Autograph Letter Signed, “Horatio Gates,” Rose Hill, New York, 1 July 1803. A charming social note written by the celebrated Revolutionary War general, politely declining a dinner invitation due to his wife’s illness. This brief but highly personal autograph note was penned by Major General Horatio Gates, one of the most prominent military figures of the American Revolution. Written from Rose Hill, his country estate in Manhattan, on 1 July 1803, the letter reveals Gates not as a soldier or political actor, but as a gentleman engaged in the social life of the early Republic. Addressed to an unnamed correspondent, Gates expresses gratitude for an invitation to dine, explaining that his wife, Mary Valens Gates, is indisposed and that he therefore must forego the pleasure of attending: “Much obliged by your kind invitation to Dinner for this day. Mrs. Gates is indisposed, I am quite miserable, which deprives us of the satisfaction of Dining with you today…” He adds affectionate remembrances to mutual acquaintances and closes with the courteous assurance: “I request you to consider me as your unaltered friend & obedient servant.” The note was written only months before Gates's death and belongs to the final chapter of a long and eventful life that spanned the British Empire, the American Revolution, and the early United States. Born in England around 1727, Horatio Gates entered the British Army as a young man and gained valuable military experience during the French and Indian War. During that conflict he served alongside many officers who would later become prominent leaders in the American Revolution, including George Washington. After settling in Virginia in the 1760s, Gates increasingly identified with the colonial cause. When the Revolution began in 1775, the Continental Congress appointed him Adjutant General of the Continental Army, where he played an important role in organizing and administering the fledgling military establishment. Gates achieved lasting fame through his association with the Saratoga Campaign of 1777, widely regarded as the turning point of the Revolutionary War. As commander of the Northern Department, he received the surrender of British General John Burgoyne at Saratoga, a victory that persuaded France to enter the war as an American ally. The triumph elevated Gates to national celebrity status and briefly made him a rival to George Washington in public esteem. His reputation later suffered following the disastrous American defeat at the Battle of Camden in South Carolina in 1780, where British forces under Lord Cornwallis routed his army. Gates was subsequently relieved of command, although later investigations cleared him of formal wrongdoing. Despite the setback, his role in securing the victory at Saratoga ensured his place among the Revolution's most consequential military leaders. After the war, Gates retired to his estate, Rose Hill, situated on what was then the northern outskirts of New York City. There he lived as a respected elder statesman, maintaining friendships with many leading figures of the Revolutionary generation. The present note was written from Rose Hill, one of the most celebrated country seats in early New York. Gates and his wife Mary were known for their hospitality and social connections, entertaining military veterans, politicians, and visitors from both America and Europe. By 1803, however, Gates was entering the last years of his life. His wife Mary's illness, referenced in this letter, lends the document an intimate and human dimension. Rather than discussing military affairs or politics, Gates writes as a devoted husband whose concern for his wife's health outweighs social obligations. Such glimpses into the private lives of Revolutionary figures are considerably rarer than official military or governmental documents. Although modest in content, this letter is noteworthy for its direct connection to one of the principal generals of the American Revolution and the victor of Saratoga. Unlike military orders, battlefield correspondence, or political documents, it offers a rare view of Gates in a domestic setting during the early national period. The note captures the manners and social customs of the post-Revolutionary elite while illustrating the enduring networks of friendship among members of the Revolutionary generation. Written at Rose Hill only a few years before his death in 1806, it serves as a poignant reminder that behind the celebrated public figure stood a private individual concerned with family, friendship, and daily life. As such, this autograph letter represents both a desirable Gates signature and an appealing personal relic of one of the most important—and most debated—military leaders of the American Revolution. ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Much obliged by your kind Invitation to Dinner for this day. — Mrs. Gates is indisposed, I am quite miserable, which deprives us of the Satisfaction of Dining with you to day. — My Mary presents her affectionate remembrance to Her Aunt and Mr. Melton. & I request you to consider me as your unaltered friend & Obedient Servant Horatio Gates. Rose Hill, 1st July, 1803.
