Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806 to Silas Talbot

Online access and copy requests are not available for this item. You may request to be notified of when this becomes available digitally.

Notify me when this becomes available

GLC#
GLC02437.02297-View header record
Type
Documents
Date
17 July 1783
Author/Creator
Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806
Title
to Silas Talbot
Place Written
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pagination
2 p. : docket ; Height: 29.7 cm, Width: 19.3 cm
Primary time period
The New Nation, 1783-1815
Sub-Era
Creating a New Government

This is a copy of a certificate sent to Captain Talbot by Major General Gates. Says when he was in command of the troops in the Eastern Department in 1779, there were many small British cruisers harrasing American shipping from Long Island to Nantucket. To stop them, Gates says he had a large galley and a sloop named "Argo" fitted for battle. The "Argo" had 12 6-pound guns and was given to the command of Rhode Islander Silas Talbot, "that intrepid & enterprising officer." Goes on to say he "was eminently useful & greatly assisted in driving the enemy from our coast and relieving our wants by opening a safer Passage to our supplies by water." Says in his first cruise he took 6 British privateers. Afterwards he was sent with dispatches for the French fleet, which was on its way to America, and he took 5 more prizes.

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources