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Orders to George Washington to blockade the Hudson River [Decimalized .01-.02]
11 October 1776
Hancock, John, 1737-1793
Entirely in Hancock's hand except for clerical date. includes mezzo tint of Hancock.
GLC00372
to Caesar Rodney
October 13, 1778
Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792
Also signed by Rodney. A cover letter for an act submitted the day before to Congress by Laurens "for encouraging true religion and good morals and for the suppression of such entertainments and diversions as have a contrary tendency." Addressed to...
GLC00384
to Richard Caswell
January 21, 1780
Penn, John, 1741-1788
Co-signed by North Carolina Congressmen Thomas Burke and Allen Jones. Written in what appears to be Penn's hand. Penn was also a North Carolina Continental Congressman and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Written to Caswell as Governor of...
GLC00414
[New York Provisional Congress resolution to form county committees]
29 May 1775
Livingston, Peter Van Brugh, 1710-1792
Written by Livingston, a wealthy merchant, as President of the New York Provisional Congress. Printed letter at the top of recto asks counties that have not formed committees to do so without delay. Also says no coercive steps should be made to force...
GLC00418
to John Langdon
May 11, 1776
Whipple, William, 1730-1785
Written by Whipple as a Continental Congressman from New Hampshire to Langdon as a Continental Congressman from New Hampshire (he was to leave that body in June 1776). Whipple was also a colonel of militia and later signed the Declaration of...
GLC00429
to Robert Morris
May 27, 1777
Hooper, William, 1742-1790
William Hooper laments the failure of North Carolina to re-elect his associate Joseph Hewes to the Continental Congress. Discusses and rejects the charges of profiteering leveled against Hewes (and others) while he was a member of the Secret...
GLC00462
to Henry Knox
February 10, 1788
Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810
Written in Manchester, a present-day neighborhood of Richmond. Comments on the state conventions held to discuss ratification of the United States Constitution (Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Virginia). On Virginia, writes, "My situation...
GLC02437.03792
14 July 1788
Biddle, Clement, 1740-1814
Submits an account of rations. Marked as private on address leaf. Writes, "We are fondly hoping that Congress will determine to form the new Government at this place, in which Case I expect we shall have the pleasure of your & Mrs. Knox's Company-"
GLC02437.03935
to George Washington
23 October 1786
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Writes that he hopes to be able to visit General Washington at Mount Vernon soon. Is convinced of the General's affection for him and feels sure that his limited correspondence will not be misconstrued; is aware that responding to too many letters...
GLC02437.03319
7 October 1785
Carleton, Joseph, 1754-1812
Written from "War Office." Discusses Mr. [possibly William] Duer's inability to find a man to provision Captain [likely John Francis] Hamtramck's company to the frontier. Suggests giving Hamtramck himself money to handle it, because Hamtramck...
GLC02437.03207
1 November 1785
Apparently written from the War Office, which was possibly located in New York City at the time. Writes, "I called at the office this morning to take leave and to make you my grateful thanks for the many friendly and polite attentions which you have...
GLC02437.03209
20 August 1786
Blackden, Samuel, fl. 1786
Writes that while he hopes that peace continues in America, it is hard to be in England and not see how "ill-disposed" the people there are to American independence. Believes that most British citizens think and hope America will come back under the...
GLC02437.03294
to James Bowdoin
22 October 1786
Writes that he will receive by this post the act of Congress authorizing an additional 700 troops in the Ohio frontier, where the troops there are suffering attacks from local Indians. Reports that Congress has called for the states to pay into the...
GLC02437.03315
to the Board of Treasury
22 November 1786
Marked "copy." Written from the "War Office," likely in New York City during this period. Writes that his past agitations on behalf of payment for troops should convince them of his interest in providing for the public good. Believes that "the...
GLC02437.03342
to Stephen Bruce
December 26, 1786
Written from the War Office, likely located in New York City in this period (also see GLC02437.03393 for a letter written on the same date from Knox in New York City). Explains that the Treasury Board has been, for some time, making plans for paying...
GLC02437.03392
7 January 1787
Bruce, Stephen, ?-1801
Thanks him for his kind letter. Declares that before he received it, he "had been inform'd of the negociations taking place between the board of Treasury, and [Messrs Robert] Morris & [Jeremiah] Wadsworth for the whole supplies of the Troops, and...
