In this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab of The Raab Collection about two newly discovered George Washington letters written from Morristown, New Jersey, in late 1779 and early 1780, during the Revolutionary War. Addressed to Lieutenant Colonel William De Hart of the New Jersey regiments, the letters contain campaign and battlefield instructions, including efforts to counteract local Tories—whom Washington describes as “detestable and pernicious”—and guidance related to a planned invasion of Staten Island, a British stronghold. Raab explains how uncommon it is for significant Washington documents to surface for the first time, describes the letters’ provenance as having remained in one family for centuries, and discusses the process by which heirs and descendants contact The Raab Collection to evaluate and sell inherited materials. The conversation also connects the discovery to America’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, predicting increased supply and demand for Founding-era documents and noting interest in artifacts connected to figures such as John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and the Marquis de Lafayette. To learn more visit:

https://www.raabcollection.com/presidential-autographs/washington-protect-american-patriots and https://www.raabcollection.com/presidential-autographs/washingtonp-staten-island-raid

00:00 Welcome to Inspired by History

00:32 Two Newly Discovered Washington Letters

01:40 Meet Lt. Col. William De Hart & Setting the Scene (Morristown, 1779–1780)

02:21 Inside the Letters: Orders, Tories, and the Staten Island Plan

03:31 Holding History: The Thrill of a Never-Before-Seen Washington Letter

04:25 How Family Treasures Surface: The Call That Brought Them In

05:13 America 250: Will the Anniversary Bring More Discoveries?

06:26 Founders, Signatures, and Cross-Party Appeal

07:33 Adding to the Historical Record: Why These Finds Matter

08:25 Wrap-Up and Where to Learn More