26 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Writes that the Board of Treasury will write by the next post to comment on the "proposed contracts." Declares that he sincerely hopes "that nothing may occur to prevent the completion of this business, in a manner advantageous to the public and satisfactory to you and Mr Wadsworth." (Refers to a loan Morris and Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth are attempting to grant to Congress; see GLC02437.03330.)

GLC02437.03349

30 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Robert Morris

Writes that the Board of Treasury will write to Morris by this post regarding the proposed contracts. Intimates that not enough members of Congress are seated yet, but believes that by the time Morris and Wadsworth, as well as the Board of Treasury, sign the contract, Congress will be in session and will pass the contract easily. Discusses the merits of the measure but laments the time it will take to pass the measure through Congress. See GLC02437.03354 for a related document. Marked "private."

GLC02437.03357

December 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Robert Morris

Writes that he has received the documents finalizing the loan Morris and Colonel [Jeremiah] Wadsworth were preparing to give to the Board of Treasury. He is thrilled the plan worked, and believes the public good will be well served. Has received a copy of a letter from the Board asking that Colonel Wadsworth come to New York to finish signing the paperwork as well. Discusses the insurgents associated with Daniel Shays, and explains the claims and issues they are raising. Also mentions several of their acts of rebellion, including several attempts to keep the General Court from sitting in…

GLC02437.03403

12 November 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy. Written by Brigadier General Knox to General Lincoln. Says he was concerned for him, but hopes he is safe at Head of Elk, Maryland. Tells him to "pray take care of the trophies and carry them triumphantly into rome." Reports from Mount Vernon that Martha Washington's son, "Mr. Custis," has died. Says there is a pallor of sadness in the Washington home and that "You who know the tender feelings of a father in their extreme can form some idea of the affliction which must at this moment overcome Mrs Washington & the General." Says they are expected back at Mount Vernon in a…

GLC02437.01288

12 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Writes in response to Lincoln's letter of 20 August. Declares, "I am sorry Mr. [Robert] Morris cannot pay for any shells for the french [8?] inch howitzers, as they without shells much be useless after all the time and money which has been expended making new cartridges for them." Has asked General George Washington his opinion on employing German prisoners as armorers at Newburgh in exchange for their freedom (see GLC02437.01589), and Washington feels this is a good idea, so Knox asks Lincoln to make the appropriate arrangements. Also comments that he has received recent Congressional…

GLC02437.01604

8 May 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Writes to General Lincoln, the Secretary at War, on behalf of Captain Jeremiah Freeman, an officer of Artillery who is attached to an independent company. He is trying to obtain fair pay through Congress's resolve, but because of his attachment to an independent company, he is not receiving the deserved pay. Testifies to Freeman's service record and asks General Lincoln to take an interest in the case and see that Freeman get paid appropriately.

GLC02437.01414

13 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Marked "copy." Writes, "The bearer of this is a Mr. [Burnet] who is connected with some person who contracted in 1779 for [Cartridge] boxes. I do not remember exactly the circumstances, but generally that Mr. Ruddock was directed by the board of War in the first instance to make the contract & that specimens were approved by me."

GLC02437.01485

26 July 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from the War Office. Has enclosed a resolve (possibly GLC02437.01501) regarding the Department of Commissary of Military Stores, and "shall be much obliged by your opinion what will be necessary in the department of field commissary of military stores, and what are the alterations you wish." Comments that he finds there is a Deputy Commissary of Military Stores retained at West Point, and is not sure why. Believes that there are very few stores there that do not belong to the Garrison, and contends that the Office of Artillery at the post should care for them. Requests Knox's…

GLC02437.01504

10 August 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "Private." Written by Lincoln as Secretary of War to Major General Knox. Says Congress has appointed a committee to create a catalog of books they need for themselves and various departments. Wants to know what he thinks will be the fall out of the present prospects for peace will be? Says he is worried about peace terms being offered by the British and warns Knox to be on his guard. Is concerned about the impact on and reaction of people.

GLC02437.01522

19 August 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. References 2 private letters from 7 and 10 August. Says he cannot furnish him estimates. Says he read over his last public letter (which was on the issue of soldiers pensions at half pay) to Lincoln of 31 July and cannot find anything improper in it. On the peace negotiations, he says "Unequivocally then, we have drank such liberal draughts at the fountain of peace that we can see no other object." Goes on to say that "The independence of America being fully acknowledged, say we[,] France will be easily satisfied by the adjustment…

GLC02437.01532

18 October 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Lists the appointments to the department of military stores after it has been restructured by resolves of Congress of 3 September 1782. Writes: "In consequence of the aforegoing resolves of Congress, Major General Knox having appointed Richard Frothingham Esq - Field Commissary of Military Stores [,] Asa Copeland - Conductor [,] John Hoff - Clerk [,] for the Main Army [;] John Ruddock - Depy Commy [,] John Banks - Conductor [,] William Herrick - Clerk [,] for West Point [and] Matthew Parvin - Conductor at Fort Pitt…

GLC02437.01673

22 July 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. Marked "private." References Knox's private letter that was recently sent by the post. Congratulates him on the birth of his son. Believes Congress will not leave Princeton soon. Before he left for Virginia, Lincoln says he put Knox's business before Congress. Says no compensation has yet been voted on. Hopes to know more in a few days. Asks to be updated on the business of the Society of the Cincinnati. Reports he will attend meetings at other state gatherings if necessary. Place written is spelled "Prince Town."

