Phillips, William (1731?-1781) to [David Henley]
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04764.71 Author/Creator: Phillips, William (1731?-1781) Place Written: Cambridge, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter Date: no date Pagination: 2 p. ; 32.4 x 20.3 cm. Order a Copy
Written by General Phillips as an officer under General John Burgoyne to Colonel Henley, former commander of the Prospect Hill barracks where many of the captured Convention troops were situated. Henley was brought before a court martial due to allegations of murder and mistreatment of British soldiers. Recipient is inferred from the content of the memorandum written above the letter. Memorandum says "Col: Henley wrote a letter to G: Ps:," which apologized for his improper use of language. "G: Ps:" is probably General Phillips. The letter below the memorandum is an answer to Henley's apology and says "the unguarded epithets you applied to me," which is Phillips, not Burgoyne, as the index for the collection states. This hybrid memorandum-letter has multiple corrections and might be a draft. In the letter itself he mentions a previous letter Henley sent respecting "the unguarded epithets you applied to me upon two different occasions." Says his explanation has influenced him positively and claims "I not only accept it as full satisfaction but feel an emulation not to be undone in propriety." Hopes Henley will understand he only said things in a zealous fashion to procure a court martial, not personal spite. Says his actions and conduct since have been exemplar.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.