circa 29 August 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [draft of a letter to George Washington regarding possible British troop movements from Detroit]

This appears to be a preliminary draft of Knox's 29 August 1790 letter to George Washington (in the GW Papers at the Library of Congress) responding to Washington's secret communication of 27 August. In that communication, sent to the members of his Cabinet, Washington asked for opinions as to the proper response to take if the British asked for permission to travel across U.S. territory, from Detroit to the Mississippi, in order to attack Spanish posts. See 02437.08217 for Knox's first draft. See also GLC02437.04709 and GLC02437.08216 for related drafts.

GLC02437.09449

10 April 1782

Yellis, Gilbert, fl. 1782

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Certificate of election]

Certificate of election enclosed with letter from John Taylor to William Livingston (GLC01412.64.12.01), signed by Yellis Gilbert, the Clerk of Artillery, and dated 10 April 1782. Gilbert certifies that Lupp was elected captain and Nessis was elected lieutenant. See previous record.

GLC01412.64.12.02

18 August 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Frothingham

Writes, "In the return of persons in the department of military stores in the field which you made on the 6th instant, no mention is made of Mr. Marshall as being in the service. He says that you have discharged him from your books, from the 10th March last, and that yesterday was the first time of his being notified of it. Notwithstanding his having been employed under Mr. [John] Ruddock since that period to the present. The General desires to know the reasons which occasioned the dismissal of Mr. Marshall in this manner, and that you will make inquiry of Mr. Ruddock to know whether he…

GLC02437.01530

23 August 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to James Giles

Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp; he has also signed for Knox. Certifies that Mr. James Giles was employed as a conductor of military stores from December 1776 until September 1778, when he was offered a position in the corps of artillery. Verifies that his pay as conductor was 30 dollars per month until February 1778, when, by a resolve of Congress, it was raised to 40 dollars per month.

GLC02437.01536

27 August 1782

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Marked "copy." Written from the "Office of Finance." Addressee inferred because letter is addressed to "Secretary at War," a post occupied in 1782 by Benjamin Lincoln. Writes, "I have received your letter of the nineteenth of August, and would have answered it more speedily could I have answered it satisfactorily. I must now inform you that I cannot undertake to pay the sums you mention for the purchase of shells without diverting money from services which are indispensable. Many such services are now suffering." Written in the hand of William Jackson, Lincoln's assistant. Signer of…

GLC02437.01542

29 August 1782

Paterson, John, 1744-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: Garrison orders

Writes, "The officers of the Second Regiment of Artillery and Corps of Sappers and Miners in this Garrison are to form a Garrison Court Martial for the tryal of Philip Francis of [illegible] Regiment & Peggy Martin - Captain Moody [possibly Andrew Moodie] President three officers from the second Regt one from the Corps of Sappers & Miners are to for the Court." Signed as brigadier general. See GLC02437.10041 for a report of the trial.

GLC02437.01548

31 August 1782

Marshall, Samuel B., fl. 1782

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of provisions and stores on hand in the magazine at West Point

Return, addressed to Knox, lists items like beef, pork, flour, and soap, and their quantities.

GLC02437.01555

1 September 1782

Townsend, David, 1753-1829

Autograph document signed

Title: [Report on Charles McCormick]

Writes, "The bearer Charles McCormick of Col. Hazen's Regt. now in Provost has the venereal disease which daily increases in malignity, and will continue to grow worse upon him while he remains in his present situation, where he cannot have the necessary remedies administered for his complaints." Signed by a Dr. [probably David] Townsend, Hospital Surgeon.

GLC02437.01557

1 September 1782

Manuscript document

Title: Returns of the suttlers names, in the garrison of West Point, & by whome licensed

Lists the names of sutlers, or merchants who sold food and drink to troops, and lists who licensed them. Sutlers include Simon Richards, William Foot, James McMasters, Asa Spauldin, Samuel Warrin, Roger Magrath Gatsey, Mrs. Current, John Andrews, William Adams, Aaron Thompson, Able Boyington-Dunlap, Ezra Eaton, John Sullivan, and Mr. England. Licensing authorities include Generals [Alexander] McDougal, [William] Heath and [John] Paterson, and Colonels [John] Crane and Shephard [possibly William Shepard].

