January 20, 1864

Auger, Luis, fl. 1850-1863

Letter signed

Title: to William Lewis Maury

From the Confederate Treasury Comptroller indicating money due to Maury.

GLC04572.13

April 1776

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses her love for Henry and attempts to make him feel guilty for being away from home and family, particularly his infant daughter. Thanks him for his three recent letters (see GLC02437.00273, GLC02437.00275, GLC02437.00276) but wonders why the letter he promised from New York has not arrived. Mentions that their daughter Lucy was christened at Trinity Church. Comments on her alarm at hearing that the British have taken George's Island in Boston Harbor. Knox was then moving southward toward New York, planning coastal defenses against the British navy for Rhode Island and Connecticut…

GLC02437.00282

February 26, 1776

Read, Joseph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Artemas Ward

Gives a military report provided by Thomas Mayfield. Describes ship activities in Boston Harbor, mentioning workers and loading occurring at "the Castle," in reference to the military garrison on Castle Island in the harbor. Written in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.00257

circa 1775-1776

Autograph document

Title: [Plan for setting fire to British ships in Boston Harbor]

Affirms the practicability of laying siege to Boston Harbor, landing soldiers in the town of Boston, and setting fire to British shipping. Provides a lengthy list of military preparations and plans for the siege, For a map of the plans see GLC02437.00232.

GLC02437.00231

circa 1775-1776

Map

Title: [Battle plan for the siege of Boston Harbor]

Mapped battle plan for an American siege of Boston Harbor. Shows boats and some major geographic markers. For written plans see GLC02437.00231.

GLC02437.00232

circa 1775-1776

Document

Title: [Description of an impregnable floating engine]

Provides both a drawn and written explanation of the design of a vessel "constructed to destroy Barges, Tenders, Ships, Towns, Castles, & Magazines." Made of iron and wood, the vessel has an octangular design "in order to annoy the Enemy upon all Quarters." Notes that the size and artillery can be adjusted. The word "Taliacotius" appears at the end.

GLC02437.00233

circa 1775-1776

Document

Title: [Plans for siege of Boston Harbor][incomplete]

Discusses an oil fire at Nantucket, raises questions about plans to use an oil fire to destroy British ships in the Boston Harbour, and suggests making "an experiment on some small pond." A fragment from the middle of a document. For more on the plans to attack Boston Harbor see GLC02437.00231.

GLC02437.00234

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

29 May 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy. Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. Arrived in Newburgh three days earlier. Was at West Point "with the officers of the Army and find them generally much discontented." Says the problems revolve around the issuing of provisions. Says "Tomorrow it is proposed to celebrate with a good deal of taste & some pomp, the birth of the dauphin. I am sorry we shall have such a bad sauce to the feast, as the late unfortunate event in the West Indies" (the French fleet under de Grasse was defeated by British Admiral Rodney on 12 April off the coast of Dominica).

GLC02437.01432

February 15, 1801

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Leroy [Bayer] & Mr. [Evers]

Informs them that Mrs. [Sarah Lyons] Beaumez's son, Francis Flucker, was appointed by the British government and is serving in India and that her other son, Thomas Flucker, is a midshipman on his way to the West Indies. Continues to discuss the Flucker's and their future plans. Letter is not signed but appears to be in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.07506

24 October 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Manuscript letter

Title: to Ebenezer Stevens

"By order of genl. Knox," Shaw orders first division of vessels containing ordnance to Head of Elk, Maryland. Colonel Edward Stevens will provide an inventory of cargo. Explains the logistics of the transportation. Secretarial copy of a Shaw letter.

GLC02437.01261

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 30, 1795

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Don José de Jáudenes y Nebot

Writes a letter of introduction for a Captain [Collineun?] of the French navy, who has some business "at the Havannah," referring to the port in Havana, Cuba.

GLC02437.06332

8 March 1800

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Jackson

Knox has sent Jonathan Jackson and the Boston Harbour "for the use of the United States" oak plank and lumber "at the rate of eight Dollars per hundred feet."

