25 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Ruddock and John Crane

Top of the document features a list of items needed to repair or supply military stores, such as paper for cartridges. Below that is a short note to Colonel John Crane, asking that he provide or procure the above articles for Captain Thomas Seward. Underneath that is a letter to John Ruddock, Commissary at Fishkill, asking him to provide Seward with a variety of supplies, including musket balls and powder papers. Also asks Ruddock to prepare a return of all the stores in the northern department. See GLC02437.01502 for a related letter.

GLC02437.01503

4 September 1782

Rickey, James, fl. 1782

Autograph document signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Petition of James Rickey, formerly of Cherry Valley, New York in Tyron County, stating that he lost his house, trade goods, his "negro," and household furniture "due to the 'depredations and crulty of the Enemy.'" Says "he is reduced from a state of Affleuence to a state of Necessity being obliged to quit the frontiers with his family to seek subsistence in a more peaceable Quarter." Asks for the privilege to settle in the garrison to partner with a Mr. Thompson, who obtained permission from the former Commandant, General Paterson. Says he wants to built a house and sell liquor. Claims to…

GLC02437.01572

4 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Ruddock

Mentions that a temporary magazine on a redoubt on Constitution Island (near West Point, New York), which is being prepared to house the powder from Fishkill, will be ready in three to four days. Asks that the powder from Newburgh be recovered first. Requests that he appeal to Colonel [Hugh] Hughes [Deputy Quartermaster General for New York State] for teams to transport it.

GLC02437.01575

10 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Ruddock

Informs Ruddock that Congress has changed the structure of the Department of Military Stores. Outlines the number of commissaries, deputies, and conductors, and explains their locations. Also relates the pay and benefits associated with each position. Asks if Ruddock will agree to be appointed as deputy of West Point, adding "I hope you may as I have much confidence in your integrity and knowledge of yr business." Also asks him to send a return of all cartridges he has received since the first of last March.

GLC02437.01594

11 September 1782

Ruddock, John, fl. 1779-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a recent efforts to acquire Borax. Declares that he will replace what he has gathered as soon as a Doctor Langhorne returns from Philadelphia with a new supply. States that if he is unable to pay him with money, he will try to trade for them with musket cartridges. Also mentions that a Doctor [possibly Charles] McKnight provided all he had. "Public service" written on address leaf.

GLC02437.01596

12 September 1782

Ruddock, John, fl. 1779-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to accept the offer proposed by General [Henry] Knox in his last letter. Declares that he is under great "obligation to the Genl for his favourable opinion of my integrity, I shall ever do my Best Endeavors for the public good and the Genl's approbation." (See GLC02437.01594, in which Knox offers Ruddock the position of deputy commissary of West Point.) Adds in a note that he has enclosed the return of musket cartridges that Knox asked for in his letter, and writes that "with Respect to the powder the Coopers are at work upon it will be ready in a day or two."

GLC02437.01601

circa 1770-1806

Rogers, Daniel Denison, 1751-1825

Autograph note signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Forwards a document (not included) to Knox.

GLC02437.08112

24 October 1782

Rostaing, Juste-Antoine-Henri-Marie-Germaine, marquis de, 1740-1826

Letter

Title: to Henry Knox [in French]

Docket, in English, notes "From the Marquis Rostaing acknowledging the receipt of two mortars taken in the enemy redoubts at York Town in Virginia... "

GLC02437.09556

24 August 1781

Richards, William, fl. 1781-1787

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Likely related to the accusations against a Mr. Richards by Reuben Smith in GLC02437.01148. Thanks Knox for his "repeated instances of Politeness shown to me from time to time, in a particular manor, for espousing my character, when it was most injuriously and enviously attacked by the tongue of slander and designing Villains, who wou'd fondly destroy and blast the character and reputation of any man, who appears in the character of a gentleman, especially a Continental Officer, if not an inhabitant of their Town of State." Expresses anger at those who do not provide adequate provisions for…

GLC02437.01155

15 October 1782

Ogden, Samuel, 1746-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Ogden as the owner of the Booneton [Boonton] Ironworks, which supplied various iron supplies to the Continental Army, to Major General Knox. Reports that after a discussion with Mr. [Robert?] Morris in Philadelphia he is going to see General Washington at his headquarters on Thursday night. Says that the discussion will be of a public nature and asks Knox to attend. Will leave tomorrow. Claims that "Your presence I conceive may be very important, therefore flatter myself nothing will deprive me of it."

