The letters show how British generals despaired at the hopeless optimism of King George III, left
Posted on 02/19/2010 2:17:25 PM PST by bruinbirdman
Remarkable archive of letters has thrown new light on the despair of British commanders during the American War of Independence
Their downbeat perspective contrasts dramatically with the exhortations of George III and his ministers in London who come across as hopelessly out-of-touch and absurdly optimistic.
The letters show how British generals despaired at the hopeless optimism of King George III, left
The documents, part of a collection that have been in private possession for more than two centuries, reveal a much gloomier analysis by British generals than previously believed.
According to the collection which goes on sale at Sotheby's in New York in a series of auctions beginning in April, they began to despair of victory almost as soon as the conflict began in 1775.
A letter from Gen John Burgoyne, dated 25 June 1775 in Boston gives an early assessment of how bad things looked.
"Our prospects are gloomy," he told an unidentified lord in a letter written after the first two battles of the campaign in Massachusetts – a humiliating defeat to a local band of militiamen followed by a victory but with heavy losses at Bunker Hill.
He described the British position as "a crisis that my little reading in history cannot parallel" and predicts even at this early stage that the Crown would only be able to subdue the rebellion with the help of German or Russian allies.
"Such a pittance of troops as Great Britain and Ireland can supply will only serve to protract the war, to incur fruitless expense and insure disappointment," he said.
In March 1777, Sir Henry writes that the American revolutionaries are much more "obstinate" than realised by the "short-sighted folks in England".
The items on sale include a copy of George III's famous
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
And the Tea Party continued in the US...
BTTT
“Their downbeat perspective contrasts dramatically with the exhortations of George III and his ministers in London who come across as hopelessly out-of-touch and absurdly optimistic.”
Next we’ll find out that O is an ancestor of George III.
On a serious note these letters should be in the Smithsonian.
Not sure what pinglist this might fit in, but it’s interesting.
Obama should read these and identify with the British commander... The AMERICANS are coming.
and Obama’s Hessians’ are La Raza and ACORN.
History repeats, again.
Just finished rereading Marvin Olasky’s excellent book on the War of Independence entitled, “Fighting for Liberty and Virtue” and also the equally informative, “The Long Fuse: How England Lost the American Colonies, 1760-1785,” by Don Cook. Olasky documents the rampant immorality amongst those leading the war effort which he believes was at the root of the internal strife in the British military. Cook likewise narrates the political corruption of bribery and nepotism. No wonder there was despair!
I completely agree. Those letters should be a national treasure, and a constant reminder to the spoiled and lazy society we’ve become of the mettle and spirit of their forefathers.
We are the sons and daughters of those wonderful people. We need to do right by them. Yes, we must continue the fight for freedom and liberty. Different dictators, but the same struggle. Always has been, always will be. November will be the game changer. Look out Hussain, here comes the freedom train!
So, the federal government should seize the private papers of foreign citizens and keep them as a monument to our freedom?
The ironic thing is that the US government we live under now is more tyrannical and abusive than George III could have ever dreamed of.
Or on display permanently at the National Archives.
Back to the future.
Letters shed new light on British despair during the American War of Independence ping
Of course not! The government should just out bid everyone else at the auction.
Considering the state of the leftist Copley newspaper chain, one can understand why these chronicals of the freedom fight are for sale.
yitbos
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