An immediate cry for help to defend Ticonderoga: send troops! The troops never made it in time and Ticonderoga fell.  Autograph Letter Signed.  Bedford, N.H.  June 27, 1777. Attractive letter with extraordinary war content from Daniel Moore, Colonel in the Revolutionary War expressing the urgency to send troops to Ticonderoga in that fateful month the battle. Addressed to Captain Samuel Philbrick, Weare:   “Whereas there has been a general vote passed in the House of Representative June the 7th that all military officers who are delinquent in raising their quota of men for the Continental army, be directed forthwith to furnish the same, either by enlistment or by draft and for them immediately to the army at Ticonderoga.  Agreeable to the same vote, and pursuant to orders, I do hereby strictly order you to furnish your quota, either by enlistment, or by draft, without delay, and I again I say if the officers under my command do not exert themselves with conduct to raise their quota, that I must take the course that the state and present house shall direct me in.  I am very sorry that any person would prove remiss or neglectful at this critical juncture, when our all is at stake. I hope you’ll forthwith comply with my orders, and please to make a return of yee men in the names of their captains for I must make a return immediately. Sir I am your humble servant Daniel Moore Colonel.”  The Battle of Ticonderoga on July 5 and July 6, 1777 was more a battle of maneuver than a direct conflict in the American Revolutionary War. The British Army, led by John Burgoyne, occupied the fort after forcing American General Arthur St. Clair to withdraw the defenders.  The fort was poorly defended and by late June, was prepared for a siege. This letter exposes some of the frustration felt by the Patriots in raising what would be necessary to defeat the British at this “Critical Juncture.”  Ten days after this letter was written, the British managed to take the "American Gibraltar" without resistance following the evacuation of the post by Arthur St. Clair's forces. Leading a force of about 8,000 British troops southward, General John Burgoyne leaving nearly 1,000 men behind to garrison Fort Ticonderoga. Burgoyne then crossed the Hudson and encamped near Saratoga. General Horatio Gates, the American commander, was camped four miles away with 12,000 men and was receiving daily reinforcements. The Saratoga battle is often regarded as the turning point of the war. Revolutionary confidence and determination, suffering from Howe's successful occupation of Philadelphia, was renewed. More importantly, the victory encouraged France to enter the war against Great Britain. For the British, the war had now become much more complicated.   A month later Nathel. Folsom would write Meshech Weare: “The Loss of Ticonderoga considerably alarmed Congress as they were informed but a Little Time before by General St. Clair that it wase in a good State of defence. An Enquiry into that affair is thought necessary. By Intelligence from our Guards near New York, we learn that Lord & General Howe Sailed from that place with the most of the army …” [Library of Congress]                         $1,500 [ THE NH COMMITTEE OF SAFETY DRAFTS TROOPS FOR THE REVOLUTION  Autograph Letter Signed. One page Bedford April 6 1778. In 1778, the colonial rebellion became an international war. After learning of the American victory at Saratoga, France signed the Treaty of Alliance with the United States on February 6, 1778.   The Committee of Safety served as a representative of the Provincial Congress in its recess during these years of the war. It consisted of legislative leaders to exercise executive authority, and empowered it "to take under their consideration all matters in which the welfare of this Province in the security of their rights shall be concerned, except the appointment of Field Officers, and take the utmost care that the Publick sustain no damage." This document signed by Daniel Moore delivers the orders to draft men for three battalions who had not been engaged for the previous three years to appear for Service where they will be deployed at Fish Kill, on the Banks of the Hudson River, as well as the payment provisions, etc.:    “To Capt. Samuel Philbrook / Whereas I have received orders from the Committee of Safety of this State for immediately filling up the three Battalions of this State the place of those not engaged for three years or during the war are to be filled up by Drafts from your company  or in any other way that shall be effectual or other ways effectually engaged to service in the Battalions of this State for the Space of Nine months from the time they shall appear at Fish Kill if not sooner Discharged  on Hardsons (Hudson) river the place of Rondevous appointed for them by the Resolves of Congress and make return of the men so drafted or engaged to me on or Before the last Monday of this instant without fail with Liste Discriptive of their names Age Stature also make Return at the same time of all such in your company who have enlisted to serve for three years or during the war.   