GLC02437.03408
to Nathaniel Appleton
27 July 1787
Informs Appleton he has applied to Congress to appoint Appleton's son as consul to the Isle of France. Says that Congress has not yet developed a system which allows them to make such appointments, however, if a system was ever developed Knox...
GLC02437.03625
[Letters from Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin]
3 August - 10 November 1787
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
Copies of three letters to Thomas Barclay. First one from Thomas Jefferson, written in Paris, dated 3 August. Presents Barclay with a tribute for his work as "Consul General for that Country [France] and Minister to the Court of Morocco, also as...
GLC02437.03633
22 August 1787
Blodget, William, 1754-1809
Asks Knox for help in obtaining commutation. Says he also sent a letter to the President of Congress and asks for Knox's influence with him. Says he is "loth" to ask for help but varying circumstances has left him to rely on his friends. Along...
GLC02437.03643
to Robert Livingston, Jr. re: request for supplies for Northern Army
[1776/12]
Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803
A Committee of Congress, including Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee, and William Whipple (the remaining 2 signatures are illegible due to damage), write to Robert, Jr. to request "Cannon and Stores" needed by General Schuyler to supply his Northern...
GLC03107.03357
to Robert Livingston, Jr. re: fluctuating markets
1778/06/11
Livingston, Henry, 1753-1823
Henry states that he can not send his father accurate market prices since it fluctuates so dramatically. He explains that the scarcity of money caused the market to stagnate, but there has been a sudden rise due to a large quantity of cash sent to...
GLC03107.03374
March 26, 1786
Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804
Writes to Knox as Secretary of the War Office to discuss the accusations against Major [John Plasgrave] Wyllys, Colonel Wadsworth's former assistant. Reports that Wyllys's friends received the news from Wyllys's brother-in-law, and are in great...
GLC02437.03253
to unknown
October 24, 1775
Adams, John, 1735-1826
May have been source for Declaration of Independence's list. Cosigned by George Wythe and Silas Deane, with an autograph manuscript signed copy of the resolution signed by Charles Thomson. Also, discusses compiling British hostilities. The letter was...
GLC00505.01
Congressional resolve to appoint committee to compile list of hostilities
18 October 1775
Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824
Appointed John Adams, Silas Deane and George Wythe to the committee.
GLC00505.02
to William Cooper
July 6, 1776
Enclosing the Declaration of Independence, with personal notes to his friend and description of sabotage of a captured American ship. Cooper was town clerk of Boston. Also, discusses military matters.
GLC00595
to the Convention of Maryland
June 4, 1776
Written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress. Begins by saying "Our affairs are hastening fast to a Crisis; and the approaching Campaign will in all Probability, determine for ever the Fate of America." Says the King and Parliament has...
GLC00639.12
to George A. Washington
July 10, 1783
Washington, George, 1732-1799
In the letter, George Washington discusses Pennsylvania troops mutiny and Treaty of Paris. Docketed on page 4 by his nephew. Also mentions Congress moving to New Jersey. The letter is in very poor condition from severe mold damage (inactive).
GLC00652
8 October 1782
Written by Lieutenant Colonel Carrington, quartermaster to Nathanael Greene's Southern army, to Major General Knox. Makes reference to Congressional military appointments. Expresses anger at some Congressional decisions involving himself, saying "I...
GLC02437.01652
17 October 1782
Brooks, John, 1752-1825
Written by Colonel Brooks to Major General Knox. Says he had a long conference with a Massachusetts legislative committee on half-pay pensions for the state's officers. Says they finally agreed to report "a state of facts," but did so without...
GLC02437.01671
[Certificate for Andrew Billings Esq. for engravings for two pieces of cannon]
December 16, 1782
Written and signed for Knox by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Writes, "This is to certify that, in consequence of orders from His Excellency the Commander in Chief, Andrew Billings Esq. has engraved certain devices upon two pieces of cannon...
GLC02437.01746
December 28, 1782
Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806
Sarcastic letter written by Major General Gates to Major General Knox. Says "Chess is intirely at a Stand here; I have many challenges, but no Troops to Act; when a convenient Opportunity Offers, I shall be Obliged to you for the peices that are...
GLC02437.01764
to Andrew Billings
24 September 1782
Asks Billings to engrave inscriptions on certain cannon as directed by Congress to be presented to the Count de Rochambeau. "As this is a matter in which the Reputation for Arts in the United States is in some degree concerned," instructs Billings...
GLC02437.10046
14 December 1782
Discusses cannon Major Billings recently engraved. Remarks that he has received news that Billings did a good job engraving the cannons. Gives Billings instructions regarding delivery and billing of the cannon.