GLC02437.01665

9 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Written by Major General Knox to Continental Congressman Osgood. Says the letter will be delivered by Major General Baron von Steuben. Says "I am certain you are well acquainted with the reputation of his abilities, and that it is been owing to him that a substantial discipline has been established in the American Army." Says he is "particularly attached" to the American cause and has expended much of his own money to help further it, but that he "can no longer live without pay." Knox says he knows Osgood's "liberal mode of thinking" and hopes he can help von Steuben. (See GLC03646 for the…

GLC02437.01480

17 September 1782

Osgood, Samuel, 1748-1813

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses recent resolutions of Congress which restructured the system of ranks and payments in the military. Considers whether pay grades should be linked directly to ranks, or whether people in each rank should be paid according to the way they perform their tasks, or the amount of tasks associated with each individual position. For example, he can "easily conceive when a Brigadier General has no Brigade, when he can have no command in the Army unless in that Office." Writes that General Edward Hand "will not presume to think that he is the only person that has filled that office - with…

GLC02437.01618

4 December 1782

Osgood, Samuel, 1748-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Osgood as a Continental Congressmen from Massachusetts to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 2 November. After reading it says he "began to repent that I had wrote you with Respect to the System for the Adjutant Genl. Department." Feels honored that Knox was willing to be candid about what he felt were the reasons for the Massachusetts legislature denying half-pay pensions to army officers. It seems that a letter Osgood wrote to Lowell, a member of the legislative committee considering the pension issue, was harmful to the officer's cause. Says "I am extremely sorry…

GLC02437.01730

20 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Written by Major General Knox to Massachusetts Continental Congressman Osgood. This letter is a reply to Osgood's letter at GLC02437.01730. Says that his sentiments have caused "uneasiness" among the officers. Knox made sure the principal officers would hear Osgood's opinions by passing the letter along to General John Paterson to share. Believes that McDougall, Ogden, and Brooks, who have been dispatched to Congress, will be able to convince that body the officers deserve better treatment, especially those that have families. Says the officers have confidence that Congress understands what…

GLC02437.01752

May 24, 1779-January 13, 1788

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Manuscript document

Title: to Henry Knox [incomplete]

Later copy of the correspondence between Generals Samuel Holden Parsons and Henry Knox between 24 May 1779 and 13 January 1788 (see GLC02437.03305 for a related document). The first letter, to Parsons from Knox, was written from Springfield, Massachusetts on 3 October 1786 and discusses the recent Shays' Rebellion. The second, written to Parsons from Knox, from New York on 19 November 1786, also deals with the Rebellion, as well as with court proceedings of the insurgents. The third, written from New York on 13 January 1788, to Parsons from Knox, discusses the adoption by Massachusetts of…

GLC02437.03306

24 October 1781

Laurens, John, 1754-1782

Autograph document signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Colonel Laurens communicates George Washington's request that Knox send "one of the pieces taken in the Redout [sic] by the french troops...to the regiment of Gattenois." This was in accordance with general orders issued 20 October 1781. The ordnance was seized in the Battle of Yorktown. Laurens had marched to Yorktown as an aide to General George Washington.

