Flagship Sale #663

c. 1781, Military Express mail to Brig. Gen. Jethro Sumner, group of 15 mostly docketed from 1781, endorsed either "pr Express" or various signatures including "Favd by Maj. Decon" or "Favd. by Lieut. Andrews", addresses include "Head Quarters at Hills of Santee", "Southern Army", "Harrisburg", and "Warren County", a rare group, Fine.
Estimate $400 - 600

A DIFFICULT ASSEMBLAGE OF MILITARY EXPRESS MAIL TO JETHRO SUMNER.

Jethro Sumner was active in the measures that preceded the Revolution, and in 1760 was paymaster of the provincial troops of North Carolina and commander at Fort Cumberland. In 1776 he was appointed Colonel of the 3rd North Carolina Regiment by the Provincial Congress, and served under Washington in the north. He was commissioned Brigadier-General by the Continental Congress in 1779 and ordered to join General Horatio Gates in the south. He was at the battle of Camden in 1780. He then served under General Nathaniel Greene, including at the battle of Eutaw in September 1781. After this, he was active in keeping the Tories in check in North Carolina until the close of the war.