Dayton, Jonathan, Continental Officer

Autograph letter signed ("J. Dayton"), 3 pages with integral address leaf (13 x 8 in.; 330 x 203 mm and 11 3/8 x 7 7/8 in.; 289 x 197 mm), Chatham, New Jersey, 8 June 1781, to Captain Aaron Ogden, "With the army under orders of the Marquis de Lafayette, Virginia," counters Ogden's pessimism about the southern campaign with news of the anticipated arrival of the French fleet, also conveys news that Benedict Arnold has arrived in New York with 300 men, mostly sick; light discoloration, scattered staining, closed seal tears costing a few words, right and bottom margin of first leaf frayed, second leaf cut round and inlaid. Folding case with boards covered in marbled paper, beige linen spine, grey paper spine label lettered gilt.

Dayton served throughout the Revolution and later, in 1787, was the youngest delegate attending the Federal Convention. He signed the Constitution and served in the second, third, and fourth Congresses.  In this letter, Dayton also mentions that the traitor Benedict Arnold, now a commissioned brigadier general in the British army, had arrived in New York with 300 men.  It was Ogden who conveyed to Sir Henry Clinton Washington's proposal to exchange the unfortunate John André for Arnold.