13 June 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Explains an issue with Major Pierre L'Enfant and the Society of Cincinnati. Major L'Enfant was sent to France to present Eagles to the French members of the society, at the society's expense. Was granted a sum of money for the purpose, but in his zeal to serve the society, he had more than 100 extra Eagles cast by the artist there, Mr. Francastle (goldsmith Nicolas-Jean Francastel). When he returned to America, he found that the society could not reimburse the extra expense, and the Eagles were not selling. The debt could ruin the Major, and Knox is concerned for him, as well as for the…

GLC02437.03273

23 October 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

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 can be difficult, and he has been traveling to and from Massachusetts on both public and private business, which has prevented him from writing. Argues that the political system currently in place is inadequate: "The powers of Congress are utterly inadequate to preserve the balance between the respective States, and oblige them to do those things…

GLC02437.03319

14 November 1786

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Manuscript letter

Title: to George Washington

Extract of a letter in the hand of Tobias Lear, secretary to George Washington. Explains that he proof-read entries from the "Encyclopedie Methodique" on the "Etats unis" and the "Cincinnati," and gave corrections to the author. Also gave the article on the Cincinnati to Colonel [David] Humphreys and the Marquis de Lafayette to get their corrections, and encloses it for General Washington to read. Discusses the Society of the Cincinnati: "I have never heard a person in Europe, learned, or unlearned, express his thoughts upon this institution, who did not consider it as dishonorable &…

GLC02437.03338

25 August 1784

Carleton, Joseph, 1754-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Carleton, Secretary at War, writes from the War Office, possibly located in Annapolis, Maryland with Congress. Reports on the settlement of Major Job Sumner's case. Relates that troops from Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania will be equipped as a result of the continued presence of British troops at forts on the northern frontier of the United States. Notes that New York will most likely raise its quota of troops "as soon as the Harvest is completed." "Free" stamped and "on public service" written on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.03045

9 October 1784

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Manuscript document signed

Title: Monthly return of a corps of artillery commanded by Capt John Doughty

Lists officers present fit for duty, on command, sick present, and on duty. Title includes a note indicating that Doughty is a major by brevet.

GLC02437.03055

30 October 1784

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Autograph document signed

Title: Monthly return of the corps of artillery in the service of the United States of America

Lists officers present fit for duty, sick present, absent with leave, on duty, and on command. Indicates that Doughty is a major by brevet. Location inferred.

GLC02437.03064

12 April 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Captain Callahan

Discusses Callahan's obtainment of artificers, or craftsmen. Makes arrangements for Daniel Vose to pay Callahan in Knox's absence for the artificers' passage.

GLC02437.03125

25 April 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Clement] Biddle

Replies to a letter from Biddle. Writes, "the news of your misfortunes deeply afflicted me..." Does not know precisely what business he will oversee as Secretary at War, but promises that if an opportunity arises, he will appoint Biddle to work in the War Office under his direction.

GLC02437.03131

14 May 1785

Brenton, S. Cooke, fl. 1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Relates that he was able to safely deliver a packet from Knox to Mrs. Greene (possibly Catherine Littlefield Greene, wife of Nathanael Greene). Sends his regards to Major Sargent, possibly Winthrop Sargent. Plans to travel to Martinico (Martinique), and asks Knox to bear in mind an unspecified consulship.

GLC02437.03145

25 May 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Carleton

Knox, recently appointed Secretary at War, makes arrangements with Carleton, acting Secretary at War, to transmit pay and commissions to Major Wyllis (possibly John P. Wyllis) and his men.

GLC02437.03149

31 May 1785

Carleton, Joseph, 1754-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Carleton, acting Secretary at War, writes to Knox, recently elected Secretary at War. Relates that John Dickinson, President of Pennsylvania, informed him that Pennsylvania's quota of troops cannot be raised until the meeting of the General Assembly on 25 August 1785. Also reports that Matthew Griswold, Governor of Connecticut, forwarded the names of officers appointed to command Connecticut troops. Further discusses raising and providing clothing for troops. In a postscript notes that "the Commissioners for Indian Affairs will not be ready to move to the Southward before the middle of…

GLC02437.03150

9 June 1785

Bryant, John, 1742-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Captain Bryant, Deputy Commissary of Military Stores at the Springfield Armory, encloses a plan of the buildings belonging to the United States at the Springfield Armory. Discusses construction and repairs taking place there. See GLC02437.08362 for one of the enclosures, a cost estimate for building a brick wall for a magazine.

GLC02437.03152

12 June 1785

Carleton, Joseph, 1754-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Carleton, previous acting Secretary at War, discusses military matters with Knox, recently appointed Secretary at War (Carleton is handling business from the War Office in Knox's absence). Discusses the pay and rank of several officers, the disbandment of troops at Fort Pitt, and the proposed reduction of artillery pay. Writes, "the recruiting business here goes on slowly - from this circumstance as well as some others, there is too much reason to apprehend that the time of holding the Southern Frontiers will be unavoidably procrastinated."

