Founders Online, National Archives. "To George Washington from Alexander Gillon, 4 March 1782", (founders.archives.gov, last modified - February 1, 2018.)
Founders Online, National Archives. "To George Washington from Alexander Gillon, 6 June 1782", (founders.archives.gov,
last modified - February 1, 2018.)
Founders Online, National Archives. "From George Washington to Alexander Gillon, 17 June 1782", (founders.archives.gov,
last modified - 29 September 2015.)
Lewis, James A. Neptune's Militia: The Frigate South Carolina during the American Revolution, (Kent, OH: The Kent State University Press, 1999.)
This particular post may possibly be the shortest post composed by the writer of this overall blog since the early months of the blog's existence over three years ago. A quick glance at the bibliography immediately above indicates to the readership that only a few, very brief sources were referenced in the composition of this post. Yet, within these few sources lies the truth of the incident that forms the essence of this post - that a piece of cargo, destined for the personal possession of George Washington, possibly never reached it's intended destination, for one reason or another.
The sole piece of proof that the brigantine General Galvez was captured by elements of the British Royal Navy in the general Delaware Bay area, probably some time around May 28, 1782 is a brief citation examined at the beginning of the post entitled "'...One Having Been Captured by British Ships, Without the Knowledge of the Commodore...': The Episode of the Galvez (or General Galvez) and Her Captain, James Montgomery of Philadelphia, PA" and dated "01/24/2018". This citation has been cited prior to this reference to it but, will be recorded once again for clarity of the issue at stake here. It appears as footnote 4 on page 194 of Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia:
"PRO, HCA32/339/Pt. I, declaration of James Montgomery, New York, 31 May 1782"
This brief, rather cryptic entry in a document of the High Court of the Admiralty, as filed in the Public Records Office in London, England asserts the capture of the brigantine General Galvez and her captain, James Montgomery prior to the successful arrival of the patriot brigantine in Philadelphia, PA. Both of the past two posts have documented that Philadelphia, PA was the adopted hometown of the Irish immigrant, James Montgomery and this would seem to be confirmed by the fact that he was sailing for this port city when he was captured on board of the brigantine General Galvez.
Obviously, everyone and everything on board the brigantine General Galvez was captured at that point in May 1782. But, there was recorded as being on board the patriot ship at that point in time "...two Boxes from Amsterdam...", destined for the personal possession of George Washington. A small series of letters passed back and forth between Alexander Gillon, Commodore of the Navy of South Carolina, and George Washington, commanding officer of the Continental Army, with these items as their subject. Alexander Gillon wrote tow of these letters to George Washington, dated, respectively, March 4, 1782 and June 6, 1782. George Washington wrote a single letter to Alexander Gillon and this letter is dated June 17, 1782.
The first written reference to the existence of this set of "...two Boxes from Amsterdam..." is contained within the initial letter of March 4, 1782 from Alexander Gillon to George Washington. It is found within the Founders Online, National Archives document, "To George Washington from Alexander Gillon, 4 March 1782". This letter is post-scripted "...Havana 4th March 1782". The edited text of Alexander Gillon's letter to George Washington is as follows:
"When the Ship South-Carolina was at Sea waiting off of the Texel for two Dutch Ships that were coming out to go under her Convoy, loaded with Continental Goods: there were sent onboard, two Boxes from Amsterdam, directed to Your Excellency, which I believe came from the House of Messrs John de Neufville & Son, without any particular advices to Captain Joyner or me;...
It being uncertain where the State may direct me to Proceed, I have seized this Opportunity by Captain James Montgomery, as the only one since our Arrival here for Philadelphia, to forward to Your Excellency, the two Boxes in Question, as per Inclosed Receipt, which I wish may reach you soon. I lament that it was not in our power to deliver them as speedily as I wished.".
The frigate South Carolina left The Texel at some point around August 2, 1781, before she actually sailed for North America. She cruised off the coast of Holland, waiting for a Dutch fleet of merchant ships to assemble so thats he might convoy them across the Atlantic Ocean. According to Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 39, "...giving the small convoy one more chance to come out, on August 24 Gillon cruised past Texel Road for a last time and then turned the ship northwest for the voyage home.". So, according to the Founders Online, National Archives document cited above, the "...two Boxes from Amsterdam..." must have arrived on board the frigate South Carolina at some pint between August 2-24, 1781. The actual letter carries a bit of a tone of the frigate having been occupied in cruising up and down the Holland coastline for some time, at least. But, this is purely an assumption on the part of the writer of this blog.
