SIR HENRY CLINTON (1730-1795). Commander-in-Chief of British troops in America who was raised in pre-revolutionary America, yet in service to the British during the American Revolution, he began Commanding troops in Boston in 1775 under General Thomas Gage and William Howe.
March 9, 1781-Dated at New York, extremely rare Revolutionary War Manuscript Letter Signed, "H. Clinton" as Commander-in-Chief of all British troops in America, Choice Extremely Fine. This extensive letter has 5 pages secretarial written, as dictated per General Clinton at New York. It measuring 8" x 12.5" beautifully handwritten in rich brown ink and is easily readable on very clean British Crown watermarked laid period paper. Some age and soiling to the outer exposed panels of the blank final page where folded, not affecting any text being on the back of the page. This extensive report is magnificently Signed, "H. Clinton" at its conclusion on page 5, addressed to Colonial Secretary the “Right Honorable Lord George Germain.”

In this letter General Clinton discusses the regulation of imports and exports from the port of New York and also mentions General William Howe. This manuscript letter is marked as "Duplicate Separate" in the top left of front page likely as their retained copy, per its excellent condition. It exhibits a crisp clean appearance with excellent handwriting that is easily readable.

Andrew Elliot (1728-1797) was appointed by General Howe as New York's Superintendent of Exports and Imports on July 17, 1777. He was later assigned to be a representative of Henry Clinton in a meeting with Continental Army Commander George Washington's representatives General Henry Knox and Gouverneur Morris regarding the exchange of prisoners in December 1781. Later, Andrew Elliot would serve as the last Acting British Governor of New York, from April to November, 1783.

George Germain (1716-1785) was a British Army officer, politician, and government official who served as Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1775 to 1782. Serving in the North ministry during the American Revolution, his hardline approach as "Britain's chief architect of war" received significant blame for their defeat in the conflict.

This letter reads, in most part: (Sent to at lower left:) “Right Honorable Lord George Germain.”

"New York March 9th, 1781 -- My Lord, --- In my Separate letter of the 29th October last, I had the honor or informing your Lordship of my having appointed the same officers to perform the duties required by the last Act of Parliament for Regulating the Exports and Imports at this garrison, that were first appointed by Sir William Howe, and afterwards continued by the Commissioners Proclamations, and my authority as Commander in Chief to superintend... and grant the proper Permits for the necessary supply of Long Island and Staten Island.

...Mr. Elliot, who has all along acted as Superintendant of that Department, informs me that the last Packet he has received orders from the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury as Collector of the Port of New York, to demand and receive all former Duties. ... -- I cannot omit this opportunity of expressing to your Lordship how much I have been assisted by Mr. Elliot's opinions in the Civil Transactions of my Command. As he has been more engaged in every Civil Regulation than any other person in New York, and his attention to the public tranquility has been rewarded with success... his management of Mercantile affairs has been directed with so much Prudence, and he has shewn such care to procure ample supplies for their garrison and at the same time to promote the interests of the Trader that he has given compleat [sic] satisfaction to both.

If the Act of Parliament passed last sessions for Regulating the Exports and Imports of such Ports of America as are occupied by His Majesty's Troops is not renewed before its expiration on the first of next June... I must request that your Lordship will be pleased to furnish me in time with such Instructions as may prevent the bad consequence resulting from an interruption of them... -- I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect Your Lordship’s most Obedient and most humble Servant, - (Signed) H Clinton"

The entire letter is exceptionally well written in rich brown ink, with the bold large signature “H Clinton” measuring 2.5” long and 1.25” tall at the conclusion. An exceptional original document signed by the Revolutionary War Commander-in-Chief of British troops in America.
The only son of a British Admiral, Sir Henry Clinton was raised in pre-revolutionary America. In service to the British during the American Revolution, he began commanding troops in Boston in 1775 under Generals Thomas Gage and William.