GLC02437.03154

27 June 1785

Chastellux, François Jean, marquis de, 1734-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

General Chastellux (signed Chastelleaux) requests that Knox admit a French doctor who served in the Revolutionary War to the Society of the Cincinnati. Writes, "... you remember very well dear general, that after the siege of york you left behind a great number of sicks and that an american hospital was settled at Williamsburg... no american physician attended there, and doctor coste only took care of those soldiers, for the whole winter." Notes that the Marquis de Lafayette supports Coste's acceptance into the Society. Also mentions that Coste saved Chastellux's life.

GLC02437.03160

1 July 1785

Avery, John, 1739-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Avery, Secretary of the State of Massachusetts, informs Knox that Governor Thomas Cushing has requested that several cannon at West Point be returned to Massachusetts.

GLC02437.03162

25 July 1785

Ashton, Joseph, fl. 1779-1785

Manuscript document

Title: [Return of military stores at Fort Pitt]

Marked as a copy. Includes the [copied?] signature of Joseph Ashton, Lieutenant of Artillery Commanding at Fort Pitt. Lists carriages, howitzers, carbines, rifles, horse shoes, and other stores.

GLC02437.03168

2 September 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Broome & Platt

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's former aide-de-camp. Writes that Mr. James Webber, who is a close friend of his brother William Knox and had taken care of William while in London, has enclosed to him a note from Broome and Platt drawn on "Warburton and Randall of London, who have become bankrupt." Needs to receive payment from them, so is sending his good friend Samuel Shaw to meet with them. Asks that they either provide payment with interest, or arrange with Shaw to pay it back in a short time. Writes that he does not like to be in this position,…

GLC02437.03181

6 September 1785

Broome & Platt (firm), fl. 1785

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Henry Knox

The firm of Broome & Platt certifies that it is in debt to Messrs. Webber Addington & Birhnall of London for approximately 600 pounds. Document arranges terms of repayment, including paying the equivalent amount in dry goods within a two-week period to General Knox, the ultimate beneficiary. (According to GLC02437.03181, Broome & Platt had made a payment to James Webber, who was apparently handling business for Henry Knox and his brother, William, during William's illness, but the note with which they paid was drawn on a firm that had gone bankrupt.)

GLC02437.03182

10 September 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Broome & Platt

Discusses the details of his financial arrangements with the firm of Broome & Platt. Explains that he appreciates the candor with which they explained their financial distress to Samuel Shaw, Knox's representative at their meeting. Does have concerns about an arrangement they made regarding delivery of the goods they are using to pay Knox. Hopes they can make a better plan, in order to satisfy the other firm involved, Webber, Addington, & Birhnall. Adds that Mr. [James] Webber is a very honorable man, and explains how generous he was in caring for Knox's brother William during…

GLC02437.03191

27 September 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Francois Jean, marquis de Chastellux

Writes to Chastellux on a variety of topics. Explains the concept of the Society of the Cincinnati, assuring him that the Society is "harmless in its intention, and having only for its real object, the perpetuation of friendship, and recollection of past urgencies." Describes a past meeting, in Philadelphia, and declares that the Society will not meet again until 1797. Also discusses their political intelligence regarding England, and the prospects for trade and commerce with Europe after the war.

GLC02437.03203

7 October 1785

Carleton, Joseph, 1754-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

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 appears to be responsible. Asks for Knox's response by Sunday's post. Listed as "Public Service" above address.

GLC02437.03207

1 November 1785

Carleton, Joseph, 1754-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

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 been pleased to show me since you came into office- my not seeing you has caused me an uneasy sensation which I am well aware would have been felt at parting- I beg you to be assured of my best regards." Sends his regards to Mrs. Lucy Knox.

GLC02437.03209

29 November 1785

Biddle, Clement, 1740-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks him for his recent correspondence and for the "western" contract Samuel Shaw sent him. Will be glad to know when a new contract is ready. Thanks him for attending to his accounts of rations that he furnished Captain [likely David] Zeigler, as well as for procuring him money for the rations. Mentions that his "commercial friends" wanted him to ask Knox about problems with the "Algerines," or pirates. Wishes to know whether Congress has passed any measures regarding the pirates. Mentions that some friends of his own a frigate which they would be willing to donate to Congress for use…

GLC02437.03221

6 December 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clement Biddle

Writes in response to Biddle's letter of 29 November (see GLC02437.03221). Comments that he feels Congress has done everything in its power to handle the Algerine [pirate] situation, so he does not think it necessary for them to obtain any frigates to send out on the sea. Also discusses the places at which provisions will be issued on the Ohio [likely the Ohio River]. Hopes Biddle will attempt to win the contract to issue the rations, and will contact him again when he has more information.

GLC02437.03223

25 December 1785

Brooks, John, 1752-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

John Brooks, a member of the Massachusetts General Court, writes to Knox on a wide variety of political subjects. Discusses the Society of the Cincinnati, land grants to common people, redress of grievances of the public, and the passage of a treason act. Also reports the opinion of their mutual friend Putnam [perhaps General Rufus Putnam] on these subjects. Lastly, he and his wife send their regards to Mrs. Lucy Knox. A small piece of the page was torn away but has been retained with the document.

GLC02437.03227