12 October 1781

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses a return of ordnance and stores. Reports that nothing will be done in the fall toward building the magazine at Fort Clinton or Fort Putnam because of all the work needed to prepare for winter. The artificers have been building a workshop at West Point to work in over the winter. Indicates that a Mr. Gray has been appointed a commissary of military stores for General William Heath. Colonel Crane commanded the 3rd Battalion of Artillery.

GLC02437.01221

17 October 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: Shots & Shells expended by the Allied Army at the Siege of York in Virginia, from the 9th to the 17th of October inclusive.

Lists quantities of shot and shell used by the French and Americans during the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01235

19 December 1781

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to inform Knox of his "wishes that the detachment from the Regiment may joine us" if consistent with Knox's plans. They are acquiring clothing for the regiment and he wants the men to anticipate the new clothes and feel satisfaction from attaining them. Mentions that all but three companies of the Regiment are quartered at the Joint. They are collecting the materials for the ordnance as fast as possible but the men are not well fed so he does not want to rush them. Has the men in good winter quarters, is trying to build a guard house for the artillery, and declares the ammunition…

GLC02437.01307

January 13, 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Discusses Colonel John Crane's regiment, which is on its way to West Point to obtain clothing. Mentions that he will have to keep the regiment there to work in the laboratory repairing the ordnance. Describes various repairs that need to be made, and says he will likely need to remain in Philadelphia through the spring.

GLC02437.01333

18 February 1782

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Apologizes for not responding more quickly to Knox, but was waiting for the commissaries to obtain paper so he might prepare the military returns. Refers to the returns from October, November, and December, which he sent out in the beginning of January; says they were prepared together because of the paper shortage. Includes a "a return of all the ordnance and stores of every kind in the department," and describes the amount and type of supplies in their stores, including ammunition, carriages, mortars, and charcoal.

GLC02437.01356

20 February 1782

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Received last letter from Knox and is waiting for General William Heath's arrival with an unnamed Sergeant to convene a party of men. Will respond to Knox as soon as they return.

GLC02437.01357

21 April 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Written from Baskenridge, likely present-day Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Comments that he expected to be at West Point by now, but was delayed at Elizabeth Town. Plans to be in West Point by 15 May at the latest. Asks that Crane save as much timber and iron as possible for their military stores, "as upon these two articles depend our most important work." Requests that he send to Knox in Philadelphia a list of articles needed for the laboratory at West Point, and Knox will order them.

GLC02437.01392

20 June 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Writes, "The General desires you will find him an exact return of the firearms and accoutrements at West Point, under the care of the Comy Mil. Stores [Commissary of Military Stores], specifying particularly the number which have bayonets, and distinguishing the good from the bad. The General will be glad to receive this return as early tomorrow as possible."

GLC02437.01461

22 August 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Directs Crane to send a specified amount and kind of arms and troops to the light infantry [at an unspecified location]. Declares that Crane may choose which men to send, but no more than twelve men may be attached to each piece of artillery. Will contact Colonel Timothy Pickering, the Quartermaster General, to make further arrangements. Also asks for his assistance in erecting buildings for ordnance stores at West Point, and asks that he direct Captain Sears and Captain Moody [Andrew Moodie].

GLC02437.01535

23 August 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Informs Crane that the "horses, geers [gears?] and drivers, for the pieces of artillery to be annexed to the light infantry, are to be at the ferry opposite West Point this evening." Explains that the gears are part of an order of 100 sets placed by the Quartermaster General and obtained in Springfield; they are now in the possession of Major [Thomas] Cogswell, the Wagon Master General. Since the gears are meant to be used with the artillery, Shaw has enclosed an order from Knox to Cogswell, as well as a warrant and a letter to the Deputy Paymaster General so that Crane can obtain the gears…

GLC02437.01537

30 August 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Crane

Written and initialed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Writes that he has been informed that regiments encamped on the point have taken boards and other items from the tents and intend to take them away or sell them. Asks that he work with Colonel [Benjamin] Tupper to try to prohibit this from happening by placing sentries at the places of embarkation and issuing a garrison order which forbids any resident of the point [possibly West Point] from purchasing boards or any other public property "on the penalty of severe punishment." Also writes that he has been unable…

GLC02437.01550

8 January 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Crane

Written by Major General Knox to Colonel Crane. This is a reply to GLC02437.01808. Gives his sentiments on the dispute between Captain Lieutenant Kemper and Lieutenant Crowley. Says "there were breaches of that delicacy which ever ought to govern the behavior of officers." Says it was indelicate for a joke to be told at Crowley's expense. Claims that Crowley's "passion on the occasion was not to be justified, yet it by no means lessens the impropriety which produced it." Knox says he believes the two men should make apologies to all the people who witnessed the dispute. Says "This will be…

GLC02437.01812

20 August 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Order to Colonel Crane]

Order from General Knox telling Colonel John Crane to relieve Captain Burbeck's company whose time of service has expired with men whose are enlisted for a longer period.

