Beschreibung:

GATES, Horatio, Major General, Continental Army . Letter signed ("Horatio Gates Presdt") as President of the Board of War, TO GENERAL JOHN STARK (1728-1822), War Office [York, Pennsylvania], 24 January 1778. 1 pages, folio, neat repairs to small fold tears, fold separation neatly repaired on verso. GATES REQUESTS STARK'S AID FOR THE INVASION OF CANADA. The newly formed Board of War, with Gates as President, conceived an ambitious plan to invade Canada without consulting Washington. The Marquis de Lafayette would lead the operation, with Thomas Conway, an Irish-born officer, second in command. Lafayette, on arrival in Albany, found crippling shortages of supplies and troops. Gate writes: "Congress having thought proper to direct an Irruption to be immediately made into Canada, and their Design being, in Part, communicated to you, by the Honble James Duane Esqr., I am directed...to acquaint you that they have appointed Major General the Marquis De Fayette [ sic ] first in Command, and Major General Conway second...I am confident, from my Knowledge of your Attachment to the Freedom of America, that you will cordially co-operate with them in every Measure conducive to the public Service. My experience convinces me...that the Expectations of Congress will be fully answered by your hearty Agreement with, and Officer-like Assistance to the Gentlemen above mentioned." Stark had already rendered great service in the Battle of Bennington and at Saratoga. But by March, Congress and the youthful Lafayette had wisely abandoned the planned operation. Conway's later role in the so-called "Conway Cabal" is well-known.