26 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Board of War and Ordnance

Reports that Lord Cornwallis' surrender at the Battle of Yorktown precludes the need for the additional ordnance requested from Williamsburg (see GLC02437.01204). Indicates that by order of General George Washington, some arms will be kept on deposit in Virginia and sent to General Nathanael Greene. This eliminates the need for Colonel Robert Harrison to obtain ammunition from the Board of War & Ordnance for Greene.

GLC02437.01264

29 October 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Thomas S. Lee

Asks Governor of Maryland Lee to intervene on the behalf of Captain Thomas Shilds, who Henry Knox ordered to gather supplies for the siege of Yorktown. Shilds was authorized to impress material and he confiscated wooden planks from a man named William Adams, who consequently brought a suit against Shilds. Clerical copy in the hand of Samuel Shaw and signed by him for Washington. See GLC02437.01200 for a related document.

GLC02437.01273

1 November 1781

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to General Kingsley

Communicates orders from General George Washington to expeditiously load all the stores that are being transported to Head Of Elk, Maryland onto vessels. Anything that cannot fit should be loaded onto French ships. The ordnance being transported had been used in the siege of Yorktown. Probably intended for Henry Knox. Docket written in Henry Knox's hand. Cobb was an aide-de-camp to Washington.

GLC02437.01279

4 November 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Edward Carrington

Places Colonel Carrington in charge of the establishment of a artillery magazine in Virginia for the use of the Southern Army, as ordered by George Washington. Instructs on how to proceed in transporting ordnance from Yorktown to Westham and obtaining assistance from Governor of Virginia Thomas Nelson. Detailed explanations of how to store and maintain the munitions. Indicates that the Deputy Field Commissary of Military Stores Thomas Jones will be in charge of the stores and discusses regulations regarding ordnance distribution, accounting procedures, and payment processes. Discusses what…

GLC02437.01284

11 November 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clement Biddle

Thanks him and Mrs. Biddle for their kindness to Mrs. Knox and their young daughter while in Philadelphia. Comments that Biddle's knowledge of his orders during the siege will excuse his inability to write frequently. Stresses his interest in ensuring that American battalions are filled with troops. Describes the recent illness and death of Mr. Custis, George Washington's stepson, while he was at camp with Washington as an aide. Mentions that General and Mrs. Washington were present for his "last gasp." He is waiting for General and Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Custis to arrive, but "Mrs. Knox…

GLC02437.01287

19 November 1781

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Thomas Nelson

Refers to a letter he forwarded to Nelson from General George Washington regarding a shipment of military stores to be deposited at Westham. If unable to find storage there, he was to ask Nelson for help finding storage in Richmond. Comments he waited several days to see Nelson but must now depart to attend to the General Affairs Division. Introduces Captain Singleton as the person Nelson should now contact regarding this matter. They will need about twenty men "as a guard and fatigue: which I shall be happy he could be furnished with, as early as they can be procured from the militia, or…

GLC02437.01291

4 January 1782

Davies, William, fl. 1781-1782

Manuscript letter

Title: to Edward Carrington

Marked "copy." Writes to Colonel Edward Carrington regarding movement of military stores to Richmond or Westham, Virginia. Advises that "Westham is a very unsafe place & Richmond much worse. An Easterly wind is a fair wind for the Enemy's shipping to run up the river, it generally brings rain which prevents the militia from turning out so readily, and of course [lessens?] the opposition; besides it swells the River in such a manner that there is no moving against it: and if you have your stores at Richmond or Manchester, the same objections apply, with the additional risk from the want…

GLC02437.01325

22 March 1783

Livingston, Robert L., 1746-1813

Manuscript letter

Title: to George Washington

Written in the hand of Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., Washington's Secretary. Marked as a copy of a letter from Secretary of Foreign Affairs Livingston to General Washington. Docket in Knox's hand. Sends "the agreeable Intelligence of Peace, upon which I most sincerely congratulate you and the Army - Harmony, a Regard for Justice, & Fidelity to our Engagements, are all that now remains to render us a happy people." Says the vessel with the news was sent by Comte d'Estaing, who was recalling French cruisers from America waters. Says this news should be immediately sent to British commander Sir…

GLC02437.02018

23 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by Major General Knox to General Washington. Reports to Washington that he had to relieve the company of artillery under Captain Lieutenant Ephraim Fenno at Kings Ferry, due to problems with ordnance returns. Replaced Fenno's unit with the company of Colonel John Lamb now under the orders of Captain Fleming. Says if Washington wants a commander responsible directly to him, he recommends Fleming as qualified. Says Fenno was relieved because of an unexplained return which noted 18 damaged barrels of powder. Also, Fenno did not explain why two soldiers in his company left ordnance "…

GLC02437.02019

23 March 1783

Parker, Daniel, 1782-1846

Manuscript letter

Title: to George Washington

In the hand of Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., Washington's Secretary. Copy of a letter from Daniel Parker to George Washington. Informs General Washington that a general peace was signed on 20 January. Says a ship from Cadiz arrived with the news. Congratulates Washington on the event. Docket in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.02020

28 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by Major General Knox to General Washington. Contains florid congratulations to Washington over peace. Says "how sublime must be your sensations at this moment!" Claims it is a "happy day for America!" Retained copy.

