13 August 1776

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Responds to Knox's letter (see GLC02437.00403) to tell him that he did not meet with the founder making the cannons Knox wrote about, but another member of the Continental Congress did. Reports that the congress is also making efforts to mine copper in New Jersey. Discusses the possibility of sending Knox some information about five ships, probably seized vessels. Agrees that Massachusetts should supply the army with more officers, since they supply so many soldiers. Adams continues to discuss the need to promote Massachusetts officers and raises additional artillery concerns in a letter to…

GLC02437.00416

23 September 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Discusses corresponding with his brother. Describes the artillery department in the Continental Army as one of the busiest, and the reason he cannot write as frequently as would prefer to. Gives his analysis and opinions of recent events, commenting on British activities and George Washington's leadership, the poor quality of officers the Continental Army, the failures of the Continental Congress, and the needs of the army. Believes that the Battle of Long Island was their one chance to win New York. Comments on the morale-boosting effects of the small victory at the Battle of Harlem…

GLC02437.00451

15 September 1776

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Complains that Henry has not written to him recently and explains how he has received information from Lucy Knox and Mrs. Jonathan Pollard. Claims that they do not have many good sources for the news in Boston. Indicates that a British ship called the Mifford is seizing any vessel that comes near it in the bay. Mentions plans to mobilize troops from Connecticut. Notes that Benjamin Franklin, Edward Rutledge, and John Adams were being sent by Congress to meet with William Howe, a peace conference that later proved unsuccessful. Mentions reports of a battle on Lake Champlain. Business has…

GLC02437.00445

23 May 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Indicates that he received William's letter from his wife Lucy, who just arrived in New York with their newborn child. Anticipates New York as "principal seat of war" and worries about his family being in harms way. Mentions that George Washington has gone to meet with the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to discuss the current campaign. Welcomes the news that General Horatio Gates has been promoted to major general and been placed in charge of the defense of Boston. Mentions a heavy loss inflicted by a schooner from the West Indies two days earlier. Promises to write more frequently…

GLC02437.00311

13 December 1782

Paterson, John, 1744-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he has received his most recent letter accompanying the address to Congress, and will comply with Knox's request to have it signed by the committee members and then pass it on to Colonel [John] Brooks, who will be leaving for West Point tomorrow. Will also pay close attention to Knox's other requests.

GLC02437.01741

25 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Paterson

Written by General Knox to General Paterson. Says he received a letter from headquarters that stated the need for the troops to press on. Hopes Paterson will reach Ringwood, New Jersey tomorrow night. Sent this note so that he would not "retard your march in the morning."

GLC02437.02184

26 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Paterson

Written and signed for Knox by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Informs General Paterson that Knox has sent him three hundred pairs of shoes for his troops. Writes that other companies have been instructed to follow Paterson as soon as they arrive. See GLC02437.02189, the receipt for the shoes.

GLC02437.02191

7 October 1783

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a petition in Congress "to postpone the sale of absentees estates till further orders of the court, and to enable agents to lease as heretofore," which would affect Knox's claim to the Waldo patent. Also discusses the issue of commutation in Congress, and includes an update on the voting results.

GLC02437.02627

20 October 1783

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that Congress has voted to "discharge the National Debt," and that one party had wanted to insert a clause to "exclude the Commutation & confirm it solely to discharge the foreign debt," though this clause did not pass.

GLC02437.02691

8 March 1785

Partridge, George, 1740-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Partridge, a Continental Congressman, discusses Knox's appointment as Secretary at War: "This Congress made choice of you to be their Secretary in the War Department, but it is rather doubtful with some of your friends whither [sic] you will accept, on account of the difficiency [sic] of salary, which now stands at only 2450 dollars." Encourages Knox to accept the appointment despite the low salary.

GLC02437.03104

24 December 1787

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that "By a Resolution of Congress the Ohio Company are intitled to sink their military Rights in the Purchase to the Amount of the Seventh of the Purchase Monies" and asks for documents to facilitate that end. Notes that he has contracted with the Connecticut commissioners "to run the lines of their Reserve to the Indian Boundary." Asks if the military there can assist him, if "a Post will be establish'd next Season near the Mouth of the Cuyahoga, or whither Capt. Hutchins will be directed to take the Course of Lake Erie next Spring." Recommends Mr. [Manasseh?] Cutler to replace Mr.…

GLC02437.03737

30 December 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Knox writes to Osgood, a Continental Congressman. Thanks him for the "disinterested attention" he has paid Knox in several instances. Assures Osgood he prizes their friendship highly. Reports that George Washington has instructed him to dissolve several corps and reorganize the soldiers whose terms have not expired into an infantry and artillery. Writes, "This business has been painful on account of discharging the officers and soldiers at this [severe] season without pay, and in many instances the men are miserably clad." Refers to an instance in summer of 1783 when officers petitioned…

