22 December 1930

Lindsey, Ben B., 1869 - 1943

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benetta

GLC00379.159.31

12 June1783

Washington, George (1732-1799)

Letter signed

Title: To: William Livingston.

Washington's farewell address ("Circular to the States") as Commander-in-Chief,spelling out principles esssential to new nation's future existence, now that the United States are "proposed of absolute freedom and independency." With printed copy of address (1783).

GLC08079

16 July 1761 - 21 July 1775

Thomas, Joshua, fl. 1775-1776

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Massachusetts regimental orderly book]

Massachusetts regimental book regarding recruiting, movements, provisions, court martials, etc. The first 23.5 pages cover entries and accounts made by an unnamed leader of a regiment from Middleborough, Massachusetts, stationed mostly at Crown Point, New York in July-November 1761. Crown Point had been captured by the British in 1759, and since that time served as a defensive outpost. The entries speak to Jeffrey Amherst's military strategy of maintaining a military presence in the newly won territory and the difficulties-particularly with preventing desertions and maintaining provisions-…

GLC02663

1777-1779

Manuscript document

Title: [Document on manuevers for Nixon's & Glover's brigades]

Undated and without place. References the movements and maneuvers of Nixon's brigade, Glover's brigade, and Sullivan's division. Is very specific on where flankers need to be. Notes that "Above all a most strict Silence is to be observ'd." Dating based on Glover's promotion to brigadier general in 1777 and Sullivan's resignation in 1779.

GLC02959

circa 1779

Manuscript document

Title: Formation of the army commanded by General George Washington for the present campaign

The manuscript lists totals of 10,803 and 1,396 soldiers, with an additional 1257 detached men in General John Stark's brigade. Lists regiments from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.

GLC03105

16 December 1778

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Alexander McDougall

Written by Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army to Major General McDougall as commander of the Hudson Highlands Department. Place written inferred from George Washington Papers, which place his headquarters at Gulph Mill, Pennsylvania that day. References McDougall's letter of 9 December 1778. Says Sir Henry Clinton's fruitless naval expedition up the Hudson in December 1778 was not worth the trouble. Mentions the necessity of shuffling several officers into different commands and hopes it does not cause too many problems. Approves of his choices and management thus far.…

GLC02795

15 April 1779- 17 October 1780

Brodhead, Daniel, 1736-1809

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Brodhead's Revolutionary War letterbook]

Includes various letters written by Colonel Brodhead, commander of the Western Department in Pittsburgh. Early entries in this book are created in Pittsburgh, while later entries are created at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania. This book begins with a list of recipients arranged alphabetically. Recipients of Brodhead's letters include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Timothy Pickering, and many others.

GLC02867.01

14 July 1778

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Webb

Written as Quartermaster General, mentions the Battle of Monmouth and that he is crossing the Hudson (North) River. Adds that the French fleet is off Sandy Hook. Ridicules the "farcical" Parliamentary propositions for reconciliation with the United States.

GLC02863

24 September 1780

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Huntington

Brigadier General Parsons complains about insufficient provisions and decreasing numbers of troops, in which he did not see "in the present Temper of the Country a possibility of recruiting them again. Rails against Congress and the promotion of General Smallwood (to Major General after the Battle of Camden), which he took as a personal offense because his own service was overlooked.

GLC03413

1 July 1779 - 24 May 1780

Van Dyke, Cornelius, fl. 1775-1783

Manuscript signed

Title: [American Revolution orderly book of the 2nd New York with garrison orders for Fort Schuyler]

Orderly book with orders issued by Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Van Dyke and Major John Graham, some signed and in their hand. Notable orders relate to a Fourth of July celebration and General Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga. Many others concern military preparations, court martials, Indian trade proscriptions, and other matters related to the protection from the Iroquois on the New York frontier. Most entries name day guards. Fort Schuyler, in Oneida County, New York, was an outpost exposed to British-Indian raiding, especially just west, in the Mohawk Valley. Raids in that…

GLC03158

July 16, 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [John Langdon].

