Revolutionary War-dated ALS, one page both sides, 7 x 8.75, [July 17, 1778 per Adams's papers]. Letter to Edme-Jacques Genet. In part: "Both these papers, you may rely upon it, are forgeries, and that no such resolution or address ever existed.
It ought to be contradicted for many reasons, but specially because if uncontradicted these papers will be considered by historians as proof that the Americans, first engaged the savages to take an active part in the war, and will give a colour to the argument of the British administration, that the Indians must be engaged on their side to prevent them from engaging on the other. Whereas nothing is further from the truth.
All the treaties with the savages made by congress, or by commission and under this authority, were that they should be neutral. So far from soliciting their alliance, the Congress, more than once, refused the service of Indians. The Honour employing Indians is wholly British.
This Robert Rogers, instead of being addressed by the…inhabitants of Philadelphia was made prisoner by the Council of Safety, the first day of his landing in that city, and enlarged upon his canal, in relation of which he afterwards made his escape to New York, and had there a Commission give him…
…Nor had he ever any conferrence or concert with the Indians, since this war began, as is asserted in Page & Number 1.
The whole of this is an imposition on the world, and you may assist it to be so boldly, for there are witnesses enough who can prove it to be so, among whom one is your humble servt." Professionally silked on both sides and in very good condition, with burn marks to the top affecting a few lines of text.
Robert Rogers was a famed frontiersman who raised and commanded the Rogers' Rangers in the French and Indian War. Suspected of being a British spy due to his ties from prior service, he was arrested in 1776. Once he managed to escape he fled to and joined the British Army, where he was instrumental in the capture of American spy Nathan Hale. Adams also astutely discusses the politics of building alliances with Native American Indians in the American Revolution. With diverse and interesting content, this long handwritten letter is of the utmost desirability.
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