30 December 1776

Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Patrick Henry?]

Gerry, a Continental Congressman, discusses an unspecified request and an appeal brought before Congress. Informs Henry, Governor of Virginia, that he will ask Congressional President John Hancock why the appeal has not been presented to Congress and will attempt to "move it as early as possible." States "We have just heard from General Washington, that he cross'd Delaware just above Trentown, ye Evening after Christmas with 2500 men, attacked ye Enemy who were posted with about 1500 men in ye Town about 8 oclock ye next Morning, routed them & took 750 prisoners that are brot over ye…

GLC05346

3 April 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Privateer commission for the schooner "Adventure" of Exeter, New Hampshire].

President of the First Continental Congress John Hancock signed this privateer commission authorizing Commander of the Adventure James Johnson to capture British vessels and cargo.

GLC05659

27 December 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript document signed

Title: Resolution in Congress 27th Dec. 1776 investing Genl Washington with certain powers [fragment]

Final page of document conferring extraordinary power on Washington. For six months he is granted the power "to fill up all Vacancies in every other Department in the American Armies; to take wherever he may be, whatever he may want for the Use of the Army...to arrest and confine Persons who refuse to take the Continental Currency, or are otherwise disaffected to the American Cause." The lost portion of the document confers on Washington other powers as well. It is possible this document was being sent to Washington himself, then intercepted by the British. Title from docket. Transcript…

GLC05611

13 March 1776

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander McDougall

Encloses articles (not present) in reply to McDougall's questions about Seamans wages. Informs that a model of a pike will be sent to him. Hopes that he has received word of the resolution of Congress restraining military officers from offering oaths to inhabitants as a test. Remarks, " ... to impose a Test is a sovereign Act of Legislation - and when the Army becomes our Legislators, the People that moment become Slaves."

GLC07489

1 July 1774

Galloway, Joseph, 1731-1803

Letter signed

Title: to Committee of Correspondence for the Colony of Virginia

Co-signed by Samuel Rhoads and Joseph Galloway on behalf of the committee. Galloway was Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly and would eventually become a well known Loyalist after his Plan of Union was rejected. References their letter asking the Assembly to communicate their sentiments "on the unhappy Dispute with the Mother Country." Says they cannot see the recent actions of Parliament in any light other than an opportunity to extract funds from the colonies. Hopes for a cool and dispassionate mediation in favor of their rights as English subjects. Hopes the rights of Americans will…

GLC07666

14 September 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Order to the Commissary for the arrearage of provisions due to Mrs. Corbin of the Invalids]

Includes a note at the top of the page, in Shaw's hand, from Jonathan Pugh, Lieutenant of Invalids, which reads, "This is to certify that Mrs. Margaret Corbin (wife of John Corbin a soldier in the corps of Invalids) has not drawn any liquor with the ration allowed her since the 1st Jany 1782." Below, Shaw relates that Mrs. Corbin has two Congressional resolves in her favor, "she having had a husband and son killed and was herself wounded at Brandywine in 1777. She is allowed a full ration per day, half pay for life and a suit of clothes annually. " Orders the Commissary to give her the…

GLC02437.01611

24 May 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mifflin and Congress

Responds to a letter from Thomas Mifflin, President of Congress, requesting Knox to engage in correspondence with the Commander of British forces in North America, likely referring to Frederick Haldimand. Mifflin had requested Knox to inquire when the British would withdraw their troops from outposts within United States boundaries (refer to GLC02437.02998). Proposes sending a confidential field officer instead of a letter due to the importance of the negotiations.

