AMOS STODDARD - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 02/15/1810 - HFSID 283543

AMOS STODDARD
Amos Stoddard wrote this letter to Col. Henry Burbeck in 1810 while stationed at Fort Columbus in New York. In it, he discusses the courts-martial of several officers. From the papers of Burbeck, a veteran of key Revolutionary War battles.
Autograph letter signed "Amos Stoddard Maj" as Commander of Artillery. 1 page, 7¾x9½. Fort Columbus, New York, Feb. 15, 1810. Addressed to Col. Henry Burbeck. In full: "Sir, As I have nothing of importance to communicate, plase to accept of what follows . An officer in the neighborhood of Fort Adams , under date of the 16th of last month, thus writes me: 'General Wilkinson is at present at Natchez; he is expected here the last of this month on his way to New Orleans; it is rumored that he does not intend visiting Washington at present '. - Capt. Cross was on his trial at the date of the letter, and will be acquitted. Lieut. Newman, and Capt. Armistead of the 2d Regiment of Infantry, were waiting for their trials . It appears, that Lt. Col. Freeman is about to be again arrested, and the writer is of opinion, that the event will prove serious to him - much more so than his former trial. General Hampton is rigid in his duty, and a num-ber of officers under him are in limbo. Perhaps all this is right, or at least one half of us must to the right about before the united [sic] States will have a good corps of officers. The weather has become somewhat molified [sic]- the works go on as usual-particularly rapid on Bedlow's Island, where Capt- Irvine, by my orders, keeps his men at hard labor. Your very [illegible]".This letter is from the papers of HENRY BURBECK (1754-1848), a veteran of key battles of the Revolutionary War. He was chief of the Artillery Corps when he received these orders. Promoted to Brigadier General, he commanded the Connecticut State Militia during the War of 1812. AMOS STODDARD (1762-1813), a veteran of the Revolutionary War, practiced law in Massachusetts before accepting a U. S. commission as Captain of Artillery in 1798. He was promoted to Major in 1807. When the U. S. purchased Louisiana from France in 1803, Spain - former owner of the territory - had not yet formally ceded it to France. During a 3-week interval (Nov. 30 to Dec. 20, 1803), Stoddard was Commandant of Upper Louisiana for both France and the United States. He represented both nations at the formal transfer of power ceremony in St Louis on March 9 and 10, 1810. The Lewis and Clark expedition was not allowed entry by Spain while it retained in control, so Stoddard played host to them during the winter of 1803-1804. After commanding the artillery at Fort Columbus in New York Harbor, Stoddard was sent West to joint General and future President William Henry Harrison's command in Ohio. Stoddard died on May 11, 1813, from wounds incurred while successfully defending Fort Meigs there from a combined attack by British soldiers and their Native American allies. Lightly toned, stained, creased and bowed. Paper loss in top right corner and tackhead-sized hole in center of letter, which touch body of letter but not signature. Irregular left edge. Folded twice vertically and four times horizontally and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.