31 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

In response to a request by General George Washington to consider the best place in West Point to erect a magazine, the "General Officers" would like Knox to report that the "hollow west of Fort Clinton" is "under all circumstances" the best place for it.

GLC02437.01512

31 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sir Guy Carleton

First two pages are from an unsigned letter written by Major General Knox to General Carleton, the commander of the British Army. The third page is a signed note to Washington on 31 July 1782. References Carleton's previous letter which contained a request for a passport to be forwarded to Chief Justice Smyth so he could bring the trial transcript and his explanatory comments to the Americans. This is probably a reference to the court martial proceedings against Lippincott, who the Americans claimed was responsible for the killing of Captain Joshua Huddy. Hopes that Carleton will punish the…

GLC02437.01513

3 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Has received his recent letter directed to himself and General [Andrew] McDougall. Declares that for his own part, he is perfectly ready to do what General Washington would like him to do, including meeting the "Gentlemen from the enemy" on the 16th or 18th of September. Mentions that they will need to prepare accommodations and provisions for the meeting. Says that General McDougall "seems to decline the commission for reasons which Major [likely Hodjiah] Baylies will give" to General Washington.

GLC02437.01564

7 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Mentions that he has received General Washington's letter of 5 September, regarding repairs of arms. Declares that each brigade's own armorers have been performing the repairs to the best of their ability, and that that is the only option, since "there is not one hired armorer in the Army of the United States. Your Excellncy must have been misinformed with respect to any armorers at this post, as there are none here." Explains that brigades have traveling forges consisting of borax and salt, and that they can be sent to Verplanks Point. Has sent someone to Philadelphia to purchase borax on…

GLC02437.01589

10 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Informs Washington of the death of his infant son, Washington's godson. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.10042

11 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Discusses problems with the issuance of provisions at West Point. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.10043

January 10, 1782

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses problems related to the transportation of military stores from Yorktown to Westham or Richmond, Virginia. Comments that he and his associates are bound in their ability to carry out orders because the state government of Virginia refuses to help. Mentions the resignation of Thomas Nelson as governor and the election of Benjamin Harrison. Has managed to set up the stores near Westham, close to the river so as to be able to ship them by boat in case of danger, but fears that in an invasion or attack they still may not be able to protect them. Mentions the arrival of an independent…

GLC02437.01330

circa 1782

Manuscript document

Title: No. 10: articles issued in the year 1782

List of military articles issued, sorted by date.

GLC02437.01335

January 29, 1782

Patten, Thomas, fl. 1777-1785

Manuscript document signed

Title: Account of timber wanted for the use of the brigade of artillery for building carriages, waggons and tumbrils

Written from Burlington, likely in New Jersey. Calculations for the amount of wood necessary to build carriages, wagons, and tumbrils (a type of cart).

GLC02437.01343

January 29, 1782

Patten, Thomas, fl. 1777-1785

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of materials wanted for the use of the brigade of artillery

List of necessary materials for the brigade of artillery. Countersigned by Henry Knox, with the words: "Copy given to the War Office this 29 January 1782." Written in Burlington, likely in New Jersey.

GLC02437.01345

February 2, 1782

Burnet, Ichabod, fl. 1778-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I arrived at this place on my way to West Point but the ice has prevented me from proceeding any further and I am obligated to return to Carolina immediately which makes it necessary for me to go to Newark immediately. The brave I have entrusted with a letter to my Father and take the liberty of requesting your aid to assist him in passing the river, which request your goodness will pardon me for." Sends his regards to Mrs. Knox.

GLC02437.01347

February 4, 1782

Boyer, James, fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to tell Knox that "application has been made to the Quarter Master for Teams to transport the Iron selected" by Captain [Thomas] Patton to Burlington, New Jersey. The Quartermaster replied that as navigation will soon be opened, it might make sense not to transport it right away by land unless it is absolutely necessary. Boyer informs Knox that he told the Quarter Master that it was necessary to send it right way, and he "doubt[s] not of Capt. Patten's receiving a speedy Supply."

GLC02437.01348

10 February 1782

Aboville, Francois Marie, comte de, 1730-1817

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox [in French]

Discusses abandoned cannon in Virginia. Writes at the urging of the Comte de Rochambeau, who is sure Knox was unaware of them. (See GLC02437.01365, Knox's response, written in English.)

GLC02437.01350

9 March 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francois Jean, marquis de Chastellux

Writes that it would ill suit "the gratitude of my heart were I to omit writing a line to you by so good an opportunity as his Excellency the Minister of France." Hopes that he is happy with how the campaigns are proceeding and hopes the next campaign will be the last one. Wishes they might see each other in the next campaign, and sends his regards to General Rochambeau.

