21 April 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Comments on a fatiguing two day, sixty-four mile journey from Newport, Rhode Island, to Norwich, Connecticut. Indicates that he will stay in Norwich until all the stores are embarked for New York. Mentions that he will make a trip to New London, Connecticut to "see the watery hero" Esek Hopkins, who Knox hopes "will one day command an american Navy up the river Thames." Asks Lucy to have his brother William Knox send a letter to a button maker about buttons for military uniforms. Longs to see his wife. Knox was then moving southward toward New York, planning coastal defenses against the…

GLC02437.00275

6 July 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Describes meeting generals George Washington and Charles Lee, who begged him to return to Roxbury and expressed great pleasure in the fortifications Knox had supervised the construction of. Tells a story about how General Lee tried to get a letter to General John Burgoyne during the battle of Bunker Hill (17 June 1775), to ask him to use his "influence and endeavor to Heal this unnatural break." Criticizes and offers corrections to a widely published account of Bunker Hill by British General Thomas Gage that claimed only 170 redcoats were killed. The Revolutionary War…

GLC02437.00196

9 July 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Longs to see her and expects to the following week. Expresses esteem for generals George Washington and Charles Lee. Of Washington, he writes: "General Washington fills his place with vast ease and dignity & dispenses happiness all around him." Of Lee: "Genl Lee will become very popular soon." Reports that he is going to visit Washington this evening.

GLC02437.00198

11 July 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Comments affectionately about writing to Lucy often. Reports that he goes to Roxbury and Cambridge in the mornings and returns to Watertown in the evenings, offering support to Captain Michael Jackson's company. Plans to visit her soon, but feels he must provide his "oppressed Country an essential service." Mentions that General Charles Lee received word that General John Burgoyne wants to have a meeting, but Lee will not comply unless ordered by Congress. Praises the patriot's burning of "Browns House on Boston neck." Also praises George Washington, who took over the Continental Army in…

GLC02437.00199

13 August 1775

Howland, Joseph, 1749-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Indicates that he sent Knox some hosiery. Describes Norwich as confused. Discusses current preparations to defend against the British, who would like to seize their provisions. Calls the uncontested British seizure of provisions on Fishers Island the previous week shameful for the Americans. Interprets a letter from George Washington to the Rhode Island Committee of Correspondence in regard to transports as a reprimand. Asks Knox his rank and requests that he show the works at Roxbury and Cambridge to two of Howland's friends. Discusses forming a light infantry in Rhode Island and asks…

GLC02437.00201

6 March 1775

Waldo, Jonathon, fl. 1721-1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Entreats Knox to procure a gun for him so that he can answer a demand issued in the newspaper for every man above the age of 16 to congregate on the next Thursday "with every necessary Warlike accouterment." All who do not join "will be deemed Enemies to the Glorious Cause of Liberty and america." Waldo asserts that he will appear without a doubt. Waldo had earlier asked Knox to obtain arms for him (see GLC02437.00190).

GLC02437.00194

30 June 1775

Brickett, James, 1738-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: Report of the day.

Indicates that Brickett, the Officer of the Day, made the usual rounds, found the sentries alert, and discovered nothing extraordinary. A note on the back lists some names, places, and numbers. Brickett was a Lieutenant Colonel in Col. James Frye's regiment of Minutemen. He fought at Bunker Hill and later during the Revolutionary War became a brigadier general.