Discusses contracting for guns, military preparations, and the Declaration of Independence. Remarks that independence was proclaimed in the army at New York last Wednesday and a statue of King George III was taken down and cast into bullets, "... for the destruction of this tools of tyranny. May every one of them be properly commissioned." Informs that in a few days 20,000 men will be assembled at New Jersey in addition to the army of York. Writes the Declaration "has had a glorious affect has made these Colonies all alive, all the colonies forming governments. . ."

GLC03186

[ 17 December 1781 ]

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Magistrates of Philadelphia re: his respect for civil authority & liberty

Washington writes that he feels pleased by their praise and notes how he has endeavored to avoid violating liberty and civil authority. Written six months before being approached by Lewis Nicola with a plan to make Washington the king of the United States.

GLC03344

8 April 1779

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Heath as Major General in Continental Army from his hometown of Roxbury to an unknown council. Heath was in charge of the Convention Army, which consisted of the British prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign. After surrendering in October 1777, they were marched through Albany to Boston, where they remained until February 1779, when they were marched to Virginia. This letter deals with barracks for those prisoners of war at Rutland, Massachusetts. Says Colonel Joshua Davis is now ready to settle his accounts for the expenditures that were used to build the barracks to…

GLC03376

23 August 1778

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sullivan

Expresses surprise at the news that "Count D'Estaing has abandoned us in the present Enterprise." At Sullivan's request gives his opinion on the situation, saying he feels the siege of Newport is not worth continuing without the French fleet, since he expects British reinforcements soon. Instead suggests an immediate attack, for which he details his strategy. Opposes a retreat but in case "the General Council be of a different opinion" he lays out a plan for retreat as well. General Sullivan posed this question to a number of officers. In GLC04845 he writes William Whipple and asks his…

GLC03232

August 29, 1778

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Reports that his son left the recipient's horse at Daggets instead of at Sanfords in Bristol, where William Ellery had promised to deliver it in his last letter as his part in the "Newport Expedition." Comments on General John Sullivan and the withdrawal of Charles, Count d'Estaing, from the siege of Newport. Tells him he has heard from Philadelphia that the French Ambassador has met with an audience of Congress. Asks for any news he can be given and indicates that he has heard New York is to be evacuated by the British. A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, William…

GLC03236

13 November 1777

Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Warren

Written by Gerry as delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress to Warren as a member of the Continental Navy Board. References Warren's letter of 23 October 1777, in which he found news of General John Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga earlier that month. In that letter Warren expressed misgivings about the terms of surrender that General Horatio Gates gave to Burgoyne, known as the Articles of Convention. Gerry says he had the same misgivings, but says Gates was justified in giving generous terms because Sir Henry Clinton was making moves to reinforce Burgoyne. Says that they…

GLC03239

25 July 1776

McIntosh, Lachlan, 1725-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Lee

Also addressed to Lieutenant Seixas (possibly Abraham Mendez Seixas). Colonel McIntosh, commander of American forces in Georgia, replies to a letter from General Lee, Southern Department Commander. Mentions Colonel Samuel Elbert, also active in Georgia. States that an informant "saw a Fifty Gun Ship yesterday afternoon sailing on our Barr into the River, where four other Ships lay at anchor ... I imagine those Gentry will not be guilty a second time of the same delay as in Carolina ... " Relates that in his opinion, this is the fleet from Charleston, South Carolina. In a post script,…

GLC03255

June 3, 1781

Mason, George, Sr., 1725-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Mason Jr.