GLC02437.02034

4 April 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Discusses issuing ammunition and weaponry to the troops. Warns that if every brigade orders the same proportion the number of weaponry will be immense. Retained copy.

GLC02437.02062

9 April 1783

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Manuscript letter

Title: to George Washington

A copy, in the hand of Washington's secretary David Cobb, of the letter Hamilton wrote as a Continental Congressman from New York to General Washington. Hamilton was writing in his capacity as a chairman of a committee (other members included Madison, Osgood, Wilson, and Ellsworth) formed by Congress to organize various departments in the government after the official peace. Would like Washington's "sentiments at large on such institutions of every kind for the interior defence of these States as may be best adapted to their circumstances, and conciliate security with economy and with the…

GLC02437.02078

16 April 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Discusses the earnings of commissioned officers and the feelings of uneasiness among noncommissioned officers due to unequal payment. Suggests discharging noncommissioned officers as soon as possible under the pretext that it is being done so that they can "attend to their farms in the present season..." Retained copy.

GLC02437.02092

19 May 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Discusses an "atrocious violation of the Laws of Nations" by a Mr. Honniwell and urges a just punishment for the crime. See GLC02437.02125 for a related document.

GLC02437.02126

8 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Discusses a lack of artificers and the importance of the arsenals and magazines for the artillery and any other branch of the military. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.02153

25 September 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Adams

Later copy. Responds to a request from Adams' (see GLC02437.00) and comments on the character and abilities of several officers, although he directs Adams to a list of officers rather than composing one himself. Discusses the difficulties of inducing good men to serve. Suggest the establishment of military academies. Discusses the problems of the Continental Army with reference to the activities in New York. Praises Gerge Washington and Nathanael Greene. Believes the Battle of Long Island was their one chance to win in New York. Discusses the fortification of Harlem Heights.

GLC02437.00454

3 August 1781

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter

Title: to George Washington

Marked as a copy; copied by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide. General Lincoln offers Washington his observations "on the situation of Charlestown, the strength of its works, the number of men necessary to garrison it, and the point or points by which it may be approached." Contains a partial docket. Knox's retained copy in Shaw's hand.

GLC02437.01112

August 31, 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Board of War & Ordnance

Reports that General George Washington has ordered him to take southward all the arms and accoutrements possible. The demand has been indicated to Washington in letters from the Marquis de Lafayette. The supplies were needed for the upcoming Siege of Yorktown. He requests specific supplies listed on an accompanying sheet (GLC02437.01161). The Board of War and Ordnance was responsible for supplying troops in the field.

GLC02437.01160

23 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Discusses the housing of troops in the area in and around West Point, New York and Constitution Island. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.02176

25 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by General Knox to General Washington. Says that Sprout's regiment of Paterson's brigade with two artillery pieces will be in Stony Point and that they will commence their march from there in the morning. Reports that part of Paterson's regiments have not yet joined the line and will only catch up with difficulty. Tells Washington that the Connecticut regiments are scattered in the redoubts and that it will be difficult to get them together. Says the remaining Massachusetts regiment will barely be enough to man the garrisons. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.02185

28 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Billings

Written by Major General Knox to Captain Major Billings. Says that General Washington directed him to forward two cannons to Billings to be engraved in a similar fashion to the cannon done for Count De Rochambeau (see GLC02437.02198). These cannons are for Count De Grasse and reports that the inscription to be engraved will be sent from headquarters. Would like to know how long it will take. Hastily written postscript asks that the design for Rochambeau's cannons be sent if he still has them as it will be necessary to make some alterations to the emblems and coat of arms.

GLC02437.02199

29 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Informs General Washington that 250 men of the 3rd Massachusetts will not be ready to march until the afternoon due to lack of essential articles for their march. Reports that the regiment is without their compliment of field officers and Colonels Michael Jackson and Rose have never joined at the post. Also reports that Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell and Major Pettingal are unwell.

GLC02437.02202

5 July 1783

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Major Bauman of the artillery corps asks General Washington to discharge four older German men under Bauman's command. Says that the Board of Inspectors of Invalids told him to go to Washington as the men did not "come under the description of men in bad health." Says the Germans are all in their 60s and worn out and want to go back to Germany; they and their families seek discharge. The Germans said "from their short service they have rendered this Country, they could never Expect or demand any bounty from it, and their sphere of live being passed to labour, consequently would become a…

GLC02437.02241

14 July 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

A letter regarding General Washington's sleigh. Knox apologetically writes that the painting of the sleigh has taken a long time. He explains that due to severe weather, the wood of the sleigh absorbed and congealed the oil, and could not be dried. Wishes General Washington "agreable jaunts" on the river.

GLC02437.02286