GLC02437.00195

5 January 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Lucy Knox

Laments not being able to return to Lucy when he had hoped to. Praises Lucy at length and reaffirms his love for her. Notes that this is only the fourth letter he has been able to write to her in the two months they have been apart, and explains why his letter of 5 December 1775 was so short (see GLC02437.00215). Comments on the weather and the lack of snow, which impeded his plans to transport artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mentions that his brother William Knox is now at Lake George preparing the sleds for…

GLC02437.00237

27 November 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes affectionately, asking about Lucy's journey from Worcester. Discusses his own journey to New York City on his way to Fort Ticonderoga, where George Washington had ordered him to travel to in order to bring back to Cambridge the British artillery captured there in the Spring of 1775. He met his brother on the road, a meeting he describes and dubs "truly farcical." Comments on business opportunities. Reports the easy victory by which American forces captured Montreal on 13 November 1775. mentioning the British retreat, the construction of an American battery, and the…

GLC02437.00211

27 November 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

A highly detailed letter in which Knox reports on his efforts to obtain ordnance in New York City for the Continental Army in Cambridge. Discusses similar, unsuccessful activities in regard to the activities of a man named Colonel Read, and his problems with the committee sitting during the recess of the Second Continental Congress, possibly the Second Provincial Congress, which met in New York in late 1775 or the Committee of Safety. Reports Colonel Alexander McDougall's promise to exert his influence on the committee and have them send munitions to Cambridge immediately. Seeks permission…

GLC02437.00212

17 December 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Discusses activities relating to the transport of artillery captured from the British at Fort Ticonderoga earlier that year. Comments on difficulties of getting the ordnance over Lake George. Mentions that he has obtained sleds and oxen. He will use the oxen to drag the artillery to Springfield, where he will get new animals to drag them the rest of the way to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Explains the route and speculates on potential for either progress or hardship. Expects to arrive in Cambridge in 16-17 days. Sends an inventory of the artillery from Ticonderoga and the pieces requested…

GLC02437.00222

17 December 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Longs to see his wife and plans to in three weeks. Discusses activities relating to the transport of artillery captured from the British at Fort Ticonderoga earlier that year to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Reports that both his and William Knox's health has been good. Quips about his rotund figure. Discusses the "Bravery of America" and a growing awareness of it among the British prisoners he has seen: "Enemies who would not before this allow the Americans a Spark of Military virtue." Blesses America and Lucy. Links God watching over Americans to God watching over Lucy in particular.…

GLC02437.00223

12 May 1776

Stevens, Ebenezer, 1751-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes Knox to update him on activities reinforcing the siege of Quebec. Discusses orders to congregate at the town of Surrel, about 135 miles outside of Quebec. Mentions that since the Americans had been driven from the Plains of Abraham, it was unknown where they would make their attack. Comments on the location of various generals and assures Knox that all "are in Good Health & Spirits." Informs Knox that only one man failed on the march and was sent back to Charlestown, Massachusetts. Stevens was a captain in Knox's artillery regiment. He earlier reported on his mission to assist…

GLC02437.00291

April 1776

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses her love for Henry and attempts to make him feel guilty for being away from home and family, particularly his infant daughter. Thanks him for his three recent letters (see GLC02437.00273, GLC02437.00275, GLC02437.00276) but wonders why the letter he promised from New York has not arrived. Mentions that their daughter Lucy was christened at Trinity Church. Comments on her alarm at hearing that the British have taken George's Island in Boston Harbor. Knox was then moving southward toward New York, planning coastal defenses against the British navy for Rhode Island and Connecticut…

GLC02437.00282

February 26, 1776

Read, Joseph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Artemas Ward

Gives a military report provided by Thomas Mayfield. Describes ship activities in Boston Harbor, mentioning workers and loading occurring at "the Castle," in reference to the military garrison on Castle Island in the harbor. Written in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.00257

1775

Waldo, Jonathon, fl. 1721-1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Thanks Knox for so often obliging him. Reports that Mr. Oliver, possibly Andrew Oliver, will pay Knox for the gun he got for Waldo (see GLC02437.00190 and GLC02437.00194). Assures him that Knox's requests are foremost on his mind. Expresses his desire to get married, placed in the context of a discussion on human nature. Reports that tories in Salem are "scar'd to Death" and leaving the area. Has heard that British soldiers will soon come to attempt to "intercept our Grand muster" but doubts that General Gage could ever "hinder their mutiny." Expresses that he would not like to see