Captain of Militia commission letter document Signed by Sir Guy Carleton 1775 Montreal, Quebec

CARLETON, Sir Guy 1st Baron DORCHESTER [1724 - 1808]

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Place Published: Montreal, Quebec
Publisher: CARLETON, Sir Guy
Date Published: 1775
Edition: 1st Edition
Binding: No binding
Condition: Very Good
Book Id: 1769

Description

FILLING MILITARY RANKS BUT MONTREAL TAKEN BY AMERICANS

On watermarked, fine-laid paper, June 24, 1775, "Hait a Montreal", boldy signed (and handled) by CARLETON, Sir Guy 1st Baron DORCHESTER [1724 - 1808] in dark brown ink. His signature, a "10" on a ten-point scale -- next to an intact square papered seal. 12.25" x 8.5", one page with integral leaf, Choice Very Fine. Several folds, scattered light foxing and toning, and several trivial edge dings, but overall quite presentable and historical document of interest to any serious American Revolutionary collector.

Manuscript written in French. Sir Guy Carleton served in America beginning in 1758. He was governor of Quebec and commander of British forces in Canada (1775-77), during which time he repelled Montgomery and Benedict Arnold's attack on Quebec, defeated Arnold on Lake Champlain and re-took Crown Point. From 1782-83 he was Commander in Chief in Canada.. General in 1793.

Carleton presses to fill the militia ranks. In part: "As it is necessary for the service of the King... to create militia companies in the various parishes of this Province... do hereby name and establish said Mr. Jean Bte. Belaire as captain of a militia company..." Jean Bapiste Bellaire is being made a Captain of Militia in the Parish of Ste-Pierre. Quebec. Carleton gave similar commissions in other Montreal-area parishes at the time. Militia were critical to help defend Montreal and Quebec due to only a small number of regular troops. The Second US Congress invited the Quebec to join the revolting Colonies as the fourteenth colony by addressing to them a public letter (1,000 printed and written by John Jay, the second one) letter in May 1775. Their purpose was to draw the large Quebec (French-speaking) population to the American revolutionary cause.

The invasion of Canada and the taking of Montreal were the first real offensives of the American Revolutionay war . Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen threatened Fort Ste-Jean (or St. Johns as it was then known) in May 1775, following the capture of Crown Point and Ticonderoga.  A formal invasion of Quebec was authorized by the U.S. Congress on 27 June 1775.

The defense of Quebec City he left under the command of Lieutenant-Governor Cramahé, commanding only a small force of regulars. His name also appears on the document.

This appointment document is dated only seven days after the Battle of Bunker Hill in USA. Includes an uncoloured reference print of an engraving of Carleton, 7" x 5",