Manuscript document signed by Robert Fleming acknowledging receipt of payment from Timothy Bainard for "buvis" [beverages] provided to French expeditionary forces. [West Point, New York], 4 June 1782. 1 page, 6 x 8 inches.

A rare and evocative slice of daily life in the Continental Army's most vital stronghold. Addressed to "Sir Timothy Bainard," this manuscript records a payment of £14, 8 shillings, and 11 pence for "buvis [drinks] sold [to] Mr. Bainard by Carter Branton, for... the French Troops garrisoned at West Point."

Coming just months after the victory at Yorktown, this document captures the logistical reality of maintaining the Franco-American alliance during the closing chapters of the war. While the fighting had slowed, the presence of French forces in the Hudson Highlands remained a critical deterrent against British movement from New York City.

Revolutionary War service records identify a Robert Fleming as a private in the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment, a storied Continental Army unit raised from Chester, Bucks, and Lancaster counties in 1776. Notably, the regiment saw action at Brandywine, Paoli, Germantown, Monmouth, Springfield, and the Siege of Yorktown. The regiment later formed part of the Pennsylvania Line, which was instrumental in defending the Hudson Highlands, with personnel later stationed in New York areas, including West Point. 

West Point was the northernmost of the three fortifications of the Colonial Army along the Hudson River, which George Washington once described as "the key to America," believing that control of the Hudson would ensure victory in the Revolutionary War. In 1778, Washington designated the Continental Army Corps of Engineers, led by Thaddeus Kosciuszko, to design and build these crucial defenses and batteries. Several French military engineers lent their expertise to the Corps, and French officers stayed in the Hudson Highlands even after construction was complete. This receipt provides a tangible link to the French officers and engineers who remained stationed in the Highlands, highlighting the "hospitality" and supply lines required to sustain the international coalition that secured American independence.

[American Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, Colonial America, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs]