10 June 1791

Macpherson, John, ?-1775

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Macpherson writes seeking Knox's assistance. Claims he is very poor and does not have "Two Shillings on the Earth." Boasts of what he has done for the nation, claiming "I have enriched it more than any other ever did of my Station." Poverty got him thinking that he could repeat the success he had lecturing on natural philosophy, but he has since given up that idea. Has an interest in some patents still pending, but they are unpaid for. Claims he deserves help when "it is considered, what risque I ran to serve this Country, by going thro' the British Army as a Spy!" Says he deserves to…

GLC02437.04985

20 May 1794

Moustier, Éléonor François Élie, marquis de, 1751-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox [in French]

Discusses the French Revolution and mentions St. Domingue [Haiti]. Mentions obtaining a title [or introduction?] for an acquaintance. Refers to George Washington. Also speaks of affairs in Europe. States, "La France sera une monarchie" (predicts France will be a monarchy).

GLC02437.06101

12 November 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy. Written by Brigadier General Knox to General Lincoln. Says he was concerned for him, but hopes he is safe at Head of Elk, Maryland. Tells him to "pray take care of the trophies and carry them triumphantly into rome." Reports from Mount Vernon that Martha Washington's son, "Mr. Custis," has died. Says there is a pallor of sadness in the Washington home and that "You who know the tender feelings of a father in their extreme can form some idea of the affliction which must at this moment overcome Mrs Washington & the General." Says they are expected back at Mount Vernon in a…

GLC02437.01288

20 May 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Explains his recommendations and opinions on key issues regarding the "ensuing campaign" in and around New York. Relates that upon asking General George Washington when to be prepared to march his troops, General Washington claimed to be out of touch with the status of preparations, but as soon as he decided, he would let Knox know. Knox relates that this makes him uneasy, as it makes planning the ordnance and stores far more difficult. Describes recent experiments on howitzers of French and of English origin, and explains that they require different shell sizes (see GLC02437.01411), and…

GLC02437.01426

10 July 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from the "War Office." Informs Knox that Mr. [John Jacob] Faesch has begun casting shells for them, and that Captain [William] Stevens "must immediately go there to prove the shells." Tells Knox to provide Stevens with instructions for how many shells to order cast for the French howitzers. Suggests that if, after a conference with "the General" [perhaps General George Washington], they feel they might not need the French shells right away, they should wait to make them in case they are able to recast the French howitzers and make them "of the English caliber." Also asks what…

GLC02437.01481

31 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Writes to Lincoln, the Secretary at War, to ask his opinion on various subjects surrounding artillery stores for future campaigns. Various topics include shells being cast for French howitzers by Mr. [John Jacob] Faesch, preparation of shot and shells by Mr. Byers, transportation of cartridge boxes from Philadelphia to the New York state posts. Also mentions directions from General George Washington to have stores from the post in Burlington, New Jersey moved to New Windsor, New York, and the amount of repairable arms in Albany, Fishkill and West Point. Discusses the urgent need for hiring…

GLC02437.01510

12 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Writes in response to Lincoln's letter of 20 August. Declares, "I am sorry Mr. [Robert] Morris cannot pay for any shells for the french [8?] inch howitzers, as they without shells much be useless after all the time and money which has been expended making new cartridges for them." Has asked General George Washington his opinion on employing German prisoners as armorers at Newburgh in exchange for their freedom (see GLC02437.01589), and Washington feels this is a good idea, so Knox asks Lincoln to make the appropriate arrangements. Also comments that he has received recent Congressional…

GLC02437.01604

19 April 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Pierre Charles L'Enfant

Writes that he has received L'Enfant's note from this morning. Does not believe the members of the Society of Cincinnati in France have received their diplomas yet. Does not have the names of the members because all the information was left in the possession of General [Otho] Williams, Assistant Secretary. If L'Enfant has the names, and sends them to Knox, he will immediately have General [George] Washington sign them and have the name blanks filled in.

GLC02437.03261

18 October 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Lists the appointments to the department of military stores after it has been restructured by resolves of Congress of 3 September 1782. Writes: "In consequence of the aforegoing resolves of Congress, Major General Knox having appointed Richard Frothingham Esq - Field Commissary of Military Stores [,] Asa Copeland - Conductor [,] John Hoff - Clerk [,] for the Main Army [;] John Ruddock - Depy Commy [,] John Banks - Conductor [,] William Herrick - Clerk [,] for West Point [and] Matthew Parvin - Conductor at Fort Pitt…

GLC02437.01673

9 January 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall to Major General Knox. Says nothing decisive about whether the half-pay pension issue has been decided. Says it took a week of travel to get to Philadelphia in bad weather. Wanted to lobby the delegates before the memorial was put before Congress. Says that has been accomplished and after the memorial was submitted, Congress decided to form a committee with a member from each state. Says that they will meet tomorrow night. Encloses a list of the committee members (not included here). Reports that "The Result of our Conversation with the members is, that a great…

GLC02437.01819

February 14, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Marked "copy." Body of the letter and signature in the hand of Robert Pemberton, Knox's aide. Discusses Lincoln's success at stopping Shays' Rebellion and dispersing the insurgents. Mentions how the rapid defeat of the insurgents will affect orders previously given to Colonel [David] Humphreys and Colonel [Henry] Jackson to move their regiments to Springfield, Massachusetts. Says he has been keeping General Washington and Congress abreast of Lincoln's actions. Comments on the upcoming Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and expresses his firm support of it. Believes the objections…

GLC02437.03453

4 May 1798

Lucas, John, fl. 1775-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox to send his picture of Elisha Brown and his heroic revolutionary story to John Adams to be installed in the Museum of the United States.

