when George Washington discovered that instead of the required 400 barrels of powder needed to supply his army, he could expect fewer than 40 he was so distraught he was unable to speak!  While certainly there was plenty of gunpowder in the 13 colonies at the time — the problem for the Continentals was in finding and procuring it.

 

 

Ellsworth built up a prosperous law practice. His reputation as an able and industrious jurist grew, and in 1777 Ellsworth became Connecticut's state attorney for Hartford County. That same year he was chosen as one of Connecticut's representatives in the Continental Congress. He served on various committees during six annual terms until 1783. Ellsworth was also active in his state's efforts during the Revolution. As a member of the Committee of the Pay Table, Oliver Ellsworth was one of the five men who supervised Connecticut's war expenditures.

 

Shown in part below:

 

"Please to pay David Pain Esq. Twenty pounds six shillings & seven pence for himself … all being for the purchase and premium on saltpetre and charge the state"

 



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