LS signed “Go: Washington,” one page both sides, 9.25 x 15, July[?] 22 [year missing; 1778?]. Washington writes from Headquarters, White Plains, to Colonel [Theodorick] Bland. In part: “I am ... mortified at hearing, that after Colo. Temple has been ... employed solely in procuring cloathing for the Regiment, that the greatest party of what he had engaged should have been applied to other purposes, by Mr. Finnie. The men of your Regiment now here, are in a manner destitute of Cloathing, and having still depended on receiving a supply from Virginia every day, have made no provision. The Officers who had the charge of procuring necessaries for Moylan’s and Sheldon’s Regiments have long since compleated the business and the Men are well equipped. Matters being thus circumstanced with you, I see nothing better to be done than for Lt. Colo. Temple to come immediately forward with what Cloathing he has, and to call upon the Cloathier Genl. in Philada. and leave an order for what is deficient. I cannot give any direction about the disposal of the money sent to Colo. Baylor and yourself, that is a matter which you must settle between themselves. He undoubtedly, if it comes first to his hands, should give you your share, and not suffer you to be embarrassed on acct. of your public engagements. If you think that the eight or ten Men, mentioned by you, cannot come forward without danger of taking the small pox upon the road, you had better inoculate them....” Washington led troops in battle in White Plains in the autumn of 1776 and used the Jacob Purdy house there as his headquarters in 1778. The original recipient, Theodorick Bland (1742–1790) served in the Virginia cavalry and eventually rose to the rank of colonel of the 1st Continental Light Dragoons. After the war, he opposed adoption of the Constitution as a delegate to the Virginia Convention, on the grounds that it granted too much power to a central government, but was nonetheless elected to the First U.S. Congress and served as a representative until his death. In good to very good condition overall, with marginal tears and losses (affecting date and a few words; paper losses restored), intersecting folds (small holes with archival reinforcement) and scattered soiling and staining (faint stain just touching “G”). The signature itself is clear, dark, and unaffected, and easily rates as fine. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
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