GLC02437.03003

December 1782

Manuscript document

Title: [Officers' grievances, to be presented to Congress]

"The Officers of the Army, in Behalf of themselves and the Soldiery, beg leave, in plain & respectful language, to lay a State of their Circumstances and Grievances before Congress." The writer claims that the Government has not upheld its end of the bargain in supplying officers with adequate pay and rations. Argues that Continental money at nominal value was "palmed upon the Army," that the quantity of rations doled out to troops was frequently altered (to the disadvantage of soldiers), and that the account for rations has been unsettled for several years. Includes other grievances…

GLC02437.10073

4 January 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: To the United States in Congress assembled, the address and petition of the officers of their Army, most humbly sheweth,

Written by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide. Last page contains text written in another hand. Appears to be a draft of Knox's petition to Congress on behalf of the Massachusetts officers, regarding their grievances. Similar to GLC02437.10074. Closes with, "[The officers] therefore intreat that, to obviate any ill consequences which may arise from a dependence on the future forbearance of the Army, to convince the soldiery & the world that the Independence of America shall not be placed on the ruin of any particular Class of her Citizens, some mode may be pointed out for immediate redress."

GLC02437.10077

December 1782

Manuscript document

Title: Report of the board of general officers for settling the rank of Colonels Crane, & Lamb

Date added later in pencil. Marked "copy." Writes, "That Colo [John] Crane serving as a Captain with the Army from the 8th May 1775 by Virtue of a State Commission of that date, and a General Order, requesting such Officers, to send in their Commissions and receive others of the same date, ought to take precedence of Colo. [John] Lamb whose Commission as Captain in the Continental Army, bears date 30th June 1775. The also appears to this Board that Colo. Crane was Commissioned as Major in the Continental Army the 1st of January 1776, and Colo. Lamb appointed to a Majority the 9th to take…

GLC02437.01768

3 May 1788

Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks whether Invalid Regiments and heirs of those killed in battle or who died from sickness are entitled to army lands according to an Ordinance of Congress. Writes, "The Spirit of emigration to the western country is dayly increasing in the N. England States- we shall certainly have more than one thousand families at the Muskingum in the course of the present year, unless the natives should be so uncivil as to interrupt those already on the ground... Will all the Tribes who have relinquished their claim to ye lands we have purchased be summoned to attend ye treaty at Muskingum?" Assures…

GLC02437.03864

22 March 1783

United States. Continental Congress.

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Congressional resolution on half-pay]

Resolution of the United States Continental Congress on half-pay commutation signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary of Congress. Instead of half-pay, the officers were given five years full pay in money or securities on 6 percent annual interest. Says the various officers can collectively agree or disagree with the resolution within six months time. Docketed by Henry Knox on verso as "An Act of Congress the 22nd March 1783 for commuting the half pay, pledged to the Army - A certified copy."

GLC02437.02017

13-23 September 1783

United States. Congress

Manuscript document

Title: [Resolution]

Copies of two resolves. The first offers the thanks of Congress to General R. Howe for the manner in which he conducted the inquiry into the Pennsylvania Line mutiny; the second resolves to transmit the former to George Washington and have him relay Congress's satisfaction with the service of the men serving under Howe. Written in the hand of Washington's aide-de-camp Benjamin Walker, and originally enclosed with GLC02437.09390.

GLC02437.02559

18 October 1783

United States. Congress

Manuscript document

Title: [Proclamation to dissolve the army]

Signed secretarially for Elias Boudinot and Charles Thomson. Congress's resolution to dissolve Continental Army. This resolve was originally enclosed with a letter from George Washington to Henry Knox dated 23 October 1783, GLC02437.09394. Penned in the hand of Benjamin Walker, General Washington's aide.

GLC02437.02676

22 April 1782

Bond, George, fl. 1779-1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Resolution of Congress respecting rations of officers]

Extract of the minutes of Congress on a resolution involving "rations, subsistance or allowances to officers" over and above their pay. The rates in the resolution are to go into effect on 1 May. Lists number of rations per day and dollars per month allotted to each rank. Transmitted and signed by Deputy Secretary Bond.

GLC02437.01396

24 July 1782

Jackson, William, 1759-1828

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Resolution of Congress repealing all previous resolutions involving the Department of Commissary General of Military Stores]

Extract from the minutes of Congress on the resolution that repealed all previous resolutions on the Department of Commissary General of Military Stores. The minutes were recorded in the War Office and signed by Jackson as Assistant Secretary of War. States that the Secretary of War is from time to time to appoint a Commissary of Military Stores who will be subject to his orders and given a salary of 1000 dollars per year. The Secretary of War is also given authority to appoint as many officers he finds necessary to run the department. Was possibly enclosed with GLC02437.01504. Docket about…

GLC02437.01501

3 September 1782

United States. Continental Congress.

