December 3, 1755

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Hunter

With autograph free frank. Franklin says that "By our late Act I am engag'd in the Disposition of the 60,000 pounds," money given to him by the Pennsylvania legislature to raise a militia for defense of the state's borders during the French and Indian war. He then asks about "a train of artillery, arms, etc." arriving in Virginia. A personal letter.

GLC01656

July 7, 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hodgdon

Knox orders Hodgdon, the Superintendent of Military Stores of the United States Army, to deliver munitions to Governor Thomas Mifflin of Pennsylvania as a loan. The supplies were needed for the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion. Letter endorsed on the bottom by Mifflin, with the direction to send the powder to Colonel Clement Biddle, who endorsed the document on the verso. Letter written from the War Department.

GLC01613.01

January 19, 1870

Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard, 1809-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to T. Apoleon Cheney

Letter written by Dahlgren as commander of the Washington Navy Yard. References Cheney's notes from January 6 and 10. Has not responded because of the "many demands on my time." Says some of the books he has requested are procurable and will be forwarded, although a copy of his own book, "Shells and Shell-Guns," is not available. Says the war kept him from literary pursuits and that he only has one copy of the book left "and cannot buy another at any price." Regrets that he cannot send a copy because "it is my principal work and exposes the principles on which I concerted the present Armament…

GLC01545.09

10 March 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Refers to a letter he received from Colonel Francois Marie, comte de Aboville (see GLC02437.01365), who commands French artillery in Virginia. Aboville mentions 14 artillery cannon belonging to the State of Virginia which do not have carriages or ammunition and are in poor repair. Argues that these cannons would not be useful to Virginia, since they could not repair or equip them, but that the United States forces are in dire need of cannon for an artillery battery and could make them serviceable. Encourages General Washington to pursue a trade with the State of Virginia and give them…

GLC02437.01369

8 June 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Ruddock

Written from "Head Quarters." Shaw writes to Ruddock, the Field Commissary of Military Stores for Fishkill, that General Henry Knox wants Ruddock to send Colonel George Reid, commanding officer at Albany, "twenty thousand musket cartridges for the use of the troops under his command." On the verso is an "Extract of a Letter" from Colonel Reid (spelled Ried), addressed to General Washington, and written in a different hand. This letter informs Washington that they are "almost Distitute of Cartriges in this Quarter - the few that are on Hand, are much too small, being made for the Militia…

GLC02437.01445

7 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Mentions that he has received General Washington's letter of 5 September, regarding repairs of arms. Declares that each brigade's own armorers have been performing the repairs to the best of their ability, and that that is the only option, since "there is not one hired armorer in the Army of the United States. Your Excellncy must have been misinformed with respect to any armorers at this post, as there are none here." Explains that brigades have traveling forges consisting of borax and salt, and that they can be sent to Verplanks Point. Has sent someone to Philadelphia to purchase borax on…

GLC02437.01589

22 June 1782

Manuscript document

Title: Memorandum of Stores on hand at Fishkill, Fishkill Landing 86

A list of military stores at Fishkill, including information on firearms and bayonets. No name appears on the document, but author might be John Ruddock: see GLC02437.01460 for letter of 20 June from Samuel Shaw to John Ruddock, asking Ruddock to provide a return of his firearm stores as soon as possible. Ruddock was Commissary of Military Stores at Fishkill.

GLC02437.01462

3 September 1782

Manuscript document

Title: Return of musquet cartridges delivered to the several brigades from West Point from the 1st of March to the 1st September 1782

List of numbers of musket cartridges, broken down by brigade.

GLC02437.01558

16 October 1782 - 18 October 1782

Seward, Thomas, 1740-1800

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Return of ordnance and stores in the Northern Department]

Three charts describing the ordnance of the Northern Department. The first page features a return of ordnance sent to West Point from Albany. The second page features a return of "Musquets, Cartridges, Flints & Sundries" delivered in the Northern Army from 18 October 1781-18 October 1782. In addition to quantities, includes dates, ordering officers and recipients. The third page features a return of "Artillery Ammunition, and Military Stores, Expended and Stolen, at the respective Posts in the Northern Department," beginning 18 October 1781; the ending date is left blank.

GLC02437.01672

27 November 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph manuscript

Title: Orders for the issues of arms accoutrements and ammunitions

Unsigned, but written the hand of Samuel Shaw. Lists, by date between June and November, orders given to issuers of supplies, such as Mr. John Ruddock, Commissary at Fishkill, and Mr. Richard Frothingham, Commissary at West Point.