GLC02437.02403

10 November 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Crane

Sends a brevet for the rank of Brigadier General and asks him to deliver the enclosed additional brevets (not present) to four named officers. Noted as a copy.

GLC02437.02766

15 December 1783

Young, Joseph, 1733-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the order that the Albany hospital is to be closed, which he was not aware of, and the lack of firewood for the patients. Also reports back to Knox about his preparation for closing the hospital. Young signs as hospital physician. Noted as sent "By Express" and on "Public Service."

GLC02437.02832

25 December 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Young

Discusses the sick patients that have to stay in Albany, New York for the winter. Also writes about provisioning the sick. Writes that Young "must know the state of the patients better than any other man, and a confidence in your candor induces me to leave the disposition entirely to you." Says the hospital is closed at West Point but that they still have twenty patients that will be need to be supported through the winter. Encloses (not included) Morris's notes of sixty dollars and an order (not included) for provisions for the patients until they are discharged.

GLC02437.02860

30 December 1783

Young, Joseph, 1733-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Young, a hospital physician, thanks Knox for orders he recently sent which Young claims saved him from embarrassment. Also thanks Knox "for the Sixty Dollars you sent to supply them with firewood, which was greatly needed ... " Transferred Knox's orders to a contractor. Reports news of hospital matters, including Doctor Egbert's retirement.

GLC02437.02874

30 April 1785

Cranch, Richard, 1726-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Recommends his nephew Joseph Cranch for appointment by Knox, Secretary at War. Relates the details of Joseph's life, including the loss of both of his parents at an early age. Joseph sold his land in England and opened up a shop in Boston that was seized by the British during the Revolutionary War. Recommends his nephew as a worthy gunsmith, and asks if Knox can "procure an Employment for him in the Armourer's Department that might enable him to gain a decent Livelyhood after his great sufferings, in the common cause..."

GLC02437.03134

14 August 1786

Cranch, Joseph, 1769-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Springfield, possibly in Massachusetts. Writes that the present letter is copied from a letter Cranch sent to Knox in New York, before he was aware Knox had traveled to Boston. In it, he discusses a problem of receiving pay. Had received a letter containing Knox's orders for a Mr. Imlay to pay a sum owed to Cranch. Mr. Imlay denied every having accepted any orders, but said he would pay the sum if he had cash at the deadline of the orders. Explains how it is a hardship to wait away from home for his payment for cleaning the arms, and how he is losing money. Asks for Knox's help…

GLC02437.03291

4 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Cranch

Makes arrangements with Cranch about a financial transaction. Cranch, and Mr. [James] Byers, who is also mentioned in this document, are munitions manufacturers. See GLC02437.03291 for a related document.

GLC02437.03324

17 March 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Joseph Cranch

Discusses accounts pertaining to Cranch's brother. Notes he will be traveling through Springfield [Massachusetts] in May. Possibly related to GLC02437.03134. marked "private" on the docket.

GLC02437.03823

25 August 1788

Cranch, Joseph, 1769-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that he had to leave Springfield, Massachusetts, on account of his ill health. Asks if Knox has settled his account for the work he completed. Requests "any imployment... In the Public Service." Instructs Knox to direct his reply to the care of William Cranch. "Public business" written on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.03977

28 October 1788

Cranch, Joseph, 1769-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Solicits employment from Knox. Offers to clean some pistols in Springfield, Massachusetts. After the task is finished, will wait for Knox's further commands. Instructs Knox to direct his reply to the care of William Cranch in Boston.

GLC02437.04016

8 May 1790

Craigie, Andrew, 1744-1819

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signed in text. Asks "if the Genl. can, without inconvenience, lend him five hundred Dollars till the beginning of the Week." Knox dockets that it was not in his power to lend Craigie the money.

GLC02437.04596

5 October 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Insists on commenting on accounts General Crane had left for him. Knox had the paymaster go over Crane's account with great care so that it would be satisfactory to both Crane and the public. Knox writes that "the result doe not leave any balance in your favor." Knox is currently not in possession of the statements, but will take care of the matters as soon as he returns [to New York] so that "the difficulties will be removed."

GLC02437.04744