21 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Thanks her for writing and remarks that "Religion and virtue dictated every line" of her last letter. Discusses death from a religious perspective. Informs Lucy that this letter will be delivered by Elbridge Gerry, a member of the Continental Congress from Massachusetts, and asks her to be as civil towards him as her circumstances will allow. Notes that Gerry will tell her about General Charles Lee's recent victory over the British at Fort Moultrie in Charleston (28 June 1776), South Carolina, and Knox provides some details about the battle. Briefly mentions the unsuccessful attempt of an…

GLC02437.00387

1863/5/10

Elwell, D. B., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Friend Furm

Letting his old tentmate know what has happened to him.

GLC04189.42

11 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Responds to Lucy's most recent letter (see GLC02437.00364), discussing her hasty departure from New York. Henry is upset by her distress. He reiterates that he did not want her in New York before something decisive occurred in the war. In response to her complaint that Nathanael Greene's wife returned to New York, he explains that General Greene did not want her there for the same reasons and had just sent her to Newark and she will later go to either Fairfield or Providence. Comments that if Mrs. Pollard comes to New York, she will distract her husband Jonathan Pollard, Knox's quarter…

GLC02437.00369

11 July 1776

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses Scottish (Highlanders) attempts to "purchase Conquer'd Lands." Describes Scottish prisoners as saucy because they call the country people rebels and say they will later be able to sieze their farms. Explains news that Colonel Archibald Campbell, a British officer from Scotland who was then a prisoner, suspiciously purchased a rifle dress. Jackson holds Campbell in a high esteem. Comments on the ships whose recent capture was decribed in an earlier letter (see GLC02437.00343). Says that one of the ships will be refitted and sailed to England "to see if she cant take some East…

GLC02437.00370

13 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Henry is upset that Lucy is taking others advice over his and reiterates his recommendation for her to go to Fairfield or New Haven immediately. Mentions various people going to New Haven who Lucy could meet up with. Discusses the British attack of New York the previous day. Knox lost six men in an accident, which he casts as a learning experience for the others, who will learn "to moderate their fiery courage." After the attack the British ships sailed north to Tappan Bay, near Tarrytown New York. Knox will send Lucy's clothes to New Haven, where he hopes she will go. He reaffirms his…

GLC02437.00372

14 July 1776 - 17 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Supply list for officers in Henry Knox's artillery regiment]

Also signed by William Eustis, John Howard, Garret Van Wagner, Thomas Hanley, Isaiah Audebert, William Dana, David Briant, William Treadwell, Abiel Leonard, and John Crane. Notes supplies, money, and artillery received by officers from Jonathan Pollard, the quartermaster of Knox's artillery regiment.

GLC02437.00373

14 July 1776 - 15 July 1776

Sprague, Samuel, 1712-1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Supply list for officers in Henry Knox's artillery regiment]

Also signed by Remember Preston. Notes supplies received by officers from Jonathan Pollard, the quartermaster of Knox's artillery regiment.

GLC02437.00374

15 July 1776

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Wants Knox to write more frequently to keep him updated on activities in New York. Remarks that "at Last the grand Question of Independence is determined and I hope every true American will support it with his Life and Fortune." Comments on smallpox afflicting the Continental troops and the lack of news about the privateer he discussed in his previous letter (GLC02437.00370). Date of 15 July 1776 from docket. Header of letter only dated July 1776.

GLC02437.00376

15 July 1776

Bradlee, David, 1742-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Indicates that William Knox paid him for three months serve as quartermaster in Knox's regiment and request the balance owed be either payed to him or given to Isaiah Audebert. Audebert was a captain serving under Thomas Craft in Knox's artillery regiment.

GLC02437.00377

16 July 1776

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that the British approach necessitates a change in location for casting brass cannons and indicates that an air furnace will be set up in Pennsylvania. Congress will still offer to employ Mr. Byers for the job if it can be done at a reasonable cost. Inquires if brass cannons can be cast without sea coal and expresses concerns about the weight of the cannons to be cast. Reports that Congress has written Byers a letter and urges Knox to send it to him and have him reply expeditiously. Mentions that Knox has new visitors and asks him to "treat them in a very polite manner,"…

GLC02437.00379

18 July 1776

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Henry for taking the time to write her "amidst the hurry of public business," referring to the revolutionary war activities in New York. Explains her travel plans, which will bring her to New Haven, Connecticut. Discusses their child's development, including mention of her beginning to talk, and prays that Henry will survive to take care of them. Discusses her reaction to a recent letter from William Knox that included news about her family and explains that she wants to send for her mother (see GLC002437.00368). Seeks a boy recently discharged from the army as a new servant since…

GLC02437.00381

18 July 1776

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Remarks on Henry's talent for burlesquing William's writing. Expresses sympathy for Lucy's situation, in which she has to stay in Connecticut away from Henry. Offers to leave the bookstore in someone's care and go to Fairfield to bring Lucy back to Boston. Mentions that the Declaration of Independence will be read in Boston on the day of this letter's writing. Remarks that he heard the British sailed up the Hudson, which they did on 12 July 1776, and conjectures "it to be by way of experiment." Mentions that Captain Harry Johnson came in from Halifax. Also mentions that two persons were…

