8 April 1783

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Whipple

Informs his brother that "The Treaties of Peace were sign'd," officially ending the American Revolution, and that "The British I suppose are preparing to leave our Territory." Indicates that soldiers will soon be coming home in need of employment. Joseph Whipple was William's only living brother (by blood), although it is possible that the addressee was a brother-in-law.

GLC07700

20 October 1780

Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801

Broadside

Title: [Proclamation to officers and soldiers of the Continental Army]

Full title as follows, "A Proclamation to the Officers and Soldiers of the Continental Army who have the real Interest of their Country at Heart, and who are determined to be no longer the Tools and Dupes of Congress, or of France." An appeal to American soldiers to join the British Army and advance the cause of "Union with Britain, and true American Liberty." "Friends, fellow soldiers, and citizens, arouse, and judge for yourselves - reflect on what you have lost - consider to what you are reduced, and by your courage repel the ruin the still threatens you." With various monetary…

GLC07701

January 25, 1782

Clinton, Henry, Sir, 1730-1795

Letter signed

Title: to Lord Germain

Despite the fact that "the Commander in Chief...shall not oppose the reviving Civil Government" for the purpose of meeting "the Rebels on the Ground taken up by General Washington in...the Capitulation of York Town," General Clinton, writing on behalf of "His Majesty's Commissioners," advises against declaring New York at peace. He claims that "a Revival of the Act of Trade would immediately set aside the restraints at this port." Docket identifies this as a "Sketch of a letter from the King's Commissioners to Lord Geo. Germain."

GLC07534

22 September 1778

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to George Baylor

Advises Baylor to "use every means in your power" to ascertain as much information as possible about the British troops embarking from New York. Also instructs him to keep an eye on the North River and to notify West Point if he sees any British transports go by. Written just prior to British General Charles Grey's attack at Old Tappan on 28 September 1778. Water damaged ink.

GLC07486

14 November 1776

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Charles Lee

Anticipates a prisoner exchange. Worries the British will try to exchange men who are not really continental soldiers, therefore requests Lee to order all officers to make lists of those in their units who are missing or dead. Encloses "a recommendation of the officers for the State of Rhode Island." Postscript states British forces suspected to be moving to South Carolina. Saw small number of British troops near Mount Washington, and speculates as to their possible movements. Written from "General Green's Quarters." Two days later the British would drive Washington and his forces from…

GLC07491

11 October 1780

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Timothy Pickering

Writes to Pickering, who was his successor as Quartermaster of the Continental Army when Greene took command of West Point just after Benedict Arnold's treason. Expresses his dismay at the state of the garrison at West Point and requests supplies. "On my arrival at this place I found every thing in so disagreeable strain, so much to do, so little time to do it in ... " Advises that he has stopped Captain Seizer's artillery company from marching until they can get more manpower. Informs that more artificers are needed, that many boats need repair, and that winter barracks need to be built.

GLC07667

[20 July 1781]

Harrison, Charles, 1740-1796

Autograph document signed

Title: [Chain of posts in South Carolina captured from British]

Signed with initials. Lists several posts established by Lord Cornwallis in South Carolina which had been reduced and evacuated by American forces. Notes that there are about 1200 prisoners in the reduced works. Adds that these posts secured Britain to South Carolina and the destruction of these forts would break Britain's tie to South and North Carolina. Originally enclosed with GLC02437.01063.

GLC02437.01319

30 June 1782

Craig, Isaac, 1742-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses an ordnance return and a return of his detachment. Writes that since his arrival, "the whole Garrison have been Employed in puting the Fort in a better State of defence - my Detachment are Engaged in making new Platforms, Reparing Gun Carrages and removing Some of them that were too much Decayed to be Reparid. The Guns that I was under the necesity of dismounting in Coming up the Ohio Last Fall I have Remounted on New Cariges, and these together with all the other Field, in good Order and Compleatly Painted - I Expected agreeable to my Request, and if I Recollected Right, Your…

GLC02437.01470

3 September 1782

Corne, Peter, fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Shaw

Writes, "I am much oblig'd to you for the agreeable lines you sent communicating the good intentions of the Commander in Chief I thank him & shall [bean?] respect I shall strictly obey the order of staying in my quarters & joyfully wait the happy Period of Liberation."

GLC02437.01567

16 October 1782

Cornell, Ezekiel, 1733-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Camp Verplank's Point, present-day Verplanck, New York. Encloses a copy of the contract from the day's General Orders. Would have liked to send a copy of the new contract but it is not yet finished; will send it when it is complete. Outlines the quantities of beef or salt pork, bread or flour, whiskey, salt, soap, and candles that are included in the ration specified in the new contract. Adds that officers are entitled to a quantity of "good West India rum" instead of the whiskey, if they prefer. Officers can take as much as they are entitled to, and accounts will be…

GLC02437.01664

22 December 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: [Certificate to Asa Copeland]

Certifies that Asa Copeland has been serving as a Conductor of Military Stores since 21 April 1779 and that he is still serving as such. He is therefore entitled to his pay and the depreciations of his pay during this period, deducting whatever money might already have been received from the public.

GLC02437.01759

25 March 1783

Cheesman, Joseph, fl. 1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Provision return for masons]

Countersigned by Samuel Shaw with a note on verso from Jacob Wight. Lists amount of extra rations provided for Masons;. Date and place writ from note on verso.

