Archive of General Henry Dearborn (1751-1829) family letters and artifacts including walking stick and buttons, 10 items total. 1st item: ALS. 3pg. December 4, 1824. Washington. A lengthy autograph letter signed "H Dearborn" to his son Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn. He begins the letter by stating that he has enclosed "…the letter from President Allen". Dearborn mentions his acquaintances in the Navy, including Richard Harris, Captain Derby, and Major Grafton. He writes of their mutual ambition to receive the position of Navy Agent stating "…I should prefer [Major] Grafton to either of them, but the influence of the Gentlemen of the Navy will probably favour [sic] Derby…". He also refers to the position of the Collector of Customs in Salem, Massachusetts stating "…no appointment…has yet been made I have told the President that from what I had heard…the appointment of [General James] Miller would give more general satisfaction in Salem than either of the other candidates…". Includes 1" x 1 1/4" area of brown wax seal, mailing folds, wrinkling, and paper loss on this third page that affects a few words. Note: In the fall of 1824, James Miller was elected to the House of Representatives in New Hampshire but never took office. Instead he was appointed Collector of Customs in Salem, Massachusetts, a post he served in until 1849. It is in this role that he is portrayed as the General in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Custom-House", an Introductory to The Scarlet Letter. 2nd item: ALS. 1pg. February 1, 1814. Greenbush, New York. An autograph letter signed "H Dearborn" to his son Henry about "three blank notes, for from two to three thousand dollars". The letter has mailing folds and is in fine condition. Note: Greenbush, New York was the site of Dearborn's headquarters on the frontier during the War of 1812, before he was reassigned to an administrative command in New York City. 3rd item: ALS. 1pg. October 5, 1808. War Department. An autograph letter signed "H Dearborn" to his son Henry about "the wheels for the gun carriages, and the furnaces will not be forwarded until the latter part of October…". The letter has mailing folds, dark writing and an irregular left edge. 4th item: ALS. 4pg. September 15, 1817. Boston. An autograph letter signed "Sarah B. Dearborn", the third wife of Henry Dearborn. Sarah mostly writes to Dearborn about visiting the various social acquaintances she keeps in contact with, including Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop, Major W. Ewing, and Mrs. Marshall Prince. She also mentions seeing a great deal of Dearborn's daughter Julia Cascaline Dearborn Wingate (1781-1867). Includes 5/8" x 1" area of red wax seal, mailing folds, and light staining; the condition is very good. 5th item: An imprint titled "Defence [sic] of Gen. Henry Dearborn, Against the Attack of Gen. William Hull" by Henry A. S. Dearborn, printed by Edgar W. Davis, 1824. The 28 page imprint is a direct reaction to Hull's own writings, including "Defence of Brigadier General W. Hull: delivered before the General Court Martial, of which Major General Dearborn was president, at Albany, March, 1814, with an address to the citizens of the United States", published in 1824. It was intended to clear his name after Hull was court-martialed at a trial presided over by Dearborn for the surrender of Fort Detroit to General Isaac Brock, August 16, 1812. Comprised of extracts from testimony delivered at the court-martial, Dearborn closes the evidence by stating "This has been the most painful act of my life. I should never have exposed the character of General Hull, had it not been the DUTY as a Son, during the absence of a much-injured father". Personal inscription reading "To Capt. G. Dearborn from his friend & M.O.S. The Author" top right of title leaf. The imprint has waterstaining to the top half and general wrinkling. 9 1/2" H x 5 3/4" W. Note: Hull surrendered Fort Detroit to General Isaac Brock on August 16, 1812. Accounts of the incident varied widely. A subordinate, Colonel Lewis Cass, placed all blame for the surrender on Hull and subsequently succeeded Hull as Territorial Governor. Hull was court-martialed at a trial presided over by General Henry Dearborn. Evidence against him was given by Robert Lucas, a subordinate and the future governor of Ohio and territorial governor of Iowa. Hull was convicted of cowardice and neglect of duty. Hull was sentenced to be shot, though upon recommendation of mercy by the court, Hull, a Revolutionary War veteran, received a reprieve from President James Madison. 6th-9th items: Pair of earrings "made from 2 gold waistcoat buttons of Genl Henry Dearborn", according to attached note, 3/4" L. Includes a pair of associated mid 19th century filigree quatrefoil buttons with clear paste stones, 1 1/4" L. Housed in a gold velvet box with navy satin lining reading "J.E. Caldwell and Co., Philadelphia" in gilt lettering. Earrings – 3/4" L. Buttons – 1 1/4" L. Box – 1 1/4" H x 4 1/4" W x 3 3/8" D. 10th item: Early 19th century wooded cane with silver handle and brass spike, incised "H.D" on handle. 39 1/2" L. Note: Initials and family oral history states that the cane belonged to Henry Dearborn. Provenance: The Estate of Charles Boyd Coleman, Jr., Chattanooga, TN, by descent from Gen. Henry Dearborn through his granddaughter, Pamela Augusta Gilman (1802-1880), wife of Greenleaf (Greenleif) Dearborn, to their daughter Annette Maria Dearborn Boyd. Annette married Charles Harrod Boyd and had four children, including Julia Wingate Boyd (wife of Lewis Minor Coleman, Jr.). Note: Lewis M. Coleman, Jr. was the son of Civil War Colonel Coleman and Mary Ambler Marshall, granddaughter of John Marshall (1755-1835), fourth Chief Justice of the United States. Note: Henry Dearborn (1751-1829) was a Revolutionary War general, Congressman and Jefferson's Secretary of War. At the outbreak of the War of 1812, President Madison made Dearborn the Commanding General of the United States Army. Fort Dearborn and Dearborn, Michigan were named in his honor. Description courtesy of Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, Inc. CONDITION: All documents in overall good condition with areas of toning, foxing spots, tears, dampstaining, to be expected from age. 1st item: President Allen letter referred to in 1824 letter not included. 5th item: Stitching intact, appears to be original. 6th-9th items: Overall good condition with wear to be expected from age. Gilt lettering faded. 10th item: Abrasions, largest 3 1/2", surface of cane. Areas of tarnish, oxidation to silver and brass.