16 August 1789

Russell, Joseph, fl. 1789-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for his help in negotiating Russell's affairs with the House of Livingston. Received a letter from John R. Livingston in which Livingston expresses concern for Russell's misfortunes. Livingston is powerless to do anything for or against his interests, as Livingston's agent, Andrew Stockholm, is in charge of the concerns of the company. Describes his legal dispute with the Livingston company. Asks Knox to provide him with updates regarding the status of Congress's bill about the Judiciary. Hopes that mutual friend General [Benjamin] Lincoln may help him receive an appointment…

GLC02437.04328

23 November 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Rutledge

Approves of the "disinterested kindness" Rutledge has shown to Catharine Littlefield Green. Discusses a loan in detail, noting that it might best be obtained in Europe from men with "independent and unembarrassed fortunes." Discusses the propriety of applying for an indemnification before they know if the loan is successful. Thinks the application to Congress will be successful.

GLC02437.04420

12 March 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Rutledge

Refers to Rutledge's correspondence from December 1789 related to the estate of the late General Nathanael Greene (see GLC02437.04498). Has gathered evidence to place a petition before Congress regarding Greene's debt, and requests additional documents from Rutledge, who was co-executor of Greene's estate. Seeks affidavits from General [Anthony] Wayne and Judge [Nathaniel] Pendleton, noting that he received Edward Carrington's affidavit (GLC02437.04498). Writes, "The main object of the petition is that as the said debts were contracted for the public benefit, that the public should…

GLC02437.04540

23 June 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Thomas Randall

References Randall's letter of 22 June. Has drawn upon him at sight for $2,577. Will send him "a volume of all the laws, as soon as it can be bound." Received the 15 dollars mentioned, but not the fur. Docket says the letter is to "Shaw and Randall."

GLC02437.05024

February 5, 1792

Randall, Thomas, ?-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the possibility of the formation of a new bank. Relates that many respectable characters support the idea. Believes that the House of Representatives will grant a charter to it, but that the idea will run into opposition in the Senate. Reports that his wife has given birth to a daughter and they are both in good health. Writes that the weather has been mild, and he expects the arrival of Mr. [Samuel] Shaw's ship any day. Sends his regards to Mrs. Knox. "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.05308

4 March 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Edmund Randolph

Later copy of GLC02437.06056.

GLC02437.06055

30 December 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Knox writes to Osgood, a Continental Congressman. Thanks him for the "disinterested attention" he has paid Knox in several instances. Assures Osgood he prizes their friendship highly. Reports that George Washington has instructed him to dissolve several corps and reorganize the soldiers whose terms have not expired into an infantry and artillery. Writes, "This business has been painful on account of discharging the officers and soldiers at this [severe] season without pay, and in many instances the men are miserably clad." Refers to an instance in summer of 1783 when officers petitioned…

GLC02437.02875

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

1 January 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Jeremiah Olney

Originally written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp, but now badly faded. Writes, "I this minute reviewed your favor of the 22 ult. with its enclosures. Major Shaw, my aide de camp, who was chosen Treasurer by the Army will execute your orders respecting the money matters. The Committee set off for Philadelphia ten days ago. I have not yet heard any thing from them. As soon as they have the affair in train I will take a pleasure in informing you of it. We have no news. The compliments of the season to you and your gallant corps."

GLC02437.01785

4 December 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Discusses a situation of a fellow officer, Colonel Michael Jackson, who intends to petition Congress regarding compensation for a wound he received in 1776 which is still causing him trouble. This letter is likely Knox's response to Jackson's 29 November 1783 request (GLC02437.02809).

GLC02437.02818

21 March 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Parker

Knox negotiates with Parker, of Daniel Parker & Co., a firm that supplied Continental troops with provisions. Hopes Parker will continue to furnish supplies to troops, although Congress has not informed Parker or Knox of a contract renewal. Refers to Mr. Morris, who has been in charge of paying Parker (possibly Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance).

GLC02437.02980

15 April 1785

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests that Knox, newly appointed Secretary at War, recommend him to Congress to command troops sent to garrison the western frontier. Writes, "I consider that Post an important One to secure the Amity of the Savages, and to prevent those undue practices which will probably destroy the Peace of the Frontiers."

GLC02437.03127

5 October 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Writes to Osgood on financial matters. Declares that a Mr. Walker has written to him regarding a financial arrangement between himself and Osgood. Walker is apparently concerned that he and Osgood would withdraw money from an account that had already been emptied by Knox due to a new resolve of Congress. Knox assures Osgood that he has not yet withdrawn the money, so they may go ahead with the transaction without risk of "embarrassment."

GLC02437.03206

9 December 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

In response to Major North's letter (see GLC02437.03368), Knox writes that he agrees that [John Francis] Hamtramck's ideas show him to be a good officer. Adds, "I am persuaded his solicitude for a proper discipline, will be highly approved by all military men." Mentions that he has written to the Board of Treasury on the subject of pay, and hopes that the letter may have the desired effect.

GLC02437.03369

December 21, 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William North

Writes in full, "I have been attempting my dear Sir, to accomplish your pay since I received yours of the 18th. The board of treasury are disposed to exert themselves in this instance but I am persuaded that their powers are short of their inclination. Be so good as to call upon me tomorrow [illegible] I will then, inform you, [of] the mode in which they are willing to negotiate the pay."

GLC02437.03384

18 April 1787

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Relates his desire to remain Inspector General instead of Major Winthrop Sargent, who was being considered. Commenting on Congress's resolve to disband the troops, he states, "The resolve of Congress has murdered more honest fellows..."

GLC02437.03528

19 April 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Discusses Congress's decision to reduce the troops and states, "I feel most sensibly for the situation of the officers." In relation to North's resignation as Inspector General, states that he did not forward it on and that if North desires, he can probably resume the duties of that post (see GLC02437.03528 and .03495). Comments that Colonel Hull wrote to him about the issue with North's relative rank but believes it is something the state must decide.

GLC02437.03531

25 August 1789

Parker, Elias, 1760-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, apologetically, to ask for Knox's patronage. Declares that while his current career as a merchant is more lucrative, it "is not so respectable & by no means so desirable as the one I was bred to under yr. command - indeed Sir, I feel myself totally unqualified for it." Has heard a report that troops will be raised under a Congressional recommendation, and hopes Knox will support his appointment.

GLC02437.04335

7 December 1790

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests Knox sends President George Washington "the papers relating to the Indian Expedition which are to be laid before Congress."

GLC02437.04792

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

10 October 1789

Lee, Henry, 1756-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Congratulates Knox on his recent honor (likely his appointment as Secretary of War). Asks, "whether the second revolution will produce half the good predicted by its friends and whether the eastern conspiracy in the house of representatives declared afterwards on the floor respecting the permanent seat of govt. will not prove [incontestibly] the [simplicity] of associating with them in a form of govt. where they possess a majority." Adds that it is only his desire to preserve the new government he fought hard to help create, that prevents him from arguing further. Declares, "In as many…

GLC02437.04385

11 June 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [William] Price

Knox writes to Captain Price, apparently William Price, Deputy Commissary of Ordnance and Military Stores at West Point. Orders Price to make monthly returns and to issue only what the commanding officer, the War Office, or Congress orders.

GLC02437.03011