3 September 1782

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Alexander McDougall and and Henry Knox

Written jointly to General McDougall and General Henry Knox. Washington names them commissioners to meet with the commissioners of Sir Guy Carleton, the commander of British forces in America, to settle issues with prisoners of war. Mentions enclosed resolutions of Congress, which are not included here. Asks them to make their preparations early. Is waiting for letters from Congress before he gives them instructions and sets up a meeting place. Sends along report of previous commissioners to help them prepare, which are not included here. Partial tears in document where folds are. Folio pages…

GLC02380

20 September 1780

Rodney, Caesar, 1728-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Encloses a copy of a resolution of Congress (not present) stating that 530 beef cattle are needed for the use of the Continental Army. Stresses that this order needs to be carried out immediately to avoid dire consequences. Docketed, "letter to the receivers."

GLC02116

9 November 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Robert Aitken

Based on an agreement with David Ramsay, Knox was supposed to have sent Aitken a list of general and field officers to be published in the appendix of Ramsay's book, History of the American Revolution. He had another person working on the list for over two months, and upon review found the list too erroneous to publish. Also thinks the list would offend many, as it did not take into consideration those who left the service before the end of the war. Intends to let Ramsay know his reasons for not sending the list (refer to GLC02437.04778).

GLC02437.04411

2 March 1790

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses his affidavit (not present) upon the circumstances of private merchant John Bank's contract with Nathanael Greene to supply the southern army with provisions in 1783. It later came to light that Banks was involved in disreputable business dealings and Greene wanted to renounce any involvement with him. Both Carrington and General Anthony Wayne were asked by Greene to provide affidavits disclaiming any financial connection between Banks and Greene. Carrington asks Knox to withdraw his old affidavit and send this new one to Congress in its place. Encloses a copy of a letter (not…

GLC02437.04525

2 May 1791

Manuscript document

Title: [Regimental request for the Society of Cincinnati] [in French]

Request of the French regiment of de Cuzenne for crosses of the Society of Cincinnati.

GLC02437.04937

14 June 1791

Brooks, John, 1752-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "private." Written by Brooks who had a medical practice in Medford and was a federal marshal to Secretary of War Knox. Says he was offered a chance to reenter the service by Henry Jackson. After some reflection he says he has to decline. Expresses gratitude for the offer and Knox's friendship. Says he has "arrived at a period of life which will not admit of hazarding my future fortune on contingencies - such contingencies at least as present themselves to me in contemplating the appointment in question, I could answer it neither to my family, nor my own mind to relinquish my…

GLC02437.04996

10 June 1792

Pearce, William, fl. 1783

Printed document signed

Title: [Certificate] [in German]

Partially printed with names written in by hand. Certifies that Carl Wilhelm de Schmidsfelden is employed in a certain regiment with a yearly wage of 1500 Spanish dollars which should be delivered to him should he leave the regiment, but is now to receive land as payment instead. Contains a seal.

GLC02437.05502

1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Book of Accounts - Regiment of Artillery Commanded by Colo. Henry Knox 1776

Account book is written in two hands, one unknown, and the other Samuel Shaw. Relates to officers serving under Knox in the artillery in 1776. Each entry is accompanied by Shaw's notes as to whether the account was settled, adjusted, etc. Many of Shaw's notes indicate, "settled" or "adjusted in account current with Chs. Knowles." Entries relate to officers such as Thomas Foster, Edward Burbeck, Eliphelet Newell, William Perkins, Jotham Drury, Henry Burbeck, Ebenezer Stevens, Stephen Badlam, David Mason, John Crane, William Dana, etc. It is reported on the cover that all expenses in the…

GLC02437.08393

circa 1782

Carr, James, fl. 1775-1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Return]

Return for a New Hampshire battalion commanded by James Carr. Lists men by company, rank, and present status. The year 1782 was noted on the docket at later date in pencil.

