"Mad" Anthony Wayne, 1782, Revolutionary War Flag-of-Truce Letters. Pair of letters, first signed by British Brigadier General Alured Clarke, writing as commander of the Crown's forces in Georgia and datelined at Savannah on June 17, 1782, stating in part that the bearer, Captain William Johnson, is charged with a "Flag for the purpose of conveying a letter to Genl. Wayne", second letter is General Wayne's signed response to Clarke's letter, datelined at Savannah on Aug. 8, 1782, referencing Clarke's letter of June 17 and permitting certain merchants to proceed to the American lines, allowing said merchants to dispose of their goods and merchandise to the citizens of the United States, to export proceeds to the amount of said goods and merchandise to any British port, and granting them protection under a flag-of-truce from any vessels, cruisers or other ships of war of the United States, outstanding condition with both letters fresh and fully legible

A HISTORIC PAIR OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR FLAG-OF-TRUCE LETTERS, ONE SIGNED BY AMERICAN GENERAL "MAD" ANTHONY WAYNE AND THE OTHER BY HIS GEORGIA COUNTERPART IN THE BRITISH ARMY, GENERAL ALURED CLARKE -- WRITTEN JUST BEFORE AND AFTER THE SURRENDER AND EVACUATION OF BRITISH FORCES IN GEORGIA.

While many people think of General Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown in October 1781 as the end of the Revolutionary War, in fact British forces continued to occupy Savannah and Charleston S.C. when this first letter was written by General Alured Clarke, on June 17, 1782. On July 1, a delegation of Savannah merchants crossed the American lines to speak to General Wayne under a flag-of-truce similar to what Clarke was requesting in this letter (possibly even based on Clarke's request here). Clarke's formal surrender occurred shortly thereafter, on July 11. Wayne's August 8 response came shortly after the Americans re-established control of Savannah. These historic letters straddle that surrender and describe General Wayne's grant of a flag-of-truce to Savannah merchants to sell their goods and merchandise free of harassment by American forces.

Anthony Wayne (1745-1796) was one of the most fascinating and colorful generals of the American Revolution. During a military career that began during the Revolution and continued with Indian wars afterward, Wayne was noted for many military exploits and a fiery personality, earning him the sobriquet "Mad" Anthony. For a fine summary of General Wayne's 1782 Savannah campaign, including reference to the July 1 flag-of-truce visit and General Clarke's surrender, see the Journal of the American Revolution (Oct. 9, 2014, https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/10/anthony-waynes-1782-savannah-campaign)

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