Hancock, John (1737-1793) to Horatio Gates
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 #: GLC01498 Author/Creator: Hancock, John (1737-1793) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 August 1777 Pagination: 1 p. ; 17.5 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress to Gates as Commander of the Northern Department. Says enclosed resolutions (which are not included here) give him command of the army. Gates was in a struggle for control of the Northern Department with General Philip Schuyler, which he won on 4 August 1777 after storming into the halls of Congress to plead his case. His victory came partially because Schuyler had lost Fort Ticonderoga to General John Burgoyne's invading forces. Congress's resolutions ended the squabble for power and allowed Gates to concentrate on defeating Burgoyne, which he did at Saratoga in September-October 1777.
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.