13 April 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Expresses his love for her. Thinks Crane will soon have success in recruiting men. Feels "America trifles too much with the high matters in which she is engag'd - an infinity of happiness or misery depends upon the success or non-success of the present Contest." Is pleased with recent victories in New Jersey, but worries that prolonged British occupation of the state has cost the revolutionaries some supporters. Says "a party of ours" attacked a party of 70 Tory "wretches to Humanity" and took 5 prisoners. There are more of them across the Passaic River, opposite Newark. Expects General…

GLC02437.00573

14 April 1777

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Says he has received orders "from the Council of this State to march my Independent Company Immediately to Providence." Rhode Island needs these men for defense until 2,000 militiamen can be raised, and Jackson worries that without him his men would not have gone. Also worries what will happen to his continental regiment while he is away, and hopes "the general" will not disapprove of his actions.

GLC02437.00574

20 April 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

The Americans "are getting strong" while "the enemy by all accounts...must be very imbecile." Hopes she is recovering from the smallpox inoculation, and sends his love to her and their daughter.

GLC02437.00577

24 April 1777

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expects Henry will disapprove the most recent actions of the unit he is serving in. Says he did not wish to participate himself, but did so when his colonel said that not to would forever sully his name. Is living "in the stile of soldiers, lodging on the floor...eating out of Wooden Bowls, Gallanting with the Ladies." His unit is remaining with General Spencer, keeping sentry over his person. Finds sentry duty good for "Humour or...variety." Despite these obstacles is still committed to joining the army and has left many recently purchased goods behind. Hopes Lucy and her daughter are…

GLC02437.00578

3 January 1778

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Military advice for George Washington]

Written from Artillery Park of Great Valley (Valley Forge), Pennsylvania. Knox discusses the necessity of recruiting more men. Argues that New York City is of greater importance to the British than any other place due to its accessibility by way of water. Writes, "The disagreeable circumstances to which the loss of New York would reduce the Enemy operate so strongly on my mind, that were the numbers there fully ascertained, their works of defence & ca so as to render the Success of a Coup de Main probable, I should most readily give my opinion to open the Campaign by an attack upon…

GLC02437.00683

January 18, 1778

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy. Previous catalog record noted that this is a copy. Knox had planned to travel to New England by way of Albany, New York, so he could see Lincoln and Benedict Arnold, but his late departure will prevent him from taking that route. Comments on Lincoln's recovery (his leg was badly injured during the Saratoga campaign in 1777). Congratulates Lincoln on the victory at Saratoga, New York: "The success with which your exertions have been crowned, and the ample security it affords at present to this and the neighboring states must be a pleasing reflection in your pain and confinement…

GLC02437.00691

circa 1778

Printed document

Title: [Oath of allegiance to the United States]

Date inferred from the Journals of the Continental Congress circa January- February 1778. The Journals indicate that every officer who holds or is granted a commission or office from Congress should take the following oath: "I do acknowledge the UNITED STATES of AMERICA to be Free, Independent and Sovereign States, and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the Third, King of Great-Britain; and I renounce, refuse and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him ... "

GLC02437.00678

3 January- 29 December 1778

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: Ordnance & stores received during the year 1778

Lists items such as cartridge, muskets, bayonets, and drum shell, among others. Marked "No. 1" at the top of page one.

GLC02437.00684

circa January 1779

Manuscript document

Title: Articles issued in the Year 1778

Lists items such as muskets, cartridges, quills, broad swords, and bayonets, among others. Indicates the names of some 600 men receiving the articles, including officers. Marked "No. 6" at the top of page one.

GLC02437.00685

8 January 1778

Jones, Thomas, fl. 1777-1782

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Account of spirits delivered for the use of General Knox]

Jones, Department Commissary General of Issues, lists account information from October-December 1777. In a note to Thomas Wiley, Assistant Commissary of Issues, Jones discusses Knox's account and liquor delivered to the troops. Possibly created in Artillery Park, Great Valley Camp, Pennsylvania.

GLC02437.00688

February 11, 1778

Manuscript document

Title: [Journal of Congress]

Lists payment for the post of commissary general, deputy, conductors, and clerks. Recorded as "Journals of Congress- Vol. 4. Page 86." On verso, "Mr. James Giles" is written and struck.

GLC02437.00692

1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Statement of troops furnished by the following States, taken from actual returns of the army for the year 1777.

Includes two charts. The first indicates that Congress fixed quotas in September of 1776 for service, requiring three years or service during the war. Lists quotas required, including numbers of battalions and numbers of men for 1777. Includes numbers of Continental troops and militia furnished. Cites total number of Continental troops and militia. Second chart includes a "Conjectural estimate of militia employed in addition to" those listed in the first chart. A note in the right margin indicates the requirements for Georgia's troops, noting that the time of service has expired for…

GLC02437.10466

8 January 1778

Wiley, M., fl. 1778

Manuscript document

Title: [Account of provisions delivered for the use of General Knox]

Created at Artillery Park, Great Valley [Valley Forge, Pennsylvania]. Includes account information from September 1777-January 1778. Lists items such as beef, pork, mutton, veal, bread, and other items. Signed by [M.?] Wiley. Verso contains additional account information also signed by Wiley.