GLC02437.02315

23 July 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 15 July, which referred to a plan for an arsenal [at West Point?]. Reports that as the official peace treaty has now arrived, they may not have the help of "the three years men in building the magazines." Says they should hire common laborers, as it will be cheaper than keeping those troops in the army. Says he will be able to give more information in a few days when Congress makes a decision on the magazines. Expresses that Knox's plan for the arsenal was "elegant," but does not expect an arsenal based…

GLC02437.02319

7 August 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the commutation of Captain Patten's pay. Hopes Patten will signify to Congress his acceptance of it. Marked as private.

GLC02437.02372

1-3 March 1787

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the convention (referring to the upcoming Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia) and his views of the people's ideas of changes Congress would bring about. "I have not the most distant idea that the people would adopt any recommendations of Congress in which the inlargement of their powers are included; they would immediately become jealous of them that the few were attempting to influence the many: sentiments like these would be thrown out .. " In relation to Shays' Rebellion, describes skirmishes with the rebels in Stockbridge and Barrington, Massachusetts. He has heard that…

GLC02437.03476

1 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Knox writes to Lincoln, Secretary of War. Writes, "His Excellency the commander in chief has stationed me at this post, which in addition to its natural embarrassments, is attended with much greater expenses than my purse can admit." Notes that Congress arranged for extra compensation for General Alexander McDougall, a previous commander at West Point. Asks Lincoln to provide a similar arrangement for him. If this is beyond the reach of Lincoln's powers, requests that Lincoln consult Mr. Morris (possibly Gouverneur Morris, assistant superintendent of finance). "How my dear sir is the…

GLC02437.10040

25 November 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Knox, commander at West Point, writes to General Lincoln. Mentions a recent application by Continental Army officers to the State of Massachusetts regarding half pay. Knox reports the decision has been postponed, mainly because of Osgood (Samuel Osgood, Massachusetts's delegate to Continental Congress). Regarding the officers, writes, "something must be done to relieve their present distress, which is intolerable- and they must have a full confidence concerning the execution of the half pay whether in its present form, or in some other that may be more agreable..."

GLC02437.10064

9 January 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall to Major General Knox. Says nothing decisive about whether the half-pay pension issue has been decided. Says it took a week of travel to get to Philadelphia in bad weather. Wanted to lobby the delegates before the memorial was put before Congress. Says that has been accomplished and after the memorial was submitted, Congress decided to form a committee with a member from each state. Says that they will meet tomorrow night. Encloses a list of the committee members (not included here). Reports that "The Result of our Conversation with the members is, that a great…

GLC02437.01819

February 14, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Marked "copy." Body of the letter and signature in the hand of Robert Pemberton, Knox's aide. Discusses Lincoln's success at stopping Shays' Rebellion and dispersing the insurgents. Mentions how the rapid defeat of the insurgents will affect orders previously given to Colonel [David] Humphreys and Colonel [Henry] Jackson to move their regiments to Springfield, Massachusetts. Says he has been keeping General Washington and Congress abreast of Lincoln's actions. Comments on the upcoming Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and expresses his firm support of it. Believes the objections…

GLC02437.03453

6 November 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Anne-César] Chevalier de la Luzerne

Informs the Chevalier that "two pieces of cannon, and their carriages" will be arriving to be presented to the Count de Grasse at the direction of Congress "for the important services he rendered to the United States." Notes that the artist who engraved the emblems and inscriptions took longer than expected to finish. Says he addresses them to Luzerne "in case of the departure of his Excellency general Washington and the Secretary at War from Princeton." Contains some water damage along the left side. Watermarked with three fleur-de-lis inside a crest.

GLC02437.10180

8 October 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Lowell

Recounts the story of young Isaac Winslow, who had been taken to Canada at age 11 by his loyalist father, upon the outbreak of hostilities. His parents are now dead, and his other family is in Boston. He wants to be in service to his country. Knox would like to exchange him, or help him return to Boston. See GLC02437.01408 and GLC02437.01649 for related information. Also discusses Congress's debates over payment of military officers.

GLC02437.01650

14 December 1782

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I received your favor of this day. I shall be ready to sett off from this, on Tuesday next, if the weather is fair, and all other arrangements are compleated, which dont depend on me. I suppose Col [John] Brooks will bring over the Memorial &c &c with him."

GLC02437.01743

20 August 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written and signed for Knox by Major Samuel Shaw. Says the bearer of this letter, Mr. Peck, was in a company of artillery artificers under Captain Post. Says that this unit was raised for 2 years and is therefore excluded from any allowance for the depreciation of their pay. Says that the policy that dictated that measure has ceased to operate and Congress has made a determination to give justice to all individuals for their past services. Adds that he believes they should be allowed compensation for the injuries they have sustained in the depreciation of their pay.

GLC02437.02404

20 November 1783

Luzerne, Anne-César, chevalier de la, 1741-1791

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox [in French]

Luzerne informs Knox of the arrival in Philadelphia of the engraved cannon for delivery to the Count de Grasse. He thanks Knox, saying that it is especially appreciated as Knox, more than any other, contributed to the victory at Yorktown which had brought such renown to the United States. He notes that Baron von Steuben has made arrangements with the Board of War regarding the cannon. Believing the British evacuation of New York to be imminent, he hopes he will have the pleasure of seeing Knox in Philadelphia the coming winter.

GLC02437.02791

2 November 1785

Lott, Abraham, fl. 1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "Accept my thanks, my dear Sir, for the Extract, from the Journals of Congress- It appears to be fully in point- But now I have begun with you I must have your further assistance- Will it not be necessary that a certificate should be obtained of the day on which he (Col. Buncombe) died? If so, from whom must it be had? Will such certificates & the extract you have favored me with, be sufficient vouchers to found an application upon to the Legislature of North Carolina? By whom (the Executor?) or who else, and in what form must this application be made? I am loth to give you…

GLC02437.03210