But, this letter from Alexander Gillon to George Washington was written when the frigate South Carolina was moored in The Havana, Cuba's harbor, several months having passed since the addition of the "...two Boxes from Amsterdam..." were added to the cargo being already transported on board the patriot frigate. In The Havana, Cuba's harbor, the frigate South Carolina became a major part of the joint Anglo-Spanish expedition against the British-held island of Nassau, the major port city being that of New Providence, Bahamas. It became the task of Commodore Alexander Gillon to collect as many American ships-of-war as he could to assist in supplementing the firepower of the overall expedition. The tone of this previously cited letter seems to indicate that Captain James Montgomery of the brigantine General Galvez was the only vessel in The Havana, Cuba's harbor that hailed from Philadelphia, PA. The same tone seems to indicate that the brigantine General Galvez was scheduled to return to Philadelphia very soon and thus the "...two Boxes from Amsterdam..." were to be placed on board the brigantine General Galvez. This letter is dated March 4, 1782. the departure of the combined Anglo-Spanish convoy was still almost two months in the future, occuring on April 30, 1782. Orders must have changed in that space of time because it is a known fact that the brigantine General Galvez participated in the actual assault upon and capture of New Providence, Bahamas.
The second letter that passed between hopeful deliverer and eager recipient was post-scripted "...Philadelphia June 6th 1782..." and is even more succinct that its predecessor. It is found at Founders Online, National Archives, "To George Washington from Alexander Gillon, 6 June 1782" and is as follows:
"Sir,
Capt. Montgomery not proceeding at the time I expected, prevented forwarding to your excellency by him the 2 boxes, had the honour of writing to you about the 4th of March last: they are now on board the south Carolina, ready to be delivered to any person, your excellency will please to appoint to receive them.".
The letter then closes with a very proper salutation from Alexander Gillon to George Washington. Commodore Alexander Gillon references his letter to George Washington of March 4, 1782 but, adds that "...Capt. Montgomery..." did not depart for Philadelphia, PA when he had thought that he would. If he had of departed at the "correct time", he would have been in a position to deliver the "...two Boxes from Amsterdam..." to George Washington's representative or, possibly, to George Washington himself. However one looks at it, the items in question could have easily been delivered, if the proper time had been observed in "...Capt. Montgomery..." leaving The Havana, Cuba's harbor, bound for the "City of Brotherly Love" - Philadelphia, PA. Commodore Alexander Gillon close with the comment that the boxes were at that moment on board the frigate South Carolina, waiting to be delivered to any person George Washington might send to retrieve them.
This letter was written to George Washington from Philadelphia, PA on June 6, 1782. According to Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 78, the frigate South Carolina arrived in Philadelphia, PA on May 29, 1782. The patriot frigate had already been in Philadelphia's harbor for a week at the point in time that the letter was penned to George Washington. It is possible that Commodore Alexander Gillon had other, more pressing issues on his mind to occupy his time and efforts to get the frigate back to sea. But, having written the earlier letter of March 4, 1782 and in it referencing the "...two Boxes from Amsterdam..." having been sent on board the frigate South Carolina eight months earlier, while she was still in Dutch coastal waters, one would imagine that the Commodore was still cognizant of these items on board his ship-of-war and exactly to whom these were bound. So, the issue is raised as to exactly why he took a week after arriving in Philadelphia, PA to write to George Washington, addressing the possible delivery of the items to him.
(Note: the frigate South Carolina arrived in Philadelphia, PA's harbor approximately a very few days after the brigantine General Galvez was captured by elements of the Royal Navy somewhere in the immediate vicinity of the Capes of the Delaware. A quick reference to the citation at he beginning of this post shows that Captain James Montgomery filed his declaration in British-held New York City on May 31, 1782.)