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Congressional resolution 3 September 1782]

Signed by Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress. Location inferred from location of Continental Congress in 1782. Outlines a Congressional resolution detailing the pay and rations of officials in the Department of Commissary of Military Stores. Describes how much pay and rations the Field Commissary of Military Stores, the Deputy Field Commissaries, and the Conductors and Clerks, will each receive. Also outlines how many of each officer there will be, and where they will be stationed, including West Point, Fort Pitt, and the Southern Army. Indicates that the appointments…

GLC02437.01566

3 September 1782

United States. Continental Congress.

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Resolution of Continental Congress]

Signed by Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress. Location inferred from location of Continental Congress in 1782. Very similar to GLC02437.01566. Outlines a Congressional resolution detailing the pay and rations of officials in the Department of Commissary of Military Stores. Describes how much pay and rations the Field Commissary of Military Stores, the Deputy Field Commissaries, and the Conductors and Clerks, will each receive. Also outlines how many of each officer there will be, and where they will be stationed, including West Point, Fort Pitt, and the Southern Army…

GLC02437.01569

30 September - 13 October 1783

United States. Congress

Manuscript document

Title: [Resolves respecting the Army]

List of resolves respecting the issuing of commissions, rank and promotions. Signed "B. Lincoln" by a secretary for General Lincoln.

GLC02437.02591

15 May 1784

Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Noted as a copy of GLC02437.02998. Mifflin, President of Congress, encloses an Act of Congress directing Knox to ascertain from the British Commander in Chief of North America precisely when the British will leave their posts within the boundaries of the United States (possibly refers to Frederick Haldimand; see GLC02437.03019). Also asks that Knox arrange for cannon and stores at the posts to be delivered to West Point or another convenient location. Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

GLC02437.02999

24 May 1784 - 3 June 1784

United States. Continental Congress.

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Resolution and order regarding sending an officer to Canada to negotiate the withdrawal of British troops from the United States]

Signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary of Congress. Includes a resolution from 24 May 1784 that "Congress approve of the proposition of Major General Knox to send a field officer into Canada for the purpose of ascertaining... the time when the posts within the United States now occupied by the British Troops shall be evacuated..." The resolution is followed by a 3 June 1784 Congressional order for the superintendent of Finance to advance money to Colonel William Hull for the expedition.

GLC02437.03005

2 June 1784

United States. Continental Congress.

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Congressional resolution regarding the discharge of troops]

Signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary of Congress. This resolution indicates the number of troops to be discharged at West Point, New York and Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania. Stipulates that no officer above the rank of captain will remain in service. Also discusses settlement of pay and rations.

GLC02437.03009

26 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Cook

Informs Captain Cook he cannot help him obtain a promotion to command a company of artillery. Writes, "Congress agreably [sic] to the confederation cannot make any appointments of military officers..."

GLC02437.03070

4 March 1785

United States. Continental Congress.

Autograph document signed

Title: [Congressional resolution establishing the salary for the Secretary at War with Henry Knox's appointment as Secretary at War]

Signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary of Congress. Contains two separate sections. In the first, dated 4 March 1785, Congress resolves that the salary for the Secretary at War will be 2,450 dollars per year. The second part, signed by Thomson 8 March 1785, announces the election of Knox as Secretary at War. Bottom portion of the page is missing.

GLC02437.03103

10 March 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Replies to a letter from Wadsworth (GLC02437.03101), in which Wadsworth informed Knox of his likely appointment as Secretary at War. Knox had heard that he might receive this appointment, but is disappointed by the low salary. Comments on his financial affairs, noting that he is owed money from many sources. For present subsistence, however, he may have to accept the War Department's offer. Agrees to recommend Samuel Blachley Webb (Blatchley in some sources), for a position, possibly as his own assistant. Sends his regards to General [Samuel] Parsons.

GLC02437.03107