Description:

Revolutionary War
[Long Island, NY], July 13, [1781]
Revolutionary War Soldier's Letter With Content Ranging from "Cornwallis in a cold sweat" to "Fornicating" with a Savage!
AL
Not-to-be-believed content partial autograph letter signed illegibly "J. Long" (?), four pages, 7.5" x 11.5", [Long Island?], July 13, [no year but 1781 based on content], and addressed to a "W. Parker, Esq." Although it is clearly a letter with a traditional closing, the content reads like the diary of a war-weary and cynical soldier whose discourse veers wildly between the benign reportage of facts to outrageous, even salacious content -- with a good deal of quirky philosophical rhetoric in between. Toned and worn at edges, with splitting at folds and a few pinholes thereon. Most worthy of a several read-throughs and research!

In most part: "…Cornwallis is a cold sweat heading towards Clinton, now gripped with the idea of Gallic pills [?] - Paper money in the Vortex of the army troubled with an hectic [sic] while the Monsieurs are staggering under the weight of ponderous metal. The civility and good order of those troops together with their Willingness and ability to pay for whatever they consume are matters of admiration; such qualities will recommend them to all Parties. The poor, skinned, half murdered creatures of both sexes in this Region are translated from darkness to light. The…farmer has the hard chink imposed on him for butter eggs and sallad [sic] in lieu of kicks and cuffs and the…condescending maid stifled with kisses and his hand filled with guineas instead of being insulted, disrobed and whipt as they have been by the lawless merciless brutal Militia…

…this Moment arrived without a simple letter which I must impute to a secret departure, would have wished to have known how gouts and vapors prevail in your family and ours with many petit choses - I have again joined my Regmt and attend…the exercise of recruits now in their A B abs, and it somehow happens that in every branch of my duty wherever called that the present, after a little attention, is the most agreeable. Thro' the course of my Warfare scenes have never shifted as in this campaign from one extreme to the other - To day banquetting at Head quarters, tomorrow like a savage sitting on the ground eating with my fingers the indifferent food of Camp - translated in an hour from an independent command to abject and blind submission, from the pleasing conference of ladies of fashion to the fulsome nonsense of Trulls and Bawds, from an horseman to a foot page, from fatigue to rest and the Jaws of enemy to perfect rest and security. Such opposites men in domestic life seldom experience.

...Col. Dearborn has for this campaign quit the fighting department and is appointed [Quartermaster General] Capt. Caleb Robinson [?] Brigade Inspector and Brig. Major has quit the Bottle and become a sociable steady fellow and if truly regenerated…cannot relapse. They are officers of servitude and distraction which have been urged on me for six months, but I preferred the Platoon. Oh Jonathan! The beauty of Israel is slain, how are the mighty fallen….What a Chasm! Wide as the sea. Our line will never seem to have a head. Genl. Stark is absent, Scammell [?] detached, Dearborn sheathes his sword and I feel myself almost as big as the remainder…Lads and Lapes in joyful glee anticipating the event of the Campaign - I, for my part, will never more build a fabrication on the sandy foundation of Contingencies such as the arrival of fleets and armies never destined. Should you hear the cracking of the Monsieurs in this land you would think Long Island would become an Aetna to belch flames into York and the Rooks of the Highlands be hunted from their Gigantic Arm, and if their spirit and Bravery correspond with their stature and military appearance we may expect Wonders. 'Tis a Gen Order that we have three days Provision constantly on hand cooked, Bridges all repairing, heavy Cannon Mortars are in motion, and when the 2nd Division arrives such a thundering as we will have. 'May it please your Excellence I should be very fond to fornicate wid one Savage for de Singularitee of de ting as it would be one ting very Singularr.' There endeth the second Lesson of Your Humbl Sevt L. Toag [?]

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: 7.5" x 11.5"
  • Medium: AL

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