Read Washington's Letter to Edward Rutledge, Sept. 1799
Read the full text of George Washington's 1799 letter to his old friend Gov. Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, written just three months before the death of the first U.S. president.
Apr 27, 2026
At the May 2025 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW event at Grant's Farm in St. Louis, a guest brought in a letter bearing what looked to be George Washington's signature, framed between two period portraits, one of Washington and the other of South Carolina Gov. Edward Rutledge.
Books & Manuscripts appraiser Tim Luke explained to the guest that the former president and Rutledge had shared a long and collegial friendship spanning all the way back to the days of the Revolutionary War and the Continental Congress, when at just 26, Rutledge had been the youngest delegate to sign the Declaration of Independence in the summer of 1776.
In the letter, Washington thanks him for a model gun carriage that Rutledge had apparently sent the aging former president in retirement at his Mt. Vernon home. The model was intended to demonstrate improvements to existing artillery technology, and Washington expresses a characteristic forward-thinking vision for the young nation he had been so instrumental in founding — approving of the new design and recommended its swift adoption.
Although insofar as ANTIQUES ROADSHOW was aware at the time of publishing, the guest's letter had yet to be professionally authenticated by an independent expert, appraiser Tim Luke shared his opinion that on initial inspection it appeared to be authentic, and as such estimated the auction value at between $15,000 and $20,000.
You can read the full text of the letter below.
George Washington to Edward Rutledge
Mount Vernon Septr 8th 1799
My dear Sir,
I have received, by the hand of Genl. W. Washington, the model of an improvement made on Gun Carriages which you have been so good as to present me;—and I pray you will accept my sincere thanks for this token of your friendship, which will always be dear to me.—
I see many advantages in this improvement on Gun Carriages, and I think every thing of this kind ought to be adopted by us, so far as they can be usefully applied; for it will be much easier to introduce valuable improvements in the commencement of our Military establishments, than after we shall have been long accustomed to certain habits & things to deviate from them.
In best wishes for the health and happiness of yourself & Mrs. Rutledge Mrs. Washington unites with
My dear Sir Yr Affecte & Obedt Servt
G: Washington
His Excelly Govr Rutledge
A draft of this letter can also be seen in the digital archives of the George Washington Presidential Library at Mt. Vernon.
Watch the Appraisal
GUEST: I brought in a letter from George Washington, and it is addressed to Edward Rutledge.
APPRAISER: Okay.
GUEST: My grandmother somehow got this, and we don't know where or how she got it. She sold real estate and she sold ANTIQUES.
APPRAISER: Oh, wow.
GUEST: So, working at the antique store, she might have had opportunity to get this.
APPRAISER: Really?
GUEST: And I have no idea if it's actually real.
APPRAISER: Sure.
GUEST: Or is it a forgery?
APPRAISER: Right. (chuckles) So, there were a few things on this letter that really caught my eye, is first of all, the date. It says September 1799, and that is actually several months prior to Washington's death.
GUEST: Wow.
APPRAISER: Uh, the other part of this is that the letter is talking about these gun carriages and is thanking Rutledge for his support. George Washington and Rutledge had a wonderful relationship.
GUEST: Oh, great.
APPRAISER: Mutual respect and admiration.
GUEST: Wonderful.
APPRAISER: So, of course, Rutledge, being the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence...
GUEST: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, yes, right.
APPRAISER: ...was a founding father, right along with Washington. He then runs for South Carolina governor, and he is now currently governor when this letter is dated.
GUEST: Oh.
APPRAISER: Toward the bottom, you can see that this is to his good friend, and it is also then signed by George Washington. Now, we're not authenticators. However, I did talk with three or four of my colleagues.
GUEST: Wow.
APPRAISER: We also looked at this under a loupe just to make sure that this wasn't a printed document...
GUEST: Oh, yes.
APPRAISER: ...and to make sure that the ink and the paper are of the time period.
GUEST: Yes.
APPRAISER: Because those are all the telltale signs.
GUEST: Right, right.
APPRAISER: That's what we look for. Uh, what I can tell you is that we do believe that this is an authentic letter...
GUEST: Wow.
APPRAISER: ...that this is an authentic signature.
GUEST: Oh, my goodness. Oh.
APPRAISER: The real value here is in the letter. The other two images on either side, they're nice, but they don't really add as much. So, the auction estimate for the letter would be $15,000 to $20,000...
GUEST: Okay.
APPRAISER: ...on this piece.
GUEST: Wonderful-- that's just wonderful, wow. And to say it's, it's probably authentic.
A draft of this letter can also be seen in the digital archives of the George Washington Presidential Library at Mt. Vernon.
Luke Crafton is ANTIQUES ROADSHOW's director of digital content and managing editor of the series website. Luke has been a producer with ROADSHOW since 2006.
