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SURRENDER OF CORNWALLIS – GOODWIN, Nehemiah. Autograph letter signed (“Nehemiah Goodwin”) to his brother in Berwick, Massachusetts, Forton Prison [Portsmouth], England, 4 December 1781.
SURRENDER OF CORNWALLIS – GOODWIN, Nehemiah. Autograph letter signed (“Nehemiah Goodwin”) to his brother in Berwick, Massachusetts, Forton Prison [Portsmouth], England, 4 December 1781. Three pages, 322 x 220mm, bifolium with address panel on fourth page. Toned, weak and cracked at folds, and some minor losses to second page resulting in the loss a few words of text. A rare prisoner of war letter, accomplished in the notorious Forton Prison in Portsmouth, describing the British reaction to the surrender of Cornwallis. A remarkable letter written by an American who had been captured in the West Indies and subsequently transported to England. Writing to his brother in New England, he reports: “This being the first oppertunity I have had of Writing to you I joyfully Imbrace it to Let you Know my misfortune for the 21st Novr 1780 on our passage from the Westindes in the Latt of 37 N. we [were] Captured by an English man of war Who Carried us into St. Luce and after keeping us About three months on bo[a]rd then put us on bo[a]rd a prison Ship where we was very Clos[e]ly Confin’d For two months then was Sent on board transports And Sent to this Unhappy place and was Committed To this prison the 27 of Last June in a very Low Condition being not able to help my Self in the least But thanks be to God I have Recovered my health Again a Great Measure but being Disstetut of Money you know what I must Suffer in this Cold prison where we want for Every Necessery of Life.” But not all was bleak for Goodwin, as he reports that “the Unwelcome news of Conrwalles being Captured and All his army having Just Reached the parliments Ear it Seems to put them in a Great Confusion and Causes great Debats in the house the majority is for Settling with America on any terms... this you must think Givs us Great Joye to hear of our Countrys Success and for it Gives us Great hopes of a Speedy Redemption.” In an additional note, accomplished opposite the second page, he implores his brother to send news of his whereabouts to his mother, adding “I hope it will not be Long before we Shall all meet Again in peace Where I may once more breath in that Land of Liberty which my God Grant”.