Each man so Drafted or engaged to have three Pence per mile he is actually marching to said place of rondevous & each man so drafted or engaged who shall supply himself with a good firelock and Bayonet cartouch box and Blanket and who shall at the Expiration of the term of his Service produce to the Proper Paymaster a certificate from his Capt. or other commanding officers of his company that he hath been constantly Provided therwith shall receive for the use of his firelock bayonet & catoush box two Dollars & for the use of his blanket four Dollars & in a like Proportion for any or either of them and in case any of the said articles shall be left or rendered useless in the Service without the Negligence or falt of the proprietor he shall be paid the full value there of. The men so drafted or engaged to be Discharged in proportion as the recruits to fill up the continental Battalions shall join the Army  The men so Drafted or engaged are to be mustered by the muster master thertofore appointed at Exeter on or Before the last Monday of this Instant Ready equipped to march to the place of Rondevous aforesaid.  Fail not in so Doing in make me Return by the time. Coll.  Daniel Moor”      $2,000     EQUIP WITH BAYONETTE BOXES AND BLANKETS UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL SULLIVAN FOR YOUR COUNTRY’S SAKE AND SAFETY! Autograph Letter Signed. One page. June 6, 1778. Call for orders to draft & equip and otherwise serve General John Sullivan in, what would be his ill-fated attack, on Rhode Island. Sullivan had just spent the horrid winter at Valley Forge, then detached northward to command the troops, some of which had been enlisted by order of this document. The assault was to be a combined Franco-American effort. The Battle of Rhode Island took place on August 29, 1778 and John Sullivan with his troops attempted to recapture Aquidneck Island, also known as Rhode Island (rather than the state of Rhode Island), from British forces. The battle ended inconclusively, but the Continental Army had to give up its goal of capturing the island and securing Narragansett Bay for American and French ship traffic. Signed by Moses Kelly and Daniel Moors. MOSES KELLY: Lieutenant-colonel in the revolutionary War; enlisted July 1, 1777; 5 days; alarm at Ticonderoga; colonel; enlisted Aug. 6, 1778; 25 days; expedition to Rhode Island. DANIEL MOORE: Colonel in the Revolutionary War. Addressed to Capt. Samuel Philbrook at “Weir on the publick service – This with care and Speed.”: “State of New Hampshire Bedford 6th day of June AD 1778 Capt. Samuel Filbrook Sir You are herby Directed forthwith to Draughted or otherwise engaged from the company under your command three able bodied effective men and have them well equipt with Five armes Bayonets Boxes and Blankets and to Serve as Soldiers under such officers as are appointed by this State in Coll. Stephen Peabodys Regement under the command of Maj. Gen’l Sullivan until the first day of Jany inst.  If not sooner Discharged and you may assure them they will not be Removed out of said State of Rhode Island unless in case of urgent necessity but in no case to Serve out of the New England States or the State of New York and they shall receive Twenty Dollars Bounty and fifteen Dollars for one month advance Wages & three pence & ( ? ) to Providence with sum of fifteen Dollars per month they will be in titled to when Discharged –  all that have already enlisted in said Peabodys Regment for said Rhode Island serves to be ( ? ) as part of the quota of the Town they belong to and in case more than the quota you must make a return of them to me at Robert McGregors Esqr. in Goffestown on Thursday the 18th Day of this Instant at 10 o’clock in the fornoon in order to Pass Muster and Receive there Bounty and one month advance wagges and three Pence & ( ? ) to Providence fail not in so doing Appiring on sd. Day with sd. Men. Sir See that your company is well equipt with armes and Ammonision as the Law Directs for your Contrey Sake and Safty. Daniel Moors Coll. Moses Kelly Leut. Colo.”                                $2,000 “THE ENEMIES ARMIES ARE MOVING ON ALL QUARTERS! for heavens sake for your country’s sake and for your own sake exert yourself on getting your men and sending them forward without a moments loss of time…” Autograph Letter Signed.  “In Committee of Safety” May 1, 1777. 1 pp. Bedford, NH. Daniel Moore to Captain Samuel Philbrick of Weare NH his frustration at not being able to raise enough troops needed to fight the battle for Independence:   “…Whereas it has been represented that many towns in this state not withstanding their unwearied endeavors in offices of large bounties have not yet been able to procure their full quota of men for the continental service.  Therefore at this critical season to the end that the men to complete the battalions may immediately march, the committee are of opinion that such delinquent towns may satisfy their number at present with men enlisted for eight months or a year as they see fit provided they will be careful to provide others to take their stores when the time of these are out they now send sixty continentals or state bounty can be advanced to any but such as enlist for the war for three years as the votes of congress and the general court of this state forbid it.  The travel -----to be paid when they pass muster.  This resolve was passed at the desire of several towns the true copy of my orders from Josiah Bartlett committee of this state. PS Capt Philbrick  the enemies armies are moving on all quarters for heavens sake for your country’s sake and for your own sake exert yourself on getting your men and sending them forward without a moments loss of time. Fail not in so doing Daniel Moore Bedford May 5, 1777  $2,000