LOS ANGELES, CA.- A remarkable handwritten letter that lays bare the tormented soul of the British general who surrendered at Yorktown will be auctioned by Nate D. Sanders on July 31, 2025. Written less than a year after his defeat ended the American Revolution, this extraordinary document reveals General Charles Cornwallis's raw emotions as he grappled with blame, betrayal, and the collapse of the British Empire in America.

The letter, penned on September 19, 1782, while peace negotiations were still underway in Paris, offers an unprecedented window into one of history's most consequential military figures at his lowest point. In it, Cornwallis declares himself "sacrificed" by his own government and admits the controversy has "destroyed my peace of mind for ever."

The Man Who Lost America

Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, entered history on October 19, 1781, when he surrendered approximately 8,000 British troops to George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia. The defeat effectively ended British hopes of retaining the American colonies. When news reached London, Prime Minister Lord North reportedly exclaimed, "Oh God. It is all over."

But for Cornwallis, the battle was far from over. By 1782, he found himself embroiled in the bitter "Clinton-Cornwallis Controversy"—a very public war of words with his former commander, General Sir Henry Clinton. Each blamed the other for losing America. Clinton fired the first shot by publishing wartime correspondence that painted Cornwallis as insubordinate. Cornwallis countered that Clinton had failed to provide crucial support or strategic guidance, forcing him to make unilateral decisions that led to Yorktown.

"Destroyed My Peace of Mind For Ever"

Writing from his estate at Brome Near Eye in Suffolk, England, to Colonel Edmund Fanning—a fellow veteran of the Southern campaign—Cornwallis reveals the devastating personal toll of this public battle:

"I did my utmost to save Britain & America, the cruel misfortune which brought ruin on me & my country was long foreseen by me, but all my remonstrances were in vain, it was determined that I should be sacrificed, even if the empire should fall with me. I will not dwell on this melancholy subject, altho' it has destroyed my peace of mind for ever; so far mine and my country's enemies have prevailed."

The letter also captures the poisoned atmosphere in Britain regarding the American conflict. Cornwallis warns Fanning against making certain proposals public, noting that "the people of this country are so apt to lose all temper & indeed common sense, wherever the word America is mentioned."

Historical Significance

This document represents far more than a military correspondence—it's a psychological portrait of imperial collapse. Written while Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams were negotiating American independence in Paris, the letter captures the British Empire at its nadir, through the eyes of the man many blamed for the defeat.

"Letters from this specific period—between Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris—are exceptionally rare," notes auction house owner Nate Sanders. "This one is extraordinary because Cornwallis drops his public facade entirely. We see the human cost of losing an empire."

The timing adds another layer of significance. Within four years, this same "destroyed" man would be appointed Governor-General of India, where he would rebuild his reputation and help establish the foundation of Britain's second empire. The letter thus captures a pivotal moment not just in one man's life, but in the transformation of British imperial strategy from America to Asia.

The Clinton-Cornwallis Controversy

The public feud referenced in this letter would rage for years, producing pamphlets, published letters, and parliamentary debates. History has generally vindicated Cornwallis's position—modern historians agree that Clinton's failure to coordinate effectively with his southern commander contributed significantly to the Yorktown disaster. But in 1782, with the war barely over and recriminations flying, Cornwallis found himself the scapegoat for an empire's ambitions.