GLC02437.01561

2 September 1782

Starr, Thomas, fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elnathan Haskell

Likely written by Lieutenant Thomas Starr of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment. Says that the Sergeants Guard, which has been under his command, has arrived. Asks Captain Haskell whether he should remain with them "here" (possibly West Point) or join his regiment at Verplanks Point.

GLC02437.01565

5 September 1782

Hand, Edward, 1744-1802

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Camp Verplanks Point, present-day Verplanck, New York. Writes, "Captain Reiley [possibly John Reily] of the Invalid regiment tried the 30th ultimo by the General Court martial of which Colo. M [possibly Michael] Jackson is president is acquitted and released from his arrest. The Invalid regiment will furnish a Captain to Sit as Member of the General Court martial of which Colo. M. Jackson is president vice Captain Story of the 8 Massa. regiment indisposed. Extract from General Orders." May be the extract of orders referred to in GLC02437.01579.

GLC02437.01580

6 September 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Hand

Writes, "The bearers will deliver you the return from the artillery, which with the enclosed, completes the returns of the corps in this garrison for the last month. Gen. [Henry] Knox has directed me to transmit you the report of a court of inquiry on LC Barber (of [Colonel John] Crane's) for exceeding the limits of his furlough. As Mr. Barber's absence was published in General [William] Heath's orders for the department, he wishes that his acquittal may, if you have no objection, be inserted in General Orders, that the one may be as generally known in the army as the other." (See GLC02437…

GLC02437.01584

7 September 1782-8 September 1782

Hand, Edward, 1744-1802

Autograph document signed

Title: [General orders]

Written from Head Quarters Verplanks Point, present-day Verplanck, New York. "Public" is written above the address. Includes "Extracts from Genl. Orders" for two days, 7 and 8 September. The extract from 7 September states, "Lieutenant Osgood Carleton of the Invalid Regiment is appointed Quarter Master to the same vice Lieutenant [William] Honeyman who assigns that office." The extract from 8 September states, "A court of enquiry of which Colonel [Benjamin] Tupper was President sat at West Point by a Garrison order of the 4th instant to enquire into the sufficiency of the reasons alledged…

GLC02437.01587

7 September 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Hand

Writes, "General [Henry] Knox transmitted the report of the Court of Inquiry on LC Barber, as well for his Excellency's decision as for its being published to the army; he not thinking himself authorized to decide in this case it having been designated by Genl [William] Heath, then commanding in the Department."

GLC02437.01590

9 September 1782

Tilghman, Tench, 1744-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Shaw

Written from "Head Quarters." Writes, "I would ever wish to pay proper attention to the business of Ladies, but without I am acquainted with the Resolve of the 6 July 1779 in [favor?] of Mrs. [Margaret] Corbin, I cannot tell what it is she wants - We have not the Resolves of that date with us." See GLC02437.01591, GLC02437.01595, and GLC02437.01611 for related information.

GLC02437.01591

10 September 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tench Tilghman

Writes that it is not in his power to send him Congress's resolve of 6 July 1779, concerning Margaret Corbin. Explains that her case is "peculiar": "Her husband and son killed and herself wounded in the services, were misfortunes of so aggravated as justly rendered her worthy of public attention." Congress has provided her with "a complete ration per day, and half pay for life," which Colonel [Lewis] Nicola helped her apply for, but she has received very little of the rations and pay she deserves. Explains that "[h]er present application is in consequence of the rum or whiskey which…

