21 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Williams

Announces the surrender of the British and German forces under Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown, which occurred two days earlier. Explains that the enemy was given the same terms of surrender that the American forces received at Charleston the year before. The enemy forces number greater than 7000 men. States that there were over forty ships in the harbor. Comments on the unmatched harmony between American and French troops and offers praise for the French. Williams was a diplomat who served as an inspector of arms shipments with his uncle Benjamin Franklin's mission to France.

GLC02437.01250

26 June 1798

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. White

Letterpress copy. Discusses his concerns about the navy, and mentions a "few ships of War, and the french [sic] have a few, would in a few days convey an army of ten thousand blacks and people of color in Vessels seized from our own citizens." Continues with expressing his concern about the defense of the coast. Noted as private.

GLC02437.07154

10 May 1800

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Williams

Knox explains to Williams the situation surround Henry Jackson Knox and his refusal to accept midshipman status after being refused promotion to lieutenant. Knox's son "appears to have no proper value for money, and is therefore very extravagant." Knox thought the Navy would help straighten his son out, but now Knox fears his son will be "involved in a course of errors and vices which may overwhelm him." Knox asks Williams to take him on and help Henry Jackson Knox overcome his weaknesses. Knox is afraid his son's love of gambling has left a considerable debt that Knox cannot pay. Knox…

GLC02437.07406

December 21, 1782

Brewster, Caleb, 1747-1827

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Captain Brewster to Major General Knox. Claims Knox is the "Commanding Officer of the Corps to which I have the honor of being annexed." Sends along the account of a sea battle he had with Captain Hoit in Long Island Sound. While in Stamford with Major Tallmadge, he said he heard that Hoit was in the Sound with 3 ships and he went to attack him with 6 ships. Split his boats up -- sending 3 to the "North Side" of the island and 3 to the "South Side," to prevent their escape. After a short time he saw Hoit across the Sound from Huntington and immediately chased them. He…

GLC02437.01755

March 1800

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Brown

Knox is upset that the Senate did not approve his son's promotion and asks Brown to have his son, Henry Jackson, serve as an acting Lieutenant with midshipman's pay. Letter is written on very fine tissue paper with very faded writing.

GLC02437.07381

2 April 1794

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for their prior conversation and offers his assistance. Informs Knox he disagrees with the amount Knox wants to pay him for his services. Believes his past experience as a public servant and his current situation justifies a higher amount. Explains he has already built one frigate and executed an office of trust. Mentions the benefits of performing the requested duties and seems willing to negotiate the matter. Mount Pleasant is listed as the city, state is not given.

GLC02437.06072

29 May 1800

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Williams writes Knox about his son Henry Jackson Knox and hopes that his son intends to return to his ship. Williams comments on the changes in the administration "which I think forebodes a settlement of some sort or other with France." Williams says it is assumed that Adams will lose the next election. Talks about a meeting of Federalists who want to run Pinckney and Adams "equally", which Adams will see as abandonment. "He wishes rather to take the chance of being second to Jeff than to P." Relates a letter James McHenry sent to him saying that he wished Williams to have a post in the…

GLC02437.07418

25 July 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Charles Henri d'Estaing

Discusses the application of the Marquis de Bouille to the Society of the Cincinnati. Also asks the Count d'Estaing for a list of the officers in the French Navy who are members of the Society; would like to use this list to to fill out diplomas for those members. Mentions that the "president General" [Washington] is too busy at the [Constitutional] Convention to perform this service. Finally, thanks the Count for submitting "Ideas on the Association of the Cincinnati" which the Count wrote in 1784 (see GLC02437.03027). Is not sure the Society will decide to adopt any of the recommendations…

GLC02437.03619

1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Comte Jean Baptiste D'Estaing

Discusses the Society of the Cincinnati and asks about the French Royal Navy. Date previously inferred, written in pencil. Noted as a copy in the docket and is missing half of the docket sheet.

GLC02437.09972

18 June 1780

Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses General Washington's need for reinforcements in case British general Henry Clinton returns to New York before the arrival of the French fleet. Under these circumstances, Reed believes that Washington would be pushed to the Delaware River or beyond. Mentions the creation of a subscription bank for the supply of the army and the need to recruit more troops.

GLC05547

1 May 1865

Forrest, French, 1796-1866

Document signed

Title: [Parole for C. Lucian Jones]

Forrest signed as Flag Officer, Confederate Navy. He was commander of the James River Squadron. Co-signed by William Hartsuff, Brigadier General, United States Army. Parole for Jones, Assistant Paymaster, Confederate Army after the surrender of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston to Union General William T. Sherman at Greensboro, North Carolina.

GLC05517

24 September 1779

Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Bartlett, a former Continental Congressman, writes to Whipple, a member of Congress. Mentions John Langdon, a Continental Congressman who, in 1776, became a naval agent for Continental prizes. Refers to the disastrous Penobscot Expedition (in the Penobscot Bay, present-day Maine) led by Commodore Dudley Saltonstall. States "The Misfortune at Penobscot has thrown the Sea Coasts this way into a Consternation ... The Sailors who returned from Penobscot make the most grevious complaints of the Conduct of Capt. Saltonstall ... I Believe the whole fleet and army were struck with an Universal…

GLC05579

8 May 1779

McHenry, James, 1753-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S. Smith

Written by McHenry as a secretary to General George Washington to Colonel Smith. References Smith's previous letter. It appears that Smith is trying to decide if he should leave the army to deal with business affairs. McHenry says he is sure Smith wouldn't leave the army except reluctantly. McHenry then claims he is desirous to stay in the army because he doesn't hold riches to as high a regard as others do. Says "For my own part I shall be prouder in poverty should the war terminate in the happiness of the people, than in any wealth, which I might accumulate from the civil exercise of any…

GLC05715

January 31, 1881

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to W. W. Kimball

Advice to naval officer headed to the Far East.