GLC02437.00383

18 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Indicates that this letter will be delivered by Mrs. Jonathan Pollard, who will bring other supplies with her. Apologizes for taking a harsh tone with Lucy in letters written earlier in the month. Expresses his desire for frequent communication with her. Criticizes Mrs. Jonathan Pollard for worrying about things that are out of her control. Showing his religious beliefs, Knox thinks such an unhappy person has not "drank of the streams of virtue and piety." Knox believes that unforeseen misfortunes in life and war should be weathered with "Fortitude and patience." Reaffirms his love for…

GLC02437.00384

22 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Asks his brother to write to Lucy Knox more often. Gives various directions for business affairs. Asks about the smallpox going around in Massachusetts. Discusses General Charles Lee's recent victory over the British at Fort Moultrie in Charleston, South Carolina, and the naval engagements near Sullivan's Island. Quotes at length from a letter written by General Lee.

GLC02437.00386

23 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Indicates that he is sending an indentured servant, Thomas Eliot, to her as she requested and he earlier mentioned (see GLC02437.00383 and GLC02437.00385). Heard that Lucy fell down some stairs and was worried. Remarks that the British have not acted and are possibly awaiting reinforcements. Mentions that the smallpox going around lacked virulence and he wished she had received it (in order to be inoculated). In response to Lucy's question, indicates that Mrs. Airey did not offend him, but did engage in duplicitious conduct, which he hates.

GLC02437.00389

24 July 1776

Dana, William, 1745-1809

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Captain William Dana's account for May, 1776]

Account of officer pay and bounties. Dana was a captain in Henry Knox's artillery regiment.

GLC02437.00390

24 July 1776 - 2 October 1776

Perkins, William, 1742-1802

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Supply list for officers in Henry Knox's artillery regiment]

Also signed by Fred Botticher, Florence Crowley, Samuel Sprague, Dimond Morton, Daniel Hodges, Daniel Preston, Jotham Horton, Samuel Shaw, and Jeremiah Freeman. Notes supplies received by officers from Jonathan Pollard, the quartermaster of Knox's artillery regiment.

GLC02437.00391

24 July 1776

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a British ship that was captured near an American fort at Nantasket, Massachusetts. The vessel had come from Ireland to support General William Howe's army and had mistakenly thought the British were still in Boston. Tells a detailed story about how the Committee of Correspondence and Safety ordered every man between sixteen and sixty to gather with full military accoutrements and drafted thirty-two of them to join the invasion of Canada. Many men ran away but the draft was eventually made by offering larger bounties. The debacle caused some to call for the removal of John Brown…

GLC02437.00392

1863/1/3

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

He has an opportunity to join the regular army for the balance of his three years of service. He will get a $2500 bounty, double the pay and will be able to work in a blacksmith's shop. He is ill.

GLC04189.22

1863/1/10

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and children

The army is still in the same location and is in a state of suspense concerning what will happen next. General Burnside announced a Grand Review which was canceled due to rain. One man in the regiment contracted small pox. The doctors isolated him in the woods where he died and was buried.

GLC04189.23

1863/1/18

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and children

The regiment has orders to cross the Rappahannock and attack Fredericksburg. Smith describes details of the attack plan. He also mentions a review of the Second Corps by General Ambrose Burnside and provides a description of the general.

GLC04189.24

1863/1/30

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and children

Rain and mud foiled the attack on Fredericksburg. The pontoons and artillery became stuck in the mud. Confederate soldiers taunted the stranded union soldiers by offering to help build the pontoon bridge, if the federals could get the pontoons to the river. A snow storm has left fifteen inches of snow on top of the already deep mud. Generals Burnside, Franklin, and Sumner have resigned and General Hooker is now in command of the army. There is much sickness in the regiment.

GLC04189.25

1863/2/4

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C. Carroll Smith

The snow has melted but the weather remains bitterly cold. He reiterates the changes in command discussed in the previous letter. Also mentions losses to his unit and the 72 PA. The latter has only 300 men on active service out of the 1,880 who enlisted nineteen months ago.

GLC04189.26

1863/2/8

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

The army has begun to issue furloughs. The mud is still extremely deep. He discusses the children's health and whether or not they should attend school. He speculates on Hooker's plans for the army. "Joe Hooker will do One of 3 things he will eather [sic] take us out of Virginia or else we shall advance toward Richmond & if we advance we shall give the Rebels the damdest licking they ever had or they will us & I am afraid it will be us that will get it."

GLC04189.27

1863/2/12

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

The army has begun to move out via the railroad to Acquia Creek. His regiment is still on picket duty and must keep the Rebels from noticing the movement of the rest of the army. General Hooker feeds the army better than Burnside did.

GLC04189.28