GLC02437.01725

February 13, 1783

Byers, James, fl. 1767-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the casting of new artillery, namely howitzers.

GLC02437.01917

19 February 1783

Byers, James, fl. 1767-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses casting howitzers, making shells for the howitzers, and impressing or embossing the "arms of the United States," possibly on howitzers. Also mentions that he needs someone to help repair the weapons. See GLC02437.01957 for Knox's response to this letter.

GLC02437.01935

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

2 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Board of War & Ordnance

Reports that Colonel Robert Harrison will wait for the Board to send a supply of musket ammunition for the Southern Army commanded by General Nathanael Greene. Explains that the frequent activity has depleted stores and the free navigation of the Chesapeake Bay provides an opportunity for delivery. Asks that stores from Williamsburg, Virginia also be forwarded. Reports that they invested Yorktown on 28 September 1781 and that General Cornwallis' evacuated his outer works the following day. The Continental Army hopes to open its batteries in three days.

GLC02437.01204

26 October 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: State of the Artillery at York and its vicinity.

Lists quantities of various types of ordnance remaining after the siege of Yorktown including ordnance "taken from the English." Also gives a proposed breakdown between stores held by Colonel Edward Carrington, the state of Virginia, and Philadelphia. A note on the final page indicates that 1,000 arms and accoutrements and 250,000 musket cartridges are to be sent by Carrington to Nathanael Greene, and some to North Carolina. The rest of the ordnance will be deposited at Richmond, Virginia. Henry Knox's copy.

GLC02437.01262

1781

Manuscript document

Title: [List of military stores]

Lists military stores including muskets, bayonets, rifles, and swords. On verso is a note in Knox's hand which reads, "Some stores at Gloucester." Date added later in pencil.

GLC02437.01314

1781

Manuscript document

Title: No. 9: articles issued in the year 1781

List of military articles by date issued, including muskets, flints and Borax.

GLC02437.01321

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

17 April 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Suggestions to George Washington regarding maintenance and expansion of the United States military]

Knox offers his opinions regarding military matters and national security following the anticipated peace between the United States and Great Britain. Suggests maintaining a strong militia, noting "Every method should be devised to make the profession of arms honorable..." Recommends annual exhibitions of war to be attended by "first men of the community," stating that, "To an enlightened people arguments are unnecessary to enforce a truth so obvious. This is the moment to form habits which shall give a lustre to the American character." Advocates universal distribution of arms in America…

GLC02437.10107

12 May 1783

Ruddock, John, fl. 1779-1796

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of Ordnance & Military Stores at Several Places

Lists amounts of shot, balls, cartridges, carriages, muskets, bayonets, etc at Danbury, Fishkill Landing, and Poughkeepsie. Says there is around three tons of lead at Poughkeepsie.

GLC02437.02123

4 August 1781

Hodgdon, Samuel, 1745-1824

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of ordnance & part of the military stores on hand at Philadelphia Augt. 4, 1781

Consists of a return of artillery ammunition and supplies on hand at Philadelphia and of "Muskets &c delivered for the use of the undermention'd states & Troops" from 1 January to 4 August 1781. Signed by Hodgdon, Commissary General of Military Stores. Hodgdon notes that in addition to this list, "five hundred stand of arms will be forwarded... for the State of Maryland."

GLC02437.01115

29 September 1781

Peters, Richard, fl. 1732-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Orders Knox to send ordnance to General Nathanael Greene, who was "extremely destitute of Musket Ammunition." The Continental Army began to invest the British works for the siege of Yorktown the day before. Peters was the Secretary of the Board of War & Ordnance.

GLC02437.01197

1 May 1781

Manuscript document

Title: Return of ordnance and military stores at Fishkill the 1st May 1781

Lists numbers of pound shot, strapped shot, case shot, grape shot, cases, cylinders, copper ladles, worms, pistols, flints, and other ordnance stores.

GLC02437.10487

25 July 1785

Ashton, Joseph, fl. 1779-1785

Manuscript document

Title: [Return of military stores at Fort Pitt]

Marked as a copy. Includes the [copied?] signature of Joseph Ashton, Lieutenant of Artillery Commanding at Fort Pitt. Lists carriages, howitzers, carbines, rifles, horse shoes, and other stores.

GLC02437.03168

18 March 1784

Manuscript document

Title: Return of ordnance, ammunition &c. in the City of New York

Lists numbers of iron and brass cannon, ammunition, muskets, and harnesses. Docket notes 17 March 1784.

GLC02437.02977