GLC02437.01366

1 April 1782

Barber, Nathaniel, Jr., 1728-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to Knox to ask for help in settling his pay with the state assembly of Massachusetts. Relates that the assembly has recently settled with Ezekiel Cheever, a Deputy Commissary General of Military Stores, and is willing to settle with him, except they will only agree to pay him 40 dollars per month for the amount of time he worked as a Commissary, beginning in February 1777. According to documents he has from Knox, who appointed him, he is owed 50 dollars per month (paid in specie) for the first year as Commissary and then 60 dollars per month thereafter. The assembly argues that Knox…

GLC02437.01379

7 April 1782

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Congratulates Knox on his promotion to Major General of the United States Army. Fears his own promotion may fall through. Explains that his appointment is determined by the state of Virginia, and he will only receive a promotion "as a compliment from the state with the approbation of a majority of the officers." Must remain in his current circumstances until he finds out, but is suspicious about the principles on which promotions are determined.

GLC02437.01381

13 April 1782

Attwood, Catherine, fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mrs. Attwood (nee Ten eyck) writes to ask Knox for a permit to travel from New York to New Jersey for the improvement of her health, and also to visit her sister who is staying at "Raritan at Mrs. Van Wyck's."

GLC02437.01387

18 May 1782

Miles, John, fl. 1782-1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of waggons horses etc. wanting for the brigade of artillery

List of wagons and horses necessary for the brigade of artillery, signed by John Miles, Quartermaster, Brigade-Artillery. See GLC02437.01421 for the accompanying letter.

GLC02437.01422

May 1782

Manuscript document

Title: [Experiments with French and English 8 inch howitzers on travelling carriages with shells of 42 weights]

Two charts detailing the results of experiments made with howitzers. One chart depicts the results of the French howitzer experiment, and one depicts the results of the English howitzer experiment. Data indicates, among other things, that 42-weight shells shot from the French howitzer travel about half the distance that the same weight shells travel when shot from an English howitzer of the same size.

GLC02437.01434

5 June 1782

Waters, Joseph, fl. 1782

Manuscript document

Title: [Certificate given by the commitee in the case of Colonel Ezra Bedlam]

Certificate issued by the committee put together by Boston on the procurement of its quota for recruits for the Continental Army. Says that Lieutenant Colonel Ezra Bedlam, in the office of the muster master, discharged his duties faithfully. States he only tried to recruit men who would serve the public and complete the duties of their enlistment. Provides an example of him not allowing Frenchmen to join the army, except for a few who were examined closely to make sure they had no other obligations. The committee said they were most interested in the enlistments of Peter Godfrey and John…

GLC02437.01441

22 June 1782

Manuscript document

Title: Memorandum of Stores on hand at Fishkill, Fishkill Landing 86

A list of military stores at Fishkill, including information on firearms and bayonets. No name appears on the document, but author might be John Ruddock: see GLC02437.01460 for letter of 20 June from Samuel Shaw to John Ruddock, asking Ruddock to provide a return of his firearm stores as soon as possible. Ruddock was Commissary of Military Stores at Fishkill.

GLC02437.01462

5 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: Circular

Addressed to three Commissaries of Military Stores: Mr. P. V. Renselaer [likely Philip Van Rensselaer] of Albany, Mr. [John] Ruddock of Fishkill, and Mr. [Richard] Frothingham of West Point. Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp and signed for Knox by Shaw. Knox asks the Commissaries to prepare an "accurate return of all the ordnance and stores which were in your possession" through July of 1782, as well as an exact account done from an actual survey, of the stores in their possession. They must prepare it as soon as possible. Has enclosed a form to fill out and warns…

GLC02437.01478

29 July 1782

Seward, Thomas, 1740-1800

Manuscript document signed

Title: Military stores sent to the Northern Depart. from West Point

Countersigned by Richard Frothingham, Field Commissary of Military Stores at West Point. List of military stores, organized by date, from December 1778 through 29 July 1782. Includes locations and recipients.

GLC02437.01507

31 July 1782

Manuscript document

Title: Ordnance & stores received, from the 1st January to the 31st July, 1782

List of stores, organized by date and by officer. Identified as "No: 5".

GLC02437.01509

13 August 1782

Byers, James, fl. 1767-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I have the honour to inform you of my being at this place, for the purpose of erecting a brass ordnance foundry - the want of fire brick occasions some delay, as thay must be had from Boston, Col. Hatch has engaged them and I expect that they will come on in about ten days." Comments that since "every thing will be new, & workmen strange," when the foundry is ready he will first work on some light metal, like 5 1/2 inch howitzers. Will try to get the work done as quickly as possible, because he "shall wish to return to New York, when it is in our possession, where I should be…

GLC02437.01526