GLC02437.07124

9 October 1789

Jackson, William, 1759-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Macpherson

Informs Macpherson of President Washington's very busy schedule and states that "any communications, of the nature mentioned in your letter, may be made with equal propriety to General Knox as to himself."

GLC02437.04383

12 August 1791

Jackson, William, 1759-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signed in text in the third person by President George Washington's secretary William Jackson. Says he is writing by the President's command to transmit a letter (see GLC02437.04963) addressed to the President from Behague, Governor of the French Windward Islands. Behague was soliciting a diploma for himself from the Society of the Cincinnati. The letter also asks for a diploma for Fressinaux. Reports that the President wants "General Knox to make such answer to M. Behague's letter [if] he may think proper, and the circumstances the case will authorise."

GLC02437.05115

11 July 1794

Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813

Manuscript document

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "The Secretary of State has the honor of conveying to the Secretary of war the wish of the President, that instead of a meeting at his House at [text loss] o'clock on Monday next, the opinions upon the two points, [su]ggested in the note of this morning should be committed to writing and sent to the President by that time." From the Secretary of State (Edmund Randolph) on behalf of the President (George Washington). Addressor name is not given and letter is unsigned, possibly not written by the hand of Edmund Randolph.

GLC02437.06141

November 5, 1786

Dejean, Phillipe, fl. 1736-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter written by Captain Dejean, agent for the French Navy. He writes that he has enclosed a letter from the Marquis de Lafayette. Hopes that the letter from the Marquis, as well as Knox's prior knowledge, will testify to his good character. Relates that he has had a dispute with a Mr. De Letombe, the French consul in Boston, who is now accusing him "of having judged the Americans brought prisoners at Detroit, during the war, with the greatest cruelty," as well as of answering "Comte d'Estaing's Manifesto to the Canadiens" impertinently. Writes that should "that be the case; I am a bad man,…

GLC02437.03327

January 7, 1787

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter contains Wadsworth's reaction to Knox's analysis of Shays' Rebellion and includes Wadsworth's own ideas on the matter. Believes that despite the actions of the insurgents, they and their supporters would not vote for anyone "who have not the will or ability to lead, or favor, measures for the establishment of a good government." Discusses recruitment efforts, as well as the poor state of his own finances. Comments on the status of trade with France, the West Indies, and Canada, as well as opportunities of coining copper. Mentions correspondence with Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de…

GLC02437.03409

December 10, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Jefferson and John Coffin Jones

Contains two letters written on the same date. In the first letter, written to Jefferson, Knox introduces John Coffin Jones "and his Lady." Commends the "honor" and "liberal Fortune" of Jones, a Boston merchant. On verso, Knox informs Jones that he has furnished him with two letters of introduction: one for Jefferson and the other for the Marquis de Lafayette. Hopes Jones and his wife will return from their European excursion "with undiminished affection for your native Country."

GLC02437.04047

January 10, 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Jefferson

Writes to introduce Major [perhaps Elnathan] Haskell, who served his country faithfully during the last war. Adds, "I shall always be happy to receive any Gentlemen whom you may think proper to make known to me."

GLC02437.04081

12 August 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jefferson, Secretary of State, responds to Secretary of War Knox's letter about the ratification of the Creek treaty (see GLC02437.04688 and GLC02437.04691). Jefferson asks Knox whether he can invite "the three charge's de affaires" and "respectable strangers of their nation" to the signing. Also asks, "do ladies go?" If so, asserts that Mrs. Otto should be on Mr. Otto's invitation. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.04689

26 August 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jefferson, Secretary of State, writes Knox to hastily give his thoughts on the "treaty of Hopewell, the act of cession of N. Carolina and the act of acceptance by Congress." States that Congress's act of acceptance followed the Treaty of Hopewell, and that North Carolina can not use their right of preemption to take away the right of occupation of the Cherokees. The "question would be a disagreeable one between the general government, a particular government, and individuals." Jefferson thinks purchasing from the Cherokees the right of occupation is one solution. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.04700

28 May 1792

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signed in text. Asks that Knox proofread a letter he has prepared to reply to Mr. Hammond (not included). Apologizes for asking and for the haste with which this must be accomplished, as he needs to complete the task before the President's return. Adds that he wants close editing for his letter because "the importance of this first move in the business renders him anxious that it should be well corrected."

GLC02437.05482

22 June 1792

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signed in text. Encloses testimonies (not included) for and recommends Thomas Divers as a man of "worth, activity, and skill in accounts."

GLC02437.05514

15 November 1793

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written in the third person by Jefferson, who signed his name in text. Quite probably the cover letter for the four sign letterpress copies Jefferson sent to Knox: GLC02437.05965, GLC02437.05966, GLC02437.05967 and GLC02437.05969. Encloses his press copies of letters to the attorneys of Pennsylvania and Delaware (referring to letters he sent on the issue of ships captured near the United States coast). The Delaware copy is GLC02437.05969; the Pennsylvania copy is not included. Copies of the letter sent to the attorneys of New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York are present: GLC02437.05965,…

GLC02437.05974

1 June 1795

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the new technology for a mill and includes a small diagram on the first page on the left side. Also writes about the joys of an agricultural life, asking Knox, "have you become a farmer? is it not pleasanter than to be shut up within 4. walls and delving eternally with the pen? I am become the most ardent farmer in the state. I live on my horse from morning to night almost. intervals are filled up with attentions to a nailery I carry on. I rarely look into a book, and more rarely take up a pen. I have proscribed newspapers, not taking a single one, nor scarcely ever looking into one…

GLC02437.06430