Discusses George Jr.'s brothers' roles in the war. Says the Americans under Nathaniel Greene are fighting bravely, but are overmatched by the British, who seem intent on taking Virginia. Cornwallis and his men have just arrived in Virginia to support Benedict Arnold's troops. Discusses the forces of Lafayette and Wayne in Pennsylvania. Hopes that a French fleet will soon arrive, but doubts this will happen. Says that most Virginians support the revolution and the alliance with the French. Many Virginians "grow uneasy, & restless, & begin to think that our Allies are spinning out the…

GLC03256

24 December 1781

Johnson, J., fl. 1782

Newspaper

Title: The Salisbury and Winchester Journal [Monday, December 24, 1781]

Includes news related to the Battle of Yorktown. Publishes a letter from Lord Cornwallis to Henry Clinton dated 20 October 1781, in which Cornwallis announced his defeat. Prints several items of correspondence between Cornwallis and George Washington (related to the British captiulation at Yorktown) from October 1781. Also includes news from the House of Commons and various announcements and advertisments.

GLC03517

18 April 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Bryant

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aid-de-camp. States he is sorry to hear that Captain Bryant's company is weak but says "it is out of my power to add to it, except by ordering such men of the artillery to it, who are unable to do field duty." Approves of Bryant sending samples of "fuzes, rockets and tubes" of Bryant's making. Asks Bryant to inform Colonel David Mason that Knox applied to Colonel Timothy Pickering for an order on the quarter master in Springfield. Bryant was a member of Colonel Mason's corps of Artillery artificers stationed at Springfield. "…

GLC03495

September 24, 1780

Varick, Richard, 1753-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dirck Romeyn

Varick says his he spent all of the previous night on "public letters" which now occupy all his time, and must be brief. He says Luzerne stopped with them on his way to meet Rochambeau, Ternay, and Lafayette. This would be the Frenchmen's first meeting with George Washington, who is not mentioned in the letter. Relates the events of the Battle of Camden, as told to him by Luzerne. Says the Maryland troops fought bravely, and if General Horatio Gates had not fled the Americans might have won. Says General William Smallwood served bravely but eventually had to withdraw. Despite the loss,…

GLC03265

24 December 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Written by New Hampshire Continental Congressman Whipple, a Declaration of Independence signer, to Langdon agent for Continental prizes and superintendent of the construction of several ships of war. Langdon had resigned his Congressional seat in June 1776. Wrote last letter to Langdon a day or two before Congress adjourned on 11 December 1776. Says they started meeting in Baltimore on 20 December 1776. Claims the British approach sparked a panic except for the Tories "of which you know there are not a small number." Heard that enemy troops have made it to Burlington, New Jersey. Because…

GLC03269

November 28, 1780

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Hamilton

Lafayette states that he arrived last night and will set out for Philadelphia. He writes about his recommendation to General George Washington that Hamilton should be made Adjutant General. Explains the reasons he gave in support of his recommendation. Assures that Washington values Hamilton's friendship greatly. Comments on his own friendship with Hamilton and his fondness for him. He gives compliments to Mrs. Hamilton, General Philip Schuyler, and the Schuyler family.

GLC03323

September 1775

Trumbull, John, fl. 1775-1793

Autograph manuscript

Title: Autograph manuscript map of Boston drawn and annotated by Trumbull

Drawn for Washington on paper watermarked Norwich [Conn.]. Said to be one of the maps which introduced Trumbull to Washington's favor. It shows Boston, Cambridge and the surrounding harbor, with fortifications. Reproduced as a print in Theodore Sizer, Works of Col. John Trumbull (New Haven 1967), fig. 249, who refers to the original as "lost." This autograph manuscript is reproduced in The Correspondence of Captain Nathan and Lois Peters (Connecticut Historical Society, 1980).

GLC03795

9 January 1777

Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Henry Lee

Written by Henry as Governor of Virginia to Lee as a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress. Sends congratulations about Washington's victory at Trenton on 25 December 1776. Observes that the people of Virginia are firm. Believes a great number of volunteers can still be found. Hopes enlistments may be filled, but doubts it will happen quickly. Says the Cherokees are humbled, but fears hostilities will break out around Pittsburgh, and he has prepared accordingly. Says arms and woolens are needed. Says "I do indeed pity your situation ... Let me tell you that altho yr Fatigue is…

GLC03869