GLC02437.02875

9 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Written by Major General Knox to Continental Congressman Osgood. Says the letter will be delivered by Major General Baron von Steuben. Says "I am certain you are well acquainted with the reputation of his abilities, and that it is been owing to him that a substantial discipline has been established in the American Army." Says he is "particularly attached" to the American cause and has expended much of his own money to help further it, but that he "can no longer live without pay." Knox says he knows Osgood's "liberal mode of thinking" and hopes he can help von Steuben. (See GLC03646 for the…

GLC02437.01480

17 September 1782

Osgood, Samuel, 1748-1813

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses recent resolutions of Congress which restructured the system of ranks and payments in the military. Considers whether pay grades should be linked directly to ranks, or whether people in each rank should be paid according to the way they perform their tasks, or the amount of tasks associated with each individual position. For example, he can "easily conceive when a Brigadier General has no Brigade, when he can have no command in the Army unless in that Office." Writes that General Edward Hand "will not presume to think that he is the only person that has filled that office - with…

GLC02437.01618

4 December 1782

Osgood, Samuel, 1748-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Osgood as a Continental Congressmen from Massachusetts to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 2 November. After reading it says he "began to repent that I had wrote you with Respect to the System for the Adjutant Genl. Department." Feels honored that Knox was willing to be candid about what he felt were the reasons for the Massachusetts legislature denying half-pay pensions to army officers. It seems that a letter Osgood wrote to Lowell, a member of the legislative committee considering the pension issue, was harmful to the officer's cause. Says "I am extremely sorry…

GLC02437.01730

20 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Written by Major General Knox to Massachusetts Continental Congressman Osgood. This letter is a reply to Osgood's letter at GLC02437.01730. Says that his sentiments have caused "uneasiness" among the officers. Knox made sure the principal officers would hear Osgood's opinions by passing the letter along to General John Paterson to share. Believes that McDougall, Ogden, and Brooks, who have been dispatched to Congress, will be able to convince that body the officers deserve better treatment, especially those that have families. Says the officers have confidence that Congress understands what…

GLC02437.01752

1 January 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Jeremiah Olney

Originally written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp, but now badly faded. Writes, "I this minute reviewed your favor of the 22 ult. with its enclosures. Major Shaw, my aide de camp, who was chosen Treasurer by the Army will execute your orders respecting the money matters. The Committee set off for Philadelphia ten days ago. I have not yet heard any thing from them. As soon as they have the affair in train I will take a pleasure in informing you of it. We have no news. The compliments of the season to you and your gallant corps."

GLC02437.01785

4 December 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Discusses a situation of a fellow officer, Colonel Michael Jackson, who intends to petition Congress regarding compensation for a wound he received in 1776 which is still causing him trouble. This letter is likely Knox's response to Jackson's 29 November 1783 request (GLC02437.02809).

GLC02437.02818

21 March 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Parker

Knox negotiates with Parker, of Daniel Parker & Co., a firm that supplied Continental troops with provisions. Hopes Parker will continue to furnish supplies to troops, although Congress has not informed Parker or Knox of a contract renewal. Refers to Mr. Morris, who has been in charge of paying Parker (possibly Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance).

GLC02437.02980

15 April 1785

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests that Knox, newly appointed Secretary at War, recommend him to Congress to command troops sent to garrison the western frontier. Writes, "I consider that Post an important One to secure the Amity of the Savages, and to prevent those undue practices which will probably destroy the Peace of the Frontiers."

GLC02437.03127

5 October 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Writes to Osgood on financial matters. Declares that a Mr. Walker has written to him regarding a financial arrangement between himself and Osgood. Walker is apparently concerned that he and Osgood would withdraw money from an account that had already been emptied by Knox due to a new resolve of Congress. Knox assures Osgood that he has not yet withdrawn the money, so they may go ahead with the transaction without risk of "embarrassment."

GLC02437.03206

9 December 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

In response to Major North's letter (see GLC02437.03368), Knox writes that he agrees that [John Francis] Hamtramck's ideas show him to be a good officer. Adds, "I am persuaded his solicitude for a proper discipline, will be highly approved by all military men." Mentions that he has written to the Board of Treasury on the subject of pay, and hopes that the letter may have the desired effect.

GLC02437.03369

December 21, 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William North

Writes in full, "I have been attempting my dear Sir, to accomplish your pay since I received yours of the 18th. The board of treasury are disposed to exert themselves in this instance but I am persuaded that their powers are short of their inclination. Be so good as to call upon me tomorrow [illegible] I will then, inform you, [of] the mode in which they are willing to negotiate the pay."

GLC02437.03384

18 April 1787

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Relates his desire to remain Inspector General instead of Major Winthrop Sargent, who was being considered. Commenting on Congress's resolve to disband the troops, he states, "The resolve of Congress has murdered more honest fellows..."

GLC02437.03528

19 April 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Discusses Congress's decision to reduce the troops and states, "I feel most sensibly for the situation of the officers." In relation to North's resignation as Inspector General, states that he did not forward it on and that if North desires, he can probably resume the duties of that post (see GLC02437.03528 and .03495). Comments that Colonel Hull wrote to him about the issue with North's relative rank but believes it is something the state must decide.

GLC02437.03531