Anglo-Irish soldier (1724–1808) who served as governor general of British North America and commanded troops during the American Revolution. Revolutionary War–dated LS, one page, 8 x 12.75, July 14, 1776. Letter to Deputy Paymaster General John Powell. In part: “You are hereby directed and required, out of such monies as are or shall be in your hands for the subsistence of His Majesty’s Troops under my Command, to pay or cause to be paid to Mr. Bryce McCumming Paymaster to the 31st Regiment of Foot…the sum of one thousand three hundred & sixty nine pounds…being subsistence for the said Regiment from the 25th of June 1776 to the 24th August.” In fine condition, with light soiling and chipping to left edge.
At this time Carleton was commanding British troops in Quebec, having dealt the Americans their first major loss of the war six months earlier in the Battle of Quebec. Just a few weeks before signing this document, Carleton was elevated to knighthood in recognition of his successful defense of the city, which the British believed effectively saved the entire province of Canada from falling. This document also dates to within two weeks of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a defining moment of the Revolution. It concerns payment of the 31st Regiment of Foot, which was involved in the garrison of Quebec during this historic time. Most notably, the 31st lost a large number of prisoners during the Battle of Saratoga in autumn of the following year. A scarce and exceptional document from an immensely important period of the war. RR Auction COA.
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