The third and final letter concerning this little affair of the "...two Boxes from Amsterdam..." is the briefest of all three of the letters. It is the only time, to the knowledge of the writer of this blog, that George Washington wrote a letter to Alexander Gillon. It is post-scripted "Head Quarters 17th June 1782". This indicates that at this point in time, George Washington was writing this letter from his headquarters located in Newburgh, NY, approximately sixty miles north of British-held New York City. Even though the major hostile maneuvers of the war were at an end, the final peace treaty had yet to be signed. Thus, hostile actions were still going on such as enemy shipping being attacked and seized at sea. After all, the brigantine General Galvez was captured just off the Capes of the Delaware, yet was taken to New York City for condemnation and public auction. The contents of this letter finally reveal what is contained within the "...two Boxes from Amsterdam...". This brief letter, in full, is as follows:
"sir,
I have received by the post your two favors of the 4th March & 6th of June.
I feel myself much obliged to you for the Care & Attention you have paid to the two Boxes sent on Board your Ship at Amsterdam - they contain a Press for Copying Letters, & were ordered on Board by Messrs De Neufville & Sons, & designed as a present from them to me.
If you will be pleased to deliver the Boxes to the Order of the Secretary at War - who will take charge of their forwarding to me, it will add to the Obligation I am already under to your Care. With much Regard I am sir Your most &ca
G.W."
The letter from George Washington begins with an expression of appreciation for taking care of the "..two Boxes from Amsterdam..." and then discloses the contents of the crates - "...a Press for Copying Letters...". The letter then also discloses that the apparently disassembled press for reproducing letters was sent on board the frigate South Carolina by the firm of "...Messrs de Neufville & Sons..." as a gift for George Washington.
(Note: the Dutch firm known as "...Messrs De Neufville & Sons..." was that of Jan (or Jean) de Neufville, a prominent merchant in Amsterdam, Holland during the 18th century. The proper European designation for this Dutch firm was "Jan de Neufville et fils". They had sent the press on board the frigate South Carolina as it cruised off the Dutch coastline, waiting for the Dutch merchant convoy to assemble itself and emerge from The Texel to be escorted by the patriot frigate. According to Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 39, evidently, the convoy never materialized and the frigate departed the Dutch coastal waters bound for America on August 24, 1781.)
George Washington closed his letter to Commodore Alexander Gillon with a single sentence, instructing the Commodore "...to deliver the Boxes to the Order of the Secretary at War..." who would then direct them to George Washington's headquarters at Newburgh, NY. The Secretary at War during this time period was Major General Benjamin Lincoln, who held the position until November 1783 when he resigned the post. At his resignation, Major General Benjamin Lincoln recommended that Major General Henry Knox assume the responsibilities of this post, which he did in 1785. The letter does not indicate whether or not these "two Boxes from Amsterdam...", containing the components of the "...Press for Copying Letters..." were ever delivered to or received by George Washington, either at his headquarters in Newburgh, NY or elsewhere.
Had this fine gift from a prominent Dutch merchant to General George Washington remained on board the brigantine General Galvez, commanded by Captain James Montgomery, they would have certainly fallen into British hands with the capture of the patriot brigantine around May 28, 1782. But, instead, these valuable items were transferred from the brigantine General Galvez to the frigate South Carolina. This transfer from one ship to another would have taken place at some point between March 4, 1782, the date of the drafting of the first letter which refers to the "...two Boxes from Amsterdam..." being on board the brigantine, and May 14, 1782, when the Commodore Alexander Gillon directed the remaining American ships-of-war that had participated in the joint Spanish-American invasion of the British-held Bahama Islands to depart their stations in the harbor of New Providence, Bahamas and head towards the American mainland. By the time of the departure from the Bahama Islands, the "tow Boxes from Amsterdam..." were securely on board the frigate South Carolina and headed for the "City of Brotherly Love" - Philadelphia, PA - and delivery to their intended recipient, George Washington - a delivery for which there exists no evidence was ever made.
As far as the writer of this blog knows, there are no further letters that passed between General of the Continental Army George Washington and Commodore of the South Carolina Navy Alexander Gillon. There were only these three very brief pieces of correspondence and that is all. The ultimate fate of the "...two Boxes from Amsterdam...", "...the Press for Copying Letters...", is unknown. It is certain that the precious gift intended for George Washington would have most certainly not have made it if it were still on board the brigantine General Galvez when she was captured some time around May 28, 1782. But, it was not, according to the latter letters of June 6, 1782 and June 17, 1782, which makes the mystery of the potentially "lost" "...Press for Copying Letters..." all the more intriguing.