GLC05736

November 7, 1864

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Manuscript document

Title: to Edward Richard Sprigg Canby

Written in the clerical hand of C. Christensen, Lieutenant Colonel and Assistant Adjutant General of the Military Division of West Mississippi. Marked as a true copy. "Cipher" is written at the top. Sherman, commander of the Military Division of the Mississippi, reports that Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard has left Georgia and shifted to Florence, Alabama, threatening to invade Tennessee. Informs Canby, commander of the Military Division of West Mississippi, "We are already for him there and I have still an army with which to go on- I have destroyed Atlanta and marched south- Be…

GLC05747

circa 1869-1872

Hall, Newman, fl. 1869-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to W.R. Cremer

Hall considers the Civil War the only justifiable war, apparently because it brought the abolition of slavery. War between England and the U.S. "would be Fratricidal & a hideous crime." He believes arbitration and a treaty can settle any conflict between the two nations, possibly referring to the Alabama Claims.

GLC05508.122

24 July 1781

Beckwith, George, 1753-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Clinton

Spy's report, titled, "Copy of a letter from a Gentleman in Phila. to Capt. Beckwith." The report points out that he might not be able to gain information about General George Washington's Army. Notes that Washington's correspondence with Congress now goes by express rather than post and cannot be intercepted. Also provides naval intelligence of merchant vessels leaving Philadelphia.

GLC05223

1780

Printed document

Title: [Navy signals]

Partially printed document. Mentions pendants, flags, color, location, and signification of signal. A separate section indicates night signals. Regiment numbers hand written.

GLC05219

3 March 1841

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Book

Title: Message from the President of the United States, transmitting a report from the Secretary of State, in relation to seizures or search of American vessels, & c.

House doc. no. 115. Pertains to "Search or seizure of American vessels on coast of Africa, & c."

GLC05163

1862-1863

Moore, Henry P., 1833-1911

Header Record

Title: Civil War and African-American photographs re: slaves, plantations, contrabands [word processed inventory available]

17 photos of African-Americans and soldiers at Hilton Head, S.C. Includes images of slave plantations (#1), black (sailors?) onboard vessel (#15) and others.

GLC05140.01

January 22, 1863

Faxon, William, 1822-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to A. A. Harwood

Written by Chief Clerk Faxon to Commodore Harwood. Tells Harwood that the "'Monitor' was launched January 30th, 1862 - Contest with the 'Merrimac,' March 9th - Foundered on the night of 30th Decr. 1862." (The "Merrimac" sank on 11 May 1862; the "Monitor" was lost at sea on 30 December of that year.) Says Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles and his wife will be pleased (he does not specify why) "for there is no vessel he speaks of with such affection as the 'Monitor.'" Says he received a telegram from Admiral Lee that one of the ironclads [possibly the Weehauken] is now entering Hampton Roads…

GLC05331.03

1887

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Pamphlet signed

Title: Report of the Admiral of the Navy

Printed by the Government Printing Office. Disbound but retaining original blue covers. Signed on covers to Hon. E.S. Tobey.

GLC05488

31 May 1850

Clarke, Matthew St. Clair, 1791-1852

Printed letter signed

Title: [American Colonization Society circular proposing steamship line between the United States and Africa]

Addressed to "His Excellency the Gov of NJ" (Daniel Haines). Signed by [Matthew St. Clair Clarke]. Copy of the memorial of Joseph Bryan, of Alabama, to Congress, proposing to establish a line of steam ships between the U.S. and Africa. Cites the need for maintaining a naval force on the western coast of Africa, the need for extinguishing the slave trade, to extend trade between the United States and Africa, and to convey that emancipated people can emigrate to Africa, if they wish.

GLC05492

February 12, 1862

Van Brunt, G.J., 1801-?

Letter signed

Title: [Report on condition of the CSS "Merrimac"]

Reports that a William West, a rigger "who made his escape from Norfolk," said the "Merrimac" was still in dock on 10 February. Claims the ship draws 17 feet of water, has 10 gun (8 of which are 9 inch smooth bore broadside gun and 2 heavy rifled guns). Carries 200 men and 12 lieutenants. Expects the ship to draw 21 feet with everything on board. Says the "Pilot house is in shape like a sugar loaf, and of cast-iron 5 inches thick and about 4 feet in diameter. She will be ready to come out of dock next Monday. Her engines are also working well. Captain Van Brunt commanded the USS "Minnesota…

GLC05331.01

20 February 1862

Van Brunt, G.J., 1801-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to A. A. Harwood

Marked "Private." Sends a report on the CSS "Merrimac" to Captain Harwood, the Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, based on his examination of William West, a rigger who had been aboard the vessel and later "made his escape from Norfolk." Van Brunt says that "there have been so many reports about the 'Merrimac' & her movements, which have been false - I send you this under the belief that it is correct. We may expect her [the Merrimac] down at any moment & if she comes it will be my endeavour to prevent her return - I can get this ship [the Minnesota] under weigh night or day in 10…

GLC05331.02