GLC02437.07374

8 April 1800

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Very personal letter from Vice President Thomas Jefferson. Notes that he passed along Knox's "friendly expressions" to General Gunn, possibly Senator James Gunn. Refers to a transaction, likely concerning the debate in the U.S. Senate regarding Knox's son's promotion, stating "of the transaction to which they are related I can say little, having, you know, neither ears to hear, eyes to see, or tongue to speak, but as the Senate direct me." Assures Knox the debate in the Senate was polite and respectful. Discusses Jefferson's and Knox's difference of political opinions. States that if every…

GLC02437.07390

10 May 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to an acquaintance [possibly Joseph Peirce or Henry Jackson]

Extract of a letter from Henry Knox, possibly to Joseph Peirce or Henry Jackson. Written at a later date. Discusses his house (most likely Montpelier) being completed in a year's time. Notes the critical state of affairs, his responsibility for the new corps of artillery, the frigates, and fortifications, along with all of his old responsibilities will keep him from visiting his new estate this summer. Stresses the state of crisis the country is currently experiencing and the dangers of their own conduct. Mentions both he [Peirce or Jackson?] and himself should stay out of public life so…

GLC02437.06093

20 December 1799

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jackson tells Knox that Knox's "statement and the hundred dollar bill enclosed came safe to hand." Jackson will be at Portland with Col. Hichborn January 1, 1800. Jackson demands that Knox be punctual in meeting them and says that nothing but death could prevent them from going to Portland. In a post script Jackson notes that he has just received a letter from Knox's son, Henry Jackson Knox. Jackson tells Knox, "The Secretary of Navy order'd him onboard the Constitution."

GLC02437.07340

13 April 1800

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jackson tells Knox that "Mr. Pickman of Salem" has called on Jackson to pay the interest due to him. Jackson suggests that Knox pay up. Jackson has not heard from Knox's son and cannot be sure what ship he boarded, if any. He knows Henry Jackson Knox was not in Philadelphia as of the 1st of April. He tells Knox to write his son, Henry Jackson Knox, until Knox knows of his son's situation and ship. Jackson expects Knox's daughter's wedding will not occur until "we have an arrival from Malaga" of food and wine.

GLC02437.07392

2 October 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary McNeill

Writes in response to a letter from Mrs. McNeill (see GLC02437.06662) and assures her that the matter should be looked into and that he will assist her in settling her business. Says he delivered the papers to the commissioner in the marine department and hopes a statement of the accounts will be made in a few days. Assures her the business will be dealt with as soon as possible. See GLC02437.03675, .03708, .03772, .03781, and .03784.

GLC02437.03670

18 October 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Mary McNeill

Forwards Mrs. McNeill a statement from the Commissioner of the Marine Department relating to her late husband's account. Says that while he has faith in Col. Walker, who is the Commissioner, suggests McNeill have either himself or another person look at the accounts on her behalf. Describes in detail the account balances and the amount Mr. McNeill had been credited. See GLC02437.03662, .03670, .03708, .03772, .03781, and .03784.

GLC02437.03675

20 November 1787

McNeill, Mary, fl. 1787-1791

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for his help in settling her husband's public accounts. Text in the hand of Henry Knox. See GLC02437.03662, .03670, .03675, .03772, .03781, and .03784.

GLC02437.03708

January 13, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary McNeill

Presents McNeill with a certificate of a sum owed to her late husband. Enclosed the certificate in a letter to Henry Jackson, who will transmit the certificate to McNeill. Writes, "I most sincerely wish that its present value was equal the sum expressed..."

GLC02437.03761

12 August 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 7 August. Thanks him "for your opinion on the department of field Commisary of Military Stores." As Knox hinted, Lincoln said he has submitted it to Washington. Wants his opinion on the peace. Says he received a late letter from London "shewing the miserable state to which their nation is driven. - which, if true, must soon produce a peace provided we do not relax on the present state of things - and thereby lay ourselves open to a stroke." Says a Mr. Blake of South Carolina has recently returned from…

GLC02437.01524

8 September 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Reports to his brother that the army has gathered with all its stores in Head of Elk, Maryland and will proceed to the Chesapeake in three days. He is optimistic about the upcoming siege of Yorktown: "I shall hope to inform you in 15 days that we have had Cornwallis completely invested." He is also confident in the assistance of the French Admiral de Grasse, whose job it was to secure the mouth of the York River. Mentions that his wife Lucy Knox is in Philadelphia with their daughter.

GLC02437.01174

6 June 1798

Lillie, John, 1755-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox for help in obtaining an appointment in the Corp of Marines, despite his preference for staying out of public service. Noted as written in Milton, state unknown.

GLC02437.07146