GLC02437.10613

February 15, 1779

Howe, Robert, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John F. Grimké

Letter written by Major General Howe as Commander of the Southern Department after the defeat at Savannah, Georgia that led to his court martial (he was later exonerated). Letter to Lieutenant Colonel Grimké as Deputy Adjunct General for South Carolina and Georgia. He acknowledges Grimké's last letter and tells him to send future correspondence to the President of Congress. He is travelling north to Philadelphia after the popular outcry against him for the loss at Savannah. He hopes they can remain friends after he leaves. Mentions that "the present Patriot" - meaning John Rutledge, who was…

GLC01764

July 9, 1780

De Kalb, Johann, 1721-1780

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Caswell

Letter signed as "Baron de Kalb." Writes to Major General Caswell about the Camden campaign. Discusses trouble procuring provisions. Judges that it would not be prudent to travel "not even to Cole's bridge with our whole Body of Troops, for we durst not expose parties of Collecting Provisions, when the Enemies are So near, So Superior in Cavalry & for what I know in Infry; if you would chuse not to go as far as Cole's Bridge but halt Where you now are...We might with propriety reassure our plan for Coxe's." Notes that he will send back some artillery to lighten their traveling load. Also…

GLC01766

September 24, 1776

Folsom, Nathaniel, 1726-1790

Letter signed

Title: to Artemas Ward

Letter signed as chairman of the Committee of Public Safety as the Exeter Committee of Safety prepares for war. Reports that one thousand men are marching towards New York to serve in Washington's army. Has sent this letter as an express to Boston to determine whether ammunition should be sent along with New Hampshire's troops.

GLC01460

December 4, 1786

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Refers to Washington's resignation as head of the Order of the Cincinnati. Describes a settlement he left after receiving a request to take command of the Massachusetts state militia, which was needed to suppress Shays' Rebellion. In response to a question from Washington, Lincoln discusses Shays' Rebellion in detail: the anger it is arousing, its causes, his expectation of bloodshed, the role of debt, and the rebellions current advantages. He writes that "In Short the want of industry economy & common honesty Seem to be the causes of the present commotions." Includes a postscript note…

GLC01478

August 5, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horatio Gates

Letter written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress to Gates as Commander of the Northern Department. Says enclosed resolutions (which are not included here) give him command of the army. Gates was in a struggle for control of the Northern Department with General Philip Schuyler, which he won on August 4, 1777 after storming into the halls of Congress to plead his case. His victory came partially because Schuyler had lost Fort Ticonderoga to General John Burgoyne's invading forces. Congress's resolutions ended the squabble for power and allowed Gates to concentrate on defeating…

GLC01498

December 24, 1780

Harrison, Benjamin, 1726-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter written by Harrison, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. Says he will need the recipient's assistance when he goes before Congress, the French Ambassador, and the Generals of the Continental Army to communicate the wants and needs of the southern states. Wants information on the troops under the recipient's command. Would like a full report on their status, place of origin, and supplies. Says the assembly is "straining every nerve to send you a respectable body of men, to cloth them well and to lay in the necessary stock of…

GLC01502

August 7, 1776

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Varick

In the postscript it says letter has been forwarded to Connecticut Governor Trumbull and General David Waterbury of Connecticut shortly after General Schuyler led the controversial retreat from Crown Point. Says he received their letters from August 4-5, 1776, along with their enclosures. Asks them to send iron and spikes and any other supplies they might think the army will need. Says he is "greatly surprised" that money has not arrived and says he will not be to blame if it doesn't arrive. Says they can borrow on his credit as long as they can, but to keep track of who they are borrowing…

GLC01529

September 22, 1784

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Gibbons, Jr.

Letter written by General Wayne as a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly concerning his Georgia plantation "Richmond." The state of Georgia gave Wayne a tract of land for his military service during the Revolution. Instructs Gibbons to hire an overseer to watch the property and any enslaved people that Major Fishbourne shall purchase. Trusts he will superintend and give the necessary directions for "the repair of the banks" so the fields can be prepared for a crop in the spring. Declares he will be there in November and will stay until the next summer, but that it will depend on climate and…

GLC01633

September 9, 1780

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Letter signed

Title: Appointing county commissioners to procure supplies for Continental army

Two printed documents, one signed by Jefferson as governor of Virginia. The supply requisition was for county troops going to the Carolinas. The second document is a printed extract of the relevant act of the Virginia assembly (13 x 16 cm.)

