BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES HAMILTON - MANUSCRIPT DOCUMENT SIGNED 02/01/1781 - HFSID 265826

JAMES HAMILTON: REVOLUTIONARY WAR POWS. Manuscript DS: "Jas. Hamilton/Brigdr Genl.", 1p, 13¼x8¼. Frederick Town (Maryland), 1781 February 1. Document headed: "Present State of the British Troops under the Convention of Saratoga Frederick Town 1st February 1781". Docketed on verso. An enumeration of the British soldiers, who were, in reality, prisoners of war, at Frederick Town: "1 Brigr General [Hamilton], 2 Lt. Colonels, 12 Captains, 25 1st Lieutenants, 3 2d Lieutenants, 10 Ensigns, 1 Major of Brigade, 1 Surgeon of the Hospital, 1 Pay Mr General, 1 Commisry General, 3 Asst Commissrys, 3 Chaplains, 2 Adjutants, 4 Qr Masters, 6 Surgeons, 5 Mates, 113 Sergeants, 63 Drummers, 698 Rank & File". Brigadier General JAMES HAMILTON had commanded the 21st Foot (Scots Fusiliers) in the American Revolution. He commanded the Right Wing of the British Army of General John Burgoyne during Burgoyne's invasion of New York from Canada and he was part of the forces that surrendered after the Battle of Saratoga. Under what was termed the "Convention of Saratoga" (October 17, 1777), the British troops laid down their arms and were to be permitted to return to Europe. The Continental Congress never honored these terms, keeping under guard the British soldiers, officially not deemed prisoners. One by one, British officers including Burgoyne were exchanged for captured American officers. By 1780, Brigadier General James Hamilton was the senior British officer remaining. In the summer of 1780, remaining English soldiers, split off from the German prisoners who were deemed less likely to revolt, were marched to Frederick Town, Maryland. The enlisted men were quartered in the Frederick Poor House and the officers in taverns and similar quarters nearby. On December 5, 1780, two months before this document was prepared, the British had attempted an unsuccessful mass breakout. Lightly creased. Slightly soiled. Usual folds, not at signature. Signature slightly smudged at "lt". Overall, fine condition.