GLC02437.10467

1 April 1777

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Received Knox's letter via Captain Shaw, and was pleased by Knox's good spirits. Hopes to defeat the British, but worries about the lack of manpower, hearing that Washington only has 4,000 men. "If this is the case you must expect a whipping very soon." Hears that there are only 1,200 men and no field officers at Fort Ticonderoga, that Indian skirmishes there have cost many American lives, and that "Colonel Baldwin the Engineer" was taken prisoner. Unless action is taken he fears this "most important post on the Continent" may be lost. Colonel Crane lost his struggle to be permitted to…

GLC02437.00561

1 April 1777

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks him for his letter, which Samuel Shaw delivered. When she had not heard from him for two posts she began to worry. She loves him more than ever, and will send the goods he requested in his previous letter. Details her plans to be inoculated against smallpox. Had hoped to go to a hospital in Brookline, where Doctor Gardner promised he would see her every day. But this hospital is now perhaps going to be used only to inoculate soldiers. In that case she plans to go to a hospital in Salem. Wishes he had taken care of the business with Mr. Hichborn himself, and discusses other…

GLC02437.00562

January 12 - March 24, 1777

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Artillery record book]

Book of records for Knox's artillery regiment. Contains inventories of artillery, notes regarding regimental activities and some daily entries. Samuel Shaw created the book, which dates between 12 January 1777 and 24 March 1777. The first page, probably the cover page, contains sketches, some appear to be of cannon. Page 2 is a list of the amount of ammunition delivered to various officers. At bottom is a note informing Captain Lieutenant Joseph Crane that he is "considered as no longer an officer in the Corps of Artillery." States this document is a copy, and that the original was…

GLC02437.00518

January 30, 1777

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Recommends a young officer named Ebenezer Finley to Knox's artillery corps Finley is "intimately acquainted with those branches of knowledge with are connected with the Science of war." Is currently a third lieutenant in another artillery group, but has been offered command of a Maryland infantry company. But since "his genius & inclinations both mark him for the artillery," Rush is hoping top secure him a company of artillery under Knox instead. States Finley is also "a perfect little gentleman." Also mentions that his father is the late Doctor Samuel Finley, the President of the…

GLC02437.00525

January 12,1777 - February 3, 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Invoice of payments from Henry Knox to Jotham Drury]

Lists cash paid by Knox to Drury in order to pay soldiers. Dates are listed for each payment, which total nine hundred and eighty dollars.

GLC02437.00528

February 11, 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Copy of a receipt for pay of Captain Stephen Badlam's company]

Receipt for cash paid to Stephen Badlam, consisting of one hundred eighteen pounds twelve schillings to pay his company for the month and one pound eight schillings and two pence due General Mifflin for clothing. States that this document is a copy.

GLC02437.00530

January 17, 1777

Manuscript document

Title: Sundry accounts to General Knox

Date from docket. Apparently a quartermaster's account. Includes a list of named captains under Knox, including A[lexander] Hamilton, and corresponding figures (possibly their pay or money allotted for their use for supplies, etc). A note in Samuel Shaw's hand at the bottom of page one includes account information for General [Thomas] Mifflin and Colonel [Stephen] Moylan.

GLC02437.10011

24 April 1777

Gardner, Joseph, ?-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Dr. Gardner informs Knox that both his wife and daughter have been successfully inoculated against smallpox, and are feeling well again. Also a French ship has just arrived with 58 cannons, as well as shot, powder, clothing, blankets and tents. Promises to continue writing and offers to do any favors Knox needs.

GLC02437.00579

1 May 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: Establishment and pay for a company of artillery in the service of the United of America

Date from docket. Lists various posts, from captain to drummer, and their corresponding pay. First page and dated docket in Knox's hand, other docket in Shaw's.

GLC02437.00584

circa 11 June 1776

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Military Printing Bill]

Bill for Revolutionary War printing done by Ebenezer Watson for the Connecticut Assembly between 12 June 1775 and 27 May 1776, and receipt of payment by Watson, Hartford, 11 June 1776. Includes 1,000 passes for Col. Benedict Arnold received by Col. Henman from Crown Point, advertisements for deserters, 500 copies of the Salt Peter and Gunpowder act, an unknown quantitiy of the Minuteman Act, 100 copies of the Embarg Proclamation, enlistment orders printed on three occasions, 400 orders and enlistments for minutemen, 2100 enlistments, and beating orders for Continental and Connecticut…

GLC09046

29 October 1782

Drury, Luke, fl. 1782

Manuscript document

Title: to Jonathan Ward

Complaint to former commander, now Worcester Co. J.P., Jonathan Ward, about public slander by Joseph Perry. Quotes Perry as saying he was never fit to be a colonel, that he cowardly ran from battle at Bunker Hill, and that he committed adultery with an Indian squaw.

GLC09049.01

5 November 1782

Perry, Joseph, fl. 1780

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Jonathan Ward

Recants what he said and apologizes for slandering Luke Drury's good name (see GLC09049.01). Signed by Perry and three witnesses.

GLC09049.02