One Month Before July 4, 1776 - Front Page Revolutionary War News
The Connecticut Journal
June 5, 1776
George Washington’s Farewell Address - No Third Term
The Herald; A Gazette for the Country (New York)
September 21, 1796
This is the coveted George Washington Farewell Address. Page 2 has the “Resignation of the President. To the People of the United States.” This famous “resignation” is known historically as the Farewell Address of George Washington. In the address Washington announces his retirement fom politics, and presents his reasons for deciding against running for a third term.
The address also highlights the significant achievements of the his administrations. He also offers several astute observations and suggestions with regard to the current state as well as the future course of America, including a specific caution about alliances with other nations.
The address takes two columns on pg. 2, and four plus columns on pg. 3, signed in type: G. Washington, & dated “17th September, 1796.”
According to a source, the address was written with help from James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, and was never delivered as an oral presentation.
Has a stain and the subscriber’s name above the masthead, a few archival mends to clean tears on the first leaf, second has two small pieces missing in the outer margin, one close to the address, some lite foxing in the address. Earlier than most.
Cornwallis Trapped at Yorktown!
The Pennsylvania Packet
October 16, 1781
Features the extract of a letter from the army near York, dated October 1, 1781… “On the 28th of September the whole army marched from Williamsbugh and approached within two miles of the enemy at York – at which distance a shew was made of some opposition on our left, but upon the count Rochambeau, who commands the left wing, moving a few pieces of field artillery under the direction of the Baron Viominil and firing a few shots the enemy retired. On the 29th the American troops moved forward, and took their ground in front of the enemy’s works, on their left no opposition… After a variety of fatigue and every other concomitant trouble, we are at last seated now before Mr. Cornwallis’s lines. The French army is operating on their right, and the American army on their left… the enemy seem to be very passive… in six days from this date we will be (in all human probability) in their works….”
And much more! Newspaper in moderate condition – seems still well intact but a few tears are held together by tape and the edges are well chipped. Still, the value of the content of this historic newspaper far offsets the condition. A museum piece.
The Battles of Bunker Hill and Ticonderoga Reported in Same Newspaper
The Connecticut Journal
September 20, 1775
What a rarity – both the Battle of Bunker Hill and Ticonderoga mentioned in the same American newspaper. This newspaper is jam packed with Revolutionary War content but what stands out is a list of the persons now confined in Boston gaol, for no other crime than that of being the friends of their country, were brought out of Boston a few days since. Prisoners taken at Bunker’s Hill, June 17, 1775 – followed by a complete list of prisoners that extends about five column inches across two separate columns.
Immediately following the list of Bunker Hill prisoners is an extract of a letter from Ticonderoga, August 28. “Our troops here are in high spirits, much engaged to go forward; so that we are not likely to be in want of men here. The number already here, whith those expected soon to arrive, it is supposed will make about 7000 men in this department. We have plenty of provisions, fresh half the time; so that we live well, and feel contented. By the latest accounts from Ticonderoga we learn that the army that went down the Lake, under the command of General Schuyler, landed the 9th inst. On the isle of Noix, 15 miles this side of St. John’s…. attack’d by a number of regulars and Indians.
Battle of Lexington and Concord in American Newspaper on Front and Back Covers
The Connecticut Journal
August 23, 1775
Extensive front and back page coverage of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, which is rare because most American newspapers printed “foreign” news on the front page. And, from a collector’s perspective, back page coverage is considered just as appealing as front page because you can open the paper and frame it while opened - capturing both the front and back page content.
As the front page reads, “Gen. Gage, having received intelligence of a large quantity of military stores being collected at Concord, for the avowed pupose of supplying a body of troops to act in opposition to his Majesty’s government, detached on the 18th of April at night, the grenadiers of his army, and the light infantry, under the command of Lieut. Col. Smith, of the tenth regiment and Major Pitcairne of the marines, with orders to destroy the said stores.
Lieut. Col Smith finding after he had advanced some miles on his march, that the country had been alarmed by the firing of guns and the ringing of bells, dispatched six companies of light infantry, in order to secure two bridges on different roads beyond Concord, who, upon their arrival at Lexington, found a body of the country people drawn up under arms on a green, close to the road… they went off in great confusion and several guns were fired upon the King’s troops from behind a stone wall.
Two entire columns of Lexington and Concord reports are followed by a list of casualties. The paper is printed on highly durable rag linen paper with browning along the vertical and horizontal centers. Some edge chipping too, which is normal for this period and the age of the paper. The historical content of this paper makes it worthy of a museum.
