Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Timothy Pickering

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.10135 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 September 1783 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 35 x 23.4 cm. Order a Copy

Major General Knox writes to Colonel Pickering, Quartermaster General. Discusses a chain, possibly the great chain that stretched across the Hudson River near West Point to prevent British ships from sailing upriver. Writes "From the information of Major Boyd, and from the opinions of others it may be concluded that the chain if painted and housed may be preserved a long time without any material injury. The chain is certainly a material part of the defence of this river, and consequently to all America..."

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources