Narrative of Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. Relative to His Conduct During Part of His Command in the King's Troops in North America; Particularly to That Which Respects the Unfortunate Issue of the Campaign in 1781, with an Appendix
London: For J. Debrett (successor to Mr. almon) Opposite Burlington-House, Piccadilly, 1783. Octavo. Item #029961
Second edition. 115pp., (1) pp. errata. The British surrender at Yorktown proved to be one of the most decisive engagements in the 18th Century. While Yorktown's loss from the British point of view was often blamed purely on Cornwallis, scholars now argue that the disaster was based on the poor decisions of Clinton. It was Clinton who against the advice of Cornwallis wanted a strong British force at Yorktown. Once it became clear that a defense of Yorktown was unlikely, he failed to revise his orders. P. 55-61 reproduces General Washington's letter to Count De Graffe (September 26, 1781. Previous library owner stamp on front cover (Association of the Bar....?). [ESTC T60737. Howes C496; Sabin 13751; Adams American Controversy 83-21e]. May have been previously bound but now stitched and unbound.
Price: $350.00