His military insights were often ignored by his superior officers, but he proposed and led the double envelopment plan that routed the Continentals on Long Island in 1776 as General Howe’s second in command.

Clinton became Commander in Chief of the British Army in America in upon William Howe’s recall in 1778 and led his forces in the battles of Monmouth and Charleston. Though an able tactician, he had many critics. His failure to provide timely aid during the doomed Yorktown campaign and led to his resignation in 1781.

He arrived to Boston in 1775, serving under Generals Thomas Gage and William Howe at Bunker Hill with some distinction. Clinton favored a peaceful settlement on almost any terms. He saw war in America for Britain as a business, not a cause. Instead of taking and holding large rebel cities like New York and later Philadelphia, Clinton believed the decisive point to pursue was George Washington and the movements of the Continental Army, justifying an energetic and perhaps costly strategy. General Howe disagreed.

By late 1776, despite his stellar performance during the New York campaign advising plans for the Battle of Long Island, Clinton realized his relationship with General Howe had broken down over personal differences. He returned to England determined to resign his commission. King George III offered him a knighthood if he would stay he retained his position.

Clinton reluctantly agreed, but upon his return to New York in July 1777, little had changed. He continued to disagree with his superiors strategically.

If General Howe simply followed the original plan for the campaign of 1777 and marched up the Hudson to link up with British General John Burgoyne (as Clinton strongly favored). The results for the British at the Battle of Saratoga could have been victorious. Instead, Howe marched on Philadelphia and ultimately was relieved of his command for this error. In this engagement, Clinton led a smaller force up the Hudson, but could not break through past Albany in time to relieve Burgoyne.

When France entered the war on the American side in February 1778, Clinton sensed he would never have the men, the ships, or the will to prevail over Washington by force. Given the shortcomings of others’ strategies, Clinton was appointed as the Commander in Chief.

Upon his promotion to Commander in Chief in May 1778, Clinton found himself matched directly with his temperamental opposite in Washington. In his tenure as Commander in Chief, he often communicated with Washington, often about matters concerning the conditions of prisoners of war and prisoner exchanges.

In 1779, in alignment with the King’s wishes, Clinton responded to the French challenge by pursuing a Southern strategy that sought to employ modest numbers of British troops in the southern colonies where it was hoped loyalist sympathies ran strongest. Clinton personally led 8,700 troops in a successful assault on Charleston, South Carolina, resulting in the capture of the city on May 12, 1780.

His forces took over 3,300 continental and militia troops prisoner (including seven generals), the worst Continental Army defeat of the war. Washington wrote to Clinton, condemning the behavior of the British, writing, “I wish I could agree in opinion with you on the spirit which actuates your Officers in Southern command.... They not only profess a flagrant breach of the capitulation of Charles Town and a violation of the laws of nations; but under whatever forced description the unhappy objects of the severity are placed, it is in a form and carried to an extreme at which humanity revolts.”

Initial pacification efforts and amnesties seemed to quell rebellion throughout South Carolina, but over-confidence on Clinton’s part led to a final proclamation on June 3 requiring those seeking protection as loyal subjects to take up arms in support of Britain. This inflamed patriot sympathizers throughout the colony and led quickly to armed insurrection.

Clinton left South Carolina in June with upheaval spreading and ordered his second in command, Lord Charles Cornwallis, to stay in South Carolina and attempt to solve the problem. Lord Cornwallis essentially ignored this directive and began his own overland campaign into the interior of South Carolina and invaded North Carolina in 1781.

Constantly fearful of an attack by Washington on the weakened garrison at New York (having given up a net 10,000 plus men to other theaters) and harassed by superior numbers of French naval forces off the coast, Clinton was reluctant to dispatch additional troops to Cornwallis in the Carolinas and Virginia in late 1780 and 1781. Tensions mounted as communications frayed between commanders. Given Clinton’s hesitation to resign after the successful British Siege of Charleston, communications continued to break down resulting in the catastrophe at Yorktown leading to British surrender.