Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

Advanced Search
Back to Collection Search

Sullivan, James (1744-1808) to Joseph Warren

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 #: GLC01450.146 Author/Creator: Sullivan, James (1744-1808) Place Written: New Hampshire Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 May 1775 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 18.8 x 14.7 cm.

Written by Sullivan as a member of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts to Warren as President of the Committee of Safety. Says this letter will be transmitted by Mr. Seammell, who he has recommended to be major of the York County Regiment. Says the regiment from Cumberland County will only have one gun for every three men and that they expect to be armed by the Province of Massachusetts. Says if the colony does not intend to arm those men, then Colonel March needs to be notified immediately. Claims it might be best if no men were brought from that part of the colony (which is present day Maine). Warren died less than a month after this was written at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Sullivan was later state Attorney General and Governor (1807-1808). Includes a picture of Sullivan.

Sullivan, James, 1744-1808
Warren, Joseph, 1741-1775
American Revolution, 1763-1783
Military History
Weaponry
Militia
Revolutionary War
The War for Independence

Order a CopyCitation 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.