GLC01634

October 16, 1775

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holton

Letter written to fellow jurist Samuel Holton discussing the qualifications of a justice, the readiness of the American forces, and George Washington's opinion of his own army. Satirizes another judge who thinks all judges should have "the prime qualities of an executioner." He believes "the proper qualifications of a judge" are "integrity, ability, & knowledge of the law...a discerner between truth & falsehood, right and wrong." Believes that the colonies were not ready for war, and are still unprepared now, but insists in his full patriotism despite these doubts. Says Washington "…

GLC01579.01

17 March 1815

Van Dyke, Richard, fl. 1815

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Land sale agreement between William and Charles Gardiner and Richard Van Dyke]

Also signed by William Gardiner and Charles Gardiner. Mentions eight Iroquois for whom Van Dyke was making the transaction. The Indians names were Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Atayataghroughta, Captain James Wakarontharane, Captain Honyere Tewahongarakon, Captain John Otaawigton, Lieutenant Cornelius Kahiktoton, Lieutenant John Sagoharase, Lieutenant Hanyost Thaosagwat, and Lieutenant Nicholas Kaghantshonan. The agreement records a transaction to transfer lands to the Gardiners from the Iroquois Indians. Outlines the process by which Van Dyke will obtain the patents for the land in…

GLC01608

October 27, 1776

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Letter signed

Title: to Elias Dayton

Letter written by Major General Schuyler as commander of the Northern Department, to Colonel Elias Dayton of the 3rd New Jersey Regiment. Sent by Schuyler when Dayton's regiment was marching north from Schenectady. Dayton's troops were being sent to the Mohawk Valley to defend the residents from Tory and Indian assaults during the vicious partisan fighting in upstate New York. Says that based on intelligence from General Nicholas Herkimer, his regiment will probably have to march back to the German Flatts, an area near the mouth of the West Canada Creek in New York, unless militia can be sent…

GLC01580

26 March 1784

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph document signed

Title: [Salary account for service in the Continental Congress]

Lists his salary for a 240 day term he served for the state of New York from 25 November 1782 to 30 July 1783 at five dollars a day for a total of $524. Also lists traveling expenses for 14 days. Lists credits to his account of $460 leaving a balance of $64. Mentions credits from Udnay Hay, W. Comfort Sands, and William Floyd. Hamilton signed at the bottom that he received the balance from Governor George Clinton. Autograph note signed by Peter S. Curtenius, the New York State auditor on the second page certifies that Hamilton is owed the $64.

GLC01605

May 26, 1779

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Weiss

Greene informs Weiss, the deputy quartermaster general, of the orders he received from George Washington to ready the Pennsylvania troops to march and asks Weiss to supply them with tents and others necessary stores. He indicates where Weiss can obtain some tents and canteens. Letter written from "Camp."

GLC01556

November 22, 1801

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James McHenry

A long letter, in which Lafayette discusses revolutionary France, his personal affairs and associations, and the light his personal correspondence with George Washington will cast on the memoirs of General Washington being written by Bushrod Washington. On revolutionary France and the war being waged by Napoleon, he writes: "I am among the few who persist to profess that the Liberal seeds which among so much weed have been sown upon European[,] and particularly upon French, ground cannot and shall not be ultimately lost." He discusses personal relationships with Lord Cornwallis and Napoleon.…

GLC01562

July 8, 1780

Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Titus Homer

Encloses a certificate from the Board of War (not included), needed to settle his pay. Arnold informs Homer that he will accept the command of West Point. Although Homer was a friend of Arnold, he probably was unaware of his treasonous plans. Possibly a retained draft, with several deletions in the text by Arnold.

GLC01542