GLC02437.10068
March 22, 1783
Livingston, Robert L., 1746-1813
Written in the hand of Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., Washington's Secretary. Marked as a copy of a letter from Secretary of Foreign Affairs Livingston to General Washington. Docket in Knox's hand. Sends "the agreeable Intelligence of Peace, upon which I...
GLC02437.02018
February 12, 1783
McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786
Written by General McDougall, but signed anonymously as "Brutus" to Major General Knox. McDougall reports that he seems to be making progress in lobbying Congress for funding for half-pay pensions for the officers. Says that since the Committee of...
GLC02437.01912
February 27, 1783
Written by General McDougall under the alias "Brutus" to Major General Knox, lamenting Congress's refusal to pay the army and fund pensions for the officers. Says the motion was declined by Congress "for fear the States would consider it a design in...
GLC02437.01959
to the Officers of the Army [The Newburgh Conspiracy]
10 March 1783
Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, this is Henry Knox's copy, and is docketed by Knox. An anonymous address to the officers of the Army, along with a call for a general meeting of officers. This particular copy was sent to the officers at West...
GLC02437.01994
General Knox in account with Samuel Shaw [expense booklet]
14 May 1782-12 December 1783
Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794
Signed in text by Shaw. Lists expenses incurred dating from 14 May 1782 to 12 December 1783. Expenses and payments received include food, spirits, household items and services, payment to the commander-in-chief's bargemen, a loan to Baron von...
GLC02437.02826
23 December 1783
Asks Billings to engrave two pieces of cannon for Congress. Says the cannon is to be presented to General Nathanael Greene. See GLC02437.02861 for Billings response to Knox's request.
GLC02437.02852
[List of states and corresponding Continental Congressman]
circa 1783
Lists Congressmens' last names. Includes Samuel Osgood (Massachusetts), John Collins (Rhode Island), Phillips White (New Hampshire), Oliver Wolcott (Connecticut), Alexander Hamilton (New York), Silas Condict (New Jersey), Richard Peters, Jr....
GLC02437.02888
9 April 1783
Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804
A copy, in the hand of Washington's secretary David Cobb, of the letter Hamilton wrote as a Continental Congressman from New York to General Washington. Hamilton was writing in his capacity as a chairman of a committee (other members included Madison...
GLC02437.02078
25 June 1783
Written by General Knox to General Washington. Says that Sprout's regiment of Paterson's brigade with two artillery pieces will be in Stony Point and that they will commence their march from there in the morning. Reports that part of Paterson's...
GLC02437.02185
29 June 1783
Informs General Washington that 250 men of the 3rd Massachusetts will not be ready to march until the afternoon due to lack of essential articles for their march. Reports that the regiment is without their compliment of field officers and Colonels...
GLC02437.02202
to Chevalier [Francois Jean] de Chastellux
16 June 1783
Discusses the character of the people of the new nation and hopes that the central government will be strong to prevent anarchy.
GLC02437.02165
[Receipt for shoes]
26 June 1783
Campbell, John, fl. 1782-1783
Receipt for three hundred pairs of shoes from Morris Carl for troops marching towards Philadelphia.
GLC02437.02189
to Henry Jackson
February 14, 1784
Carleton signs as "executing the business of the War Department by authority from Congress." Requests information regarding returns of engineers who remain in service. Reports that the remaining engineers were assured by George Washington that "...
GLC02437.02954
February 21, 1784
Knox reflects on the Revolutionary War: "Your calm retreat to Mount Vernon must be a source of ineffable delight to you. You can from there take a retrospective view of the critical exigencies of the War, and see a thousand ways by which the issue...
GLC02437.02960
24 May 1784
Expresses his mortification at arriving in Annapolis the day Washington left. Reports that "...all the necessary business will not be finished before Congress adjourns." Discusses a matter pertaining to the recommendation "of the Gentlemen of...
GLC02437.03004
26 July 1784
Responds to a 2 June 1784 letter from Washington. Discusses a recent Congressional order requiring Frederick Haldimand, Governor of the Province of Quebec, to give the United States information as to when British troops will completely evacuate...
GLC02437.03031
to George Washington [incomplete]
January 21, 1785
Comments on a recent trip Washington took to his western lands. Expresses relief that Washington did not travel as far west as he originally planned due to "the indians being in a bad temper." Referring to settlers on Washington's lands, writes...
GLC02437.03087
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