Smallwood, William (1732-1792) [Letters to recruiting officers and reports on recruitment]
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 #: GLC06507 Author/Creator: Smallwood, William (1732-1792) Place Written: Annapolis, Maryland Type: Autograph manuscript signed Date: 19 February 1782 Pagination: 55 p. ; 24 x 18.4 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Major General Smallwood while on a mission to raise troops and assemble supplies in Maryland. General Nathanael Greene had sent Smallwood on this mission to end a conflict of command between Smallwood and Baron Friedrich von Steuben. This is a booklet of recruitment information that appears to have been bound inside a cover, which is now removed. Includes two letters to recruiters, one dated 19 February 1782, and the other 7 April 1782. Gives guidelines on who not to recruit: British deserters, men under five feet four inches tall, men who do not have well proportioned limbs, and men over 50 years of age. Says they should be circumspect of men over 40. Mentions amounts for bounties. Says they will get paid one guinea for every recruit. Bound with 17 page "Return of New Recruiting," 13 blank pages, and 30 page "A return of draughts and Substitutes." The lists contain descriptions, residences, height, complexion, bounty paid, among other items.
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.