Out-Letters : Secretary at War: American Letter Books (WO 4/273-276, 987-988) :1763 - 1790.

This collection of Secretary at War's letter books contains letters, instructions and warrants to military officers serving in North America and the West Indies, as well as governors of the colonies. Occasionally letters received from the colonies are entered. The main subject relates to the British military, specifically the army, and its policies, organisation, personnel and movements.

Arrangement: Chronological from volumes 273 to 276; and again for volumes 987 to 988.

Reel 1, Volumes 273-275 (1775-1784)

The Secretary-at-War's American Letter Books contain despatches from Secretaries Jenkinson, Barrington, Townsend, Yonge and Fitzpatrick to commanders and officials in North America including: Howe, Gage, Carleton, Clinton, Haldimand, Phillips, Tryon, Prescott, Stopford, Prevost, and many others, as well as to a number of officers of lower rank and to several officers in the West Indies. The despatches include: promotions; sale of commissions; lists of garrison officers; distribution of troops (Hessians and other German auxiliary troops); transfers; leaves of absence; lists of vacancies; hospital instructions and appointments; officers to be relieved; shipments of clothing; instructions and observations; memorials; warrants for court-martial; returns of camp equipage; warrants for pay; questions of rank; exchange of prisoners; inquiries in case of defeat; and documents containing many other subjects. Letters regarding the Saratoga Convention can be found in Volume 274, p. 153-154; and Volume 275 (1780-84) includes many despatches to Canada and the West Indies (there is also a West India Letter Book). Indexed.

Volume 276 (1784 - 1790)

This volume is different from the other volumes and was purchased for their Canadian content. While the despatches in Volume 276 were also sent by the Secretary-at-War, they were issued after the treaty of peace in 1783 and are addressed to the governors, lieutenant-governors, generals and other officers serving in British North America. The letters include: lists of officials; instructions; appointments; leaves of absence; lists of garrison officers and their pay at Annapolis Royal, Halifax, Island of Cape Breton, and Island of St. John's (now Prince Edward Island); warrants; promotions; replies to letters from officials and individuals; and numerous other documents. The first despatch on the reel from Secretary-at-War, Sir George Yonge, is dated 19 August 1784, and states that the King has signified that the Province of Nova Scotia should be divided into two governments. The name of the westernmost part shall be called New Brunswick, and a governor appointed for said Province. Correspondence in this volume is addressed to generals and officials including the following: Lieutenant-General Haldimand in Quebec, Major-General Campbell in Halifax, Governor Parr of Nova Scotia, Lieutenant- Governor DesBarres of Cape Breton, Governor Carleton of New Brunswick, Brigadier-General Hope in Quebec, Lord Dorchester in Quebec, and numerous officers attached to British regiments serving in North America. Indexed.

Reel 2, Volumes 987-988 (1763-1774)

Private (Series 2)- Contains despatches, many long and detailed, of the Secretaries-at-War to the Commanders-in-Chief and Colonial Governors. These despatches are of great importance in defining British war policy and relate to the British army in North America and in the West Indies. Subjects related to health include: hospital accounts, appointments, vacancies, staffing, medicines, returns, invalids, sickness, etc. Occasionally, letters received from America have been included in these Volumes. The Volumes are indexed.