Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Heath, William (1737-1814) to unknown

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03376 Author/Creator: Heath, William (1737-1814) Place Written: Roxbury, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 April 1779 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 28.4 x 22.5 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Heath as Major General in Continental Army from his hometown of Roxbury to an unknown council. Heath was in charge of the Convention Army, which consisted of the British prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign. After surrendering in October 1777, they were marched through Albany to Boston, where they remained until February 1779, when they were marched to Virginia. This letter deals with barracks for those prisoners of war at Rutland, Massachusetts. Says Colonel Joshua Davis is now ready to settle his accounts for the expenditures that were used to build the barracks to whatever person or committee is desired by the council. Ink is extremely faded.

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