Americana Holiday 2022 - 46 - “Purchase All The Good Rifles You Can Meet With”: Rare Autograph February 1776 Revolutionary War Letter Written And Signed By “Mad” Anthony Wayne To Captain John Lacey 42. WAYNE, Anthony. Autograph letter signed. Philadelphia, February 24, 1776. Single sheet of unlined paper, measuring 7 by 9 inches, mounted on a bordered page. $15,500. Exceptional February 1776 autograph signed letter from “Mad” Anthony Wayne to Captain John Lacey, ordering that Lacey—his longtime adversary—recruit men and round up enlistees in Bucks County; arrange for a commissioned officer to train those men at Darby; and purchase good rifles in preparation for marching toward New York in the build-up for the Battle of Trois-Rivières. This letter is a rare example of cordiality between two patriots who detested each other, but fought for a common cause. Captain—later General—Lacey had enlisted early in the war and had served in the Pennsylvania Line under Anthony Wayne repeatedly. Familiarity lead to dislike and, by the end of 1776, Lacey finally retired back to his Bucks County farm. This letter was written just before the event that would lead to his retirement: the Battle of Trois- Rivières.. Wayne’s letter includes instructions for Lacey to leave an officer in Darby to train the men he has mustered and for him to purchase as many good rifles as possible. This military build-up was in preparation for the invasion of Canada, one of the major early fronts of the Revolutionary War. While the Battle of Trois-Rivières resulted in a terrible defeat for the Continental Army, it was an action undertaken with what the colonists believed to be the best of intentions: a free Canada. At Trois-Rivières, American troops were so penned in that the British were able to take a substantial number of prisoners. In the end, Trois-Rivières proved sufficiently damaging that the Americans ceased fighting at Quebec and retreated entirely to Fort Ticonderoga in NewYork. Accompanied by an engraved portrait of General Anthony Wayne. This item was bound into an extra-illustrated copy of the “History of the City of New York” circa 1872, in the possession of Emery E. Childs, and while the book—expanded to 21 volumes—has passed through several hands, this particular autograph letter has not been on the market since it was bound in, a happy circumstance that has also maintained this rare letter in excellent condition. Original folds, slightest rubbing to edges before mounting affecting one word. Near-fine condition.
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