The British Take New York!
Pennsylvania Post
October 16, 1776
“So vast a fleet was never seen before in this port, or perhaps in all America before.”
This fantastic Revolutionary War newspaper captured the sheer magnitude of the British might when they sent their fleet to take Control of New York! Some may say that this is when Britain really got down to business, and they started by taking New York . As written in the report, the British fleet simply overwhelmed the colonists!
This great report is about a column in length, and is a great addition to any Revolutionary War collection.
George Washington Crosses The Delaware River!
The Gentleman’s Magazine (London)
March 1777
An amazing Revolutionary War issue about the pivotal Battle of Trenton during Christmas of 1776 that turned the tide of the war in favor of the American Colonists with reporting of George Washington crossing the Delaware River! The issue includes talk of troop movements in New Jersey and the vicinity, but the prime content is a historically significant letter written and signed in type by G. Washington dated “Headquarters, New Town, Dec. 26, 1776″ which describes his crossing of the Delaware River, reading in part:
“I have the pleasure of congratulating you upon the success of an enterprize, which I had formed against a detachment of the enemy lying in Trenton, and was executed yesterday morning. The evening of the 25th I ordered the troops intended for this purpose to parade to the back of McKenky’s Ferry that they might begin to pass as soon as it grew dark…but the quantity of ice made that night, impeded the passage of the boats so much, that it was three o’clock before the artillery could be got over…formed my detachment into two divisions…to push directly into the town, that they might charge the enemy before they had time to form…” with further particulars of the ensuing battle.
Washington also reflects on the trying situation by saying: “…the difficulty of passing the river on a very severe night and their march through a violent storm of snow and hail did not in the least abate their ardour…”
Very historic reading, and one of the very few accounts of this event which gives some detail of the now-famous Washington crossing the Delaware …and from Washington himself! This complete issue is in excellent condition. Better yet, the entire letter resides in the spread of two pages, which makes this very displayable - perhaps alongside a printing of the famous Washington Crosses the Delaware oil painting.
DEATH OF GEORGE WASHINGTON - FIRST REPORT!
The Connecticut Courant
December 23, 1799
This is an unbelievably rare first report of George Washington’s death on December 23, 1799. The issue includes details of the fifth Congress and features a beautiful eagle emblem - the eagle is holding a banner that reads e pluribus unum (one from many). It also includes a letter to the Senate from John Adams, signed in type. Most important, it has a very early first report of George Washington’s death:
“A letter from a Member of Congress dated 18th of December, to his friend in New Haven, says, ‘The illustrious General WASHINGTON, is no more.’ The time of his death is not mentioned.”
PAUL REVERE IS DEAD!
Columbian Centinel (Boston)
May 13, 1818
Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year
This May 13, 1818 Boston newspaper gives a 1st report on the death of the famous Paul Revere!
When Henry Longfellow published the above poem, he thrust Paul Revere into the elite group of American Legends! Since then, every American school children has learned of the ride of Paul Revere!
Because Revere ’s ride has been given so much attention, a secondary effect of historians has been the marginalizing of Paul Revere’s place in history.
The reality, as typical, resides somewhere between the two, and as evidenced by the death report in this original 1818 newspaper, Paul Revere was indeed viewed as an important man and a true Patriot!
Death reports of Paul Revere are quite hard to find, possibly because he wasn’t quite as known before Longfellow’s poem, and because he died so long after the Revolution had passed.
Longfellow’s poem may have created a legend greater than reality, but Revere was certainly a true patriot who had a hand in the Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, and the battle of Lexington and Concord. How many other people can say they had a direct hand in three of the most historic events in our country?
John Paul Jones- the Bonhomme Richard defeats the Serapis!
The Independent Chronicle and the Universal Advertiser (Boston)
February 3, 1780.
“I have not yet begun to fight!”
This historic newspaper contains a full back page report on the most important naval battle in the Revolutionary War… John Paul Jones Bonhomme(Poor Richard), defeating the British Serapis, commanded by Captain Pearson.
This is the battle where the legendary quote “I have not yet begun to fight,” stems from. Historically speaking, nobody knows for sure what Paul Jones said when asked to surrender…what is known is that Jones said something stern, and then backed it up by fighting a ferocious victorious naval battle!
The complete battle details are reported in full in this immensely historical report! Reported from the words of Jones’s adversary in the battle, Captain Pearson, one cannot get a more accurate description of what happened off the shores of England that fateful day!
Reports of John Paul Jones exploits are rare to find in American newspapers, and this one will knock your socks off. It even includes details on the number of casualties!