GLC02437.01259

12 November 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Lamb

Uncertain yet whether he will join the artillery park because General George Washington had not yet arrived. Writes, "He has lately met with a severe Shock to his affections, in the loss of the amiable Mr. Custis, Mrs. Washington's only child." Believes Washington felt as affectionately for Custis as if he were his real father, as he had raised him from childhood. Only other affectionate parents might be able to understand this misfortune. Has nothing to add about the disposition of the park, only that it might be in the vicinity of Head Quarters. Has no objection to Lamb paying his family a…

GLC02437.01289

3 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Lamb

Writes, "The General [perhaps General George Washington] is still unable to decide when your regiment shall march. You will continue to work on the Tumbrills. As soon as the General shall give me his directions I will communicate them to you."

GLC02437.01474

11 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Lamb

Written by and signed for Knox by Samuel Shaw. Says he would have thought Washington would have ordered Lamb's unit to march by now. Says he just heard from Washington that he will not be giving any orders until he returns from Philadelphia. Washington was leaving for that city this morning to meet with Rochambeau. Assumes Lamb will not be ordered to move until the end of this month or the beginning of the next. Wants his troops to stay employed on the wagons and tumbrils, as the Secretary of War has informed him there are no funds for those items. Reports that "Lt. Fink of your regiment has…

GLC02437.01483

31 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Lamb

Has received directions from General George Washington to move the artillery park from Burlington, New Jersey, to New Windsor, New York. Writes that he has contacted the Wagonmaster General for horses and oxen for transport, and the Wagonmaster has arranged for plenty of oxen, but fears that there may be difficulty in obtaining the necessary horses. Also includes directions about obtaining other miliary stores and transporting them.

GLC02437.01511

2 November 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Lamb

Puts Colonel Lamb in charge of ordnance being transported to Head of Elk, Maryland and instructs him on how to proceed. Includes instructions on where to store the ordnance, what to obtain from the quartermaster at Head of Elk, and what to demand of the Board of War & Ordnance. Explains that the company of artificers under Captain Thomas Patten are to be left in Philadelphia and set to work immediately. As much artillery as possible should be removed to the Hudson River and placed under the command of General Benjamin Lincoln. The ordnance being transported had been used for the siege…

GLC02437.01280

18 November 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Sim Lee

Declares he intended to return to Annapolis but was unable due to circumstances outside of his control. Delivered to Colonel Carrington the horses Governor Lee provided, for use in the Southern States, but one died before they reached Alexandria. The cannon Governor Lee furnished the army with were initially to be used against Lord Cornwallis, but had to be left with Rochambeau to defend York and Gloucester. Suggests that if the state of Maryland needs cannon for its own use, it can take those captured from the enemy, although doing so would stop the cannon from being part of a "battery…

GLC02437.01290

February 15, 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Lamb

Knox responds to Lamb's letter (see GLC02437.01354) that the notes which were to be paid to the officers were intended, by Robert Morris, to counterbalance the clothing provided for the soldiers. Morris's priorities are first to provide the soldiers and officers with rations, second to provide clothes (which these notes were intended to do for the officers), and third to provide pay, which they are working on obtaining. Argues that an officer who paid for clothing out of his own purse may use the payment as he likes, but that the intention was to pay for clothing for the officers. Mentions…

GLC02437.01355

2 June 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Lamb

Includes a note at bottom of verso indicating that a copy of the letter was given to Colonel Gansevort by Mr. [Samuel] Shaw. Writes, "I have repeatedly mentioned to his Excellency the situation of your regiment, but he has not yet given any directions concerning its march. The operation of the Campaign in great degree depends on circumstances beyond his controls." Asks Lamb to prepare the Quarter Master General's department for the move next month. Also discusses a letter from Captain [Thomas] Machin about new recruits, which might be put under Captain Moody [likely Captain Andrew Moodie…

GLC02437.01436

11 September 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas S. Lee

Informs the Maryland governor of the need for 30,000 feet of wooden planks for the upcoming siege of Yorktown. Has asked General Mordecai Gist to obtain the supplies. Also mentions eight tons of powder that need to be forwarded "to the points of operation in Virginia." Reports that these needs are extremely urgent.

GLC02437.10025