GLC02437.02044

18 December 1783

Hughes, James M., fl. 1783

Manuscript document

Title: [Extract from minutes]

An extract from a council's minutes. States that the Governor of New York expresses his thanks for the citizens of the state and Major General Henry Knox for their help in "preserving the Peace and good Order of the Southern District, since the Evacuation thereof, by the Forces of his Britannic Majesty ... "

GLC02437.02845

24 December 1783

Hughes, James M., fl. 1783

Manuscript document

Title: [Extract from minutes]

An extract from the Council's minutes. Resolve gives the governor of New York the authority to "discharge the said Troops; except such Number or Detachment of them as Major General Knox, or other commanding Officer of the Troops of the United States, within this State, shall deem necessary to be retained in Service, at the Expence [sic] of the United States." This was a result of the high expense the New York troops incurred due to wages, subsistence, and clothing.

GLC02437.02856

circa 1783

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: An account of clothing, Corryels Ferry July 1777, that was received of the depy clothier

Shaw signs as Henry Knox's aide-de-camp. Marked as a copy. Date of creation based on a previously inferred date written in pencil near the top of the page.

GLC02437.02885

February 11, 1784

Gibbs, Caleb, fl. 1748-1818

Autograph document signed

Title: [Court martial of soldiers from Constitution Island]

Major Gibbs serves as president. Contains the detailed proceedings of the trial of a group of soldiers from Constitution Island who broke into the home and store of David Sands, a Quaker. According to GLC02437.02948, they "abused his Wife, and plundered his Store," stealing goods and money. The Court rules that two of the soldiers must suffer death (Samuel E. Andrews and Samuel Sanders), three other participants are to receive "one hundred lashes on their naked backs at four different times," and the other participant should receive "one hundred lashes on his naked back."

GLC02437.02949

December 11, 1790

Cornell, Ezekiel, 1733-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Tells Knox that Benjamin Bourn will be bearing this letter on his way to Philadelphia to take his seat in the House of Representatives. Points to Bourn's visit with him as "evidence to you that he is not an Anti" [possible anti-federalist or anti-National Bank.] Says the "once famous Mr. [David] Howel[l] is dispised by all parties in the state to which he belongs which brings to mind that test of scripture which says that the wicked shall not live out half their Days - But there is a Number of other characters of the same Description that must go the same way before that once happy state…

GLC02437.04794

8 May 1776

Crafts, Edward, 1746-1806

Document

Title: [Abstract of pay, January 1776, Captain Edward Craft's company in Henry Knox's artillery regiment]

Written at Fort Sterling, New York. Lists rank and corresponding pay for Sterling's company for January.

GLC02437.09520

14 December 1782

Johnson, J., fl. 1782

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Recommendation for a leave of absence for Captain Robertson]

Lieutenant Colonel Johnson recommends Robertson for a leave of absence. Directed to Major General Henry Knox.

GLC02437.09562

4 March 1783

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Colonel Nicola writes from General [Horatio] Gates's Quarters. Recommends Sergeant Coombs, of the Invalid Regiment, for a leave of absence to see his wife in Weatherfield, Connecticut. Sends his respects to Lucy, Henry's wife.

GLC02437.09675

February 13, 1776

Crafts, Edward, 1746-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Return of goods drawn from Continental Army stores from September 1775 to January 1776]

Lists the names of 40 men in Captain Craft's Company, with a numeric figure. Docketed in graphite.

GLC02437.10437

6 August 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Writes that he has mentioned to General George Washington his and Crane's opinion that the west redoubt is the best place to deposit the powder now at Fishkill, and Washington agrees completely. Declares that Washington has asked Knox to direct the preparations, so he asks Crane to examine the west redoubt with a Captain Lieutenant Sears. If they find it an acceptable place, Crane should order Sears to prepare the redoubt to "render it proper for the safety of the powder that may be placed there." Also asks Crane to provide Crane's regiment and Captain Moody's company [likely Captain…

GLC02437.01516

19 October 1781

Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis, 1738-1805

Manuscript document

Title: [Articles of capitulation settled at Yorktown]

List of articles dictating the surrender of Cornwallis (Lieutenant General of Britain) to George Washington, the Count de Rochambeau (Lieutenant General of the French army), and the Comte de Grasse (Lieutenant General of the naval armies of France). Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Henry Knox's aide de camp. Shaw has penned the signature "Thomas Symonds." Shaw apparently also attempted to create with the same pen a look-alike signature of Cornwallis. Symonds was the commander of British naval forces in the York River. Article one indicates that the garrisons of York and Gloucester,…

GLC02437.09555

circa 1804

Printed document

Title: Prospectus of an historical and allegorical picture, entitled the Siege of York

Title continues: "or, the British surrendering their arms to General Washington after their defeat at York-Town, in Virginia, in the month of October, 1781." States that John Francis Renault is the creator of the work. Contains a description of the picture, noting that each subscriber pays twelve dollars for an engraving of Renault's work. Attests to Renault's patent of the picture. Printed at the Emerald Press. Docketed by Knox, who notes he paid five dollars and will pay the remainder "when finished."

GLC02437.10361

14 August 1781

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Crane to Brigadier General Knox. Writes in response to officers who have accused him of withholding money from soldiers under his command. Asks for a court of inquiry to investigate the matter. Hopes everyone "who have made free with my Character behind my back will appear at this Court."

GLC02437.01133