In the optimistic missive, Washington extols the revolutionary spirit of the American people—even in defeat—and makes a rare reference to the experimental smallpox inoculation that helped prevent outb

George Washington, who had been leading the battle for independence from Britain for almost two years. But on May 7, Washington wrote a letter to a worried subordinate, saying the raid had not been a disaster.

A letter written by George Washington in 1777 that is valued at $150,000 is up for sale this Presidents Day. The letter, acquired by the Raab Collection, was written during the Revolutionary War, when the British took the war to Danbury,