GLC02437.01595

11 September 1782

Tilghman, Tench, 1744-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Shaw

Writes, "It appears clearly to me that the order forbidding the issue of Rum to Women does not extend to Mrs. [Margaret] Corbin - Granting provision at all, to Women who are followers of the Army, is altogether matter of courtesy, and therefore the commanding General may allow them such a Ration as he thinks proper - But Mrs. Corbin is a pensioner of Congress, and therefore, upon procuring the Resolve made in her favor - Genl. [Henry] Knox, as commandant, may direct the Contractor to commute her Retained Rations of liquor - perhaps it would not be prudent to give them to her all in liquor -…

GLC02437.01597

12 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Permission to Captain Gilliland to act as volunteer]

Date added later in pencil. Grants permission for Captain Gilliland, formerly of the Corps of Sappers and Miners, to act as a volunteer in the Artillery. Writes that he is persuaded of Captain Gilliland's good conduct in several instances.

GLC02437.01600

12 September 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript document

Title: [Copy of letter to John Jacob Faesch directed to Henry Knox]

Written from the War Office. Marked "copy." Addressee on verso is Henry Knox, but letter is apparently a copy of one Lincoln wrote to John Jacob Faesch, a metalworker in the army's employ, which he forwarded to Knox. Writes, "I have been honor'd with your Letter of the 8th Instant - the terms you offer to cast the shells upon are generous, and discover a Laudable zeal to serve the public, but under the present state of our finances - I dare not engage - Money is not to be had, and I am unwilling you should be disciev'd. Shall therefore give up further thoughts of the Contract for this…

GLC02437.01605

13 September 1782

Price, William, ?-1790

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of stores damaged on board the schooner Swallow

Lists items damaged, including 6-pounders, rockets, tubes, etc.

GLC02437.01606

14 September 1782

Patten, Thomas, fl. 1777-1785

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of the present state of Capt Thos Patten's company of artillery artificers under the command of Major General Knox

List of number of company members sorted by rank and occupation (carpenters, shoemakers, goldsmiths, etc.). Records number on command, sick present, sick absent, and fit for duty.

GLC02437.01610

18 September 1782

Stevens, Ebenezer, 1751-1823

Manuscript document signed

Title: A return of brass ordnances ammunition waggons & tumbrils come from Philadelphia

Lists brass ordnance ammunition, including wagons and tumbrils, and specifies the number of mortars and six pounders. A postscript lists additional artillery from Albany, New York.

GLC02437.01620

28 September 1782

Alexander, William, 1726-1783

Autograph document

Title: [Return of four sloops and cargoes sent to West Point]

Lord Stirling [William Alexander] writes, "four Sloops loaded and Sailed for West point, with the building of the Laboratory and fourteen peices of Cannon and two Broken peices. The Sloops are Commanded by Captains Edward S Willet[,] Barent Van Allen[,] John Vernon[,] [and] Garrit Rykeman." Originally accompanied with GLC02437.01631.

GLC02437.01630

1 October 1782

Patten, Thomas, fl. 1777-1785

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of boards, & nails wanting for stores, shops & barracks at West Point

Marked "copy." List of items needed at West Point. Signed by T[homas] Patten, Captain of Artillery Artificers, and H[enry] Knox, Major General and Commanding officer of West Point. Addressed to Colonel [Timothy] Pickering, Quartermaster General.

GLC02437.01634

4 October 1782

Simonds, J., fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Request to Samuel Shaw from Captain J. Simonds, and Samuel Shaw's reply]

Written by a Captain J. Simonds, possibly James or Jonas (both were apparently members of the 4th Continental Artillery). Document contains a letter to Samuel Shaw from Captain Simonds, dated 4 October, as well as Shaw's autograph signed reply, dated 9 November, from West Point, New York. Simonds mentions that he understands "the officers are to Continue in service from the oldest agreable to the Proportion of men, if so I now stand the fifth in our Regiment. And believe we shall not be able to muster more than four companys compleat, In consequence of which I expect I must go." Comments…

GLC02437.01641