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Table of Contents > American Revolution > Lot 103 |
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Browse the Auction in Groups of 25 Lots: |
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Lot Number: 103
Click for a Printable PageSign-in to Bid or Register to Bid Estimate Range: $3,500 - $4,500 |
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1776 Revolutionary War Engraving titled “David Wooster, Esqr. : Commander in Chief of the Provincial Army against Quebec.” |
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March 26, 1776-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Mezzotint Engraved Print titled, “David Wooster, Esqr. : Commander in Chief of the Provincial Army against Quebec.”, Published as the Act directs 26 March 1776, by Thos. Hart. London, Framed, Choice Extremely Fine. A superb quality, exceptionally bright clean impression, having strong contrast and excellent overall eye appeal. Print shows David Wooster, Connecticut’s First Major General, in three-quarter length portrait, standing, facing left, wearing military uniform, holding pike in right hand, left hand resting on cannon. When the Continental Army was established, Wooster was commissioned a Brigadier General, and his troops were sent to be part of General Philip Schuyler and General Richard Montgomery's 1775 invasion of Quebec as noted in this print.David Wooster (1711-1777), was a Brigadier General in the Connecticut militia during the Revolutionary War. This engraved print identifies Wooster as, “Commander in Chief,” a position he held for only a short time. Wooster was wounded at the Battle of Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1777 and died a few days later, countering a British raid led by the famous Traitor, Ex: Continental Army General Benedict Arnold. It is noted that David Wooster's finals words were: "I am dying, but with a strong hope and persuasion that my country will gain her independence." This handsome print lists, “Ioh Martin Will excud Aug Vind.” (Johann Martin Will, 1727-1806 as artist). This impression is among the finest quality examples of this era historic American heroic portraits. It is the single finest portrait of General David Wooster we have encountered. The engraved trimmed print plate size measures about 14” x 9.25”, then was professionally matted to about 15” x 10” to be viewed through special UV Plexiglas and black wood framed, measuring to fully 21” x 16.5”, and currently ready to hang on display. Reference See: The American Revolution in drawings and prints; a checklist of 1765-1790 graphics in the Library of Congress / Compiled by Donald H. Cresswell, with a foreword by Sinclair H. Hitchings. Washington In April 1777 the British launched an expedition to raid a Continental Army supply depot in Danbury. The raid was met with little initial opposition and was successful. Upon their withdrawal, they were attacked by a quickly assembled force under the command of Wooster and Benedict Arnold. During the attack Benedict Arnold's horse was shot out from under him and Wooster was wounded and died a few days later. It is noted that Wooster's finals words were "I am dying, but with a strong hope and persuasion that my country will gain her independence." David Wooster was born in Stratford, in the British colony of Connecticut. He entered Yale College in 1735, and graduated in 1738. In 1739, following the outbreak of war between Britain and Spain, he joined the colonial militia as a lieutenant, but apparently saw no action. In 1741 he was named lieutenant of a ship of the guarda-costa, or coast guard, which the colony had established to protect against potential Spanish attack. He was later promoted to captain. On March 6, 1745, Wooster married Marie Clapp, the daughter of Yale's president, Thomas Clapp. They went on to have four children; their son Thomas also served in the American Revolutionary War. His grandson Charles Whiting Wooster was Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Navy. Shortly after his marriage, David Wooster was named captain of a company in the Provincial regiment of Andrew Burr (uncle to future United States Vice President Aaron Burr), and saw service at that year's Siege of Louisbourg. He was sent to France as part of the prisoner escort following that action, and then to England, where he was given an audience with King George and a position as captain in the regiment of William Pepperrell in the British Army. When the French and Indian War broke out, he served from 1755 to the war's end in 1761, during which he was promoted to colonel and given command of the 3rd Connecticut Regiment. In 1758 his regiment was at the disastrous Battle of Carillon before Fort Ticonderoga, and in 1759 at the successful capture of Ticonderoga. When the American Revolutionary War broke out with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, Wooster was in charge of the militia at New Haven. Benedict Arnold wanted to march with his militia company in support of the cause, but Wooster tried to deny Arnold access to the militia's weapons stores. Arnold's threats were persuasive, and Wooster opened the magazine to him. (This confrontation is commemorated in New Haven as Powder House Day.) Wooster was first given command as a Major General of Connecticut militia companies sent to defend New York City against possible British troop landings. When the Continental Army was established, Wooster was commissioned a Brigadier General, and his troops were sent to be part of General Philip Schuyler and General Richard Montgomery's 1775 invasion of Quebec. Wooster participated in the Siege of Fort St. Jean in the fall of 1775, and was then given military command of Montreal after that city fell in November. He assumed command of all the forces in Quebec following the death of Montgomery in the Battle of Quebec at the end of December 1775. Wooster's management of Montreal was marked by deteriorating relations with the inhabitants, as efforts to rein in Loyalist activity ended up frustrating even sympathetic locals. He was eventually charged with incompetence over his tenure at Montreal; the court martial cleared him. In April 1776 Wooster took reinforcements to relieve General Arnold, who was besieging Quebec City. Wooster was only briefly in command there, as General John Thomas arrived at the end of April. In early May, British reinforcements arrived at Quebec, and the army was routed, eventually retreating in disarray back to Fort Ticonderoga in July. British General (and former Royal Provincial Governor of New York) William Tryon launched an expedition in April 1777 to raid a Continental Army supply depot at Danbury, Connecticut. On April 25, about 2,000 British troops landed near Fairfield, and marched inland, reaching Danbury without resistance on the morning of April 26. They chased away the small garrison, destroyed a large number of supplies, and set fire to parts of the town. When Wooster was alerted to this movement, he notified General Arnold, who was visiting his family in New Haven, and set about calling out the militia to oppose the action. Arnold took several hundred men to set up a position at Ridgefield, while Wooster took a smaller detachment to harass the rear of Tryon's column as they returned to the coast. His first attack caught Tryon by surprise, but he was prepared for Wooster's second attack, which was made as the column neared Ridgefield. Wooster was mortally wounded when the Redcoats unlimbered six artillery pieces and opened fire. He was taken to the Dibble House in Danbury where he died on May 2, 1777. Wooster's final words were, "I am dying, but with a strong hope and persuasion that my country will gain her independence." On June 17, 1777, Congress voted that a suitable monument should be erected in his memory, but measures were never inaugurated to execute the resolution. His grave was not identified until 1854, when Connecticut legislature laid the cornerstone of a monument. A sign and a monument on Connecticut Route 116 (North Salem Road) just a few yards away from the intersection with Tackora Trail, marks the spot where General David Wooster fell, during the Battle of Ridgefield in 1777. Today, a monument 30 feet (9.1 m) high marks his final resting place. General Wooster is buried in Wooster Cemetery on Mount Moriah in Danbury, which dates from the middle of the nineteenth century. Wooster's monument is surrounded by a stone and iron railing. |
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Lot Number: 103
Click for a Printable Page Sign-in to Bid or Register to Bid |
Estimate Range: $3,500 - $4,500 |
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Early American History Auctions, Inc. 1520 Commerce St., # 312 • Winchester, VA 22601 Phone: 858 • 759 • 3290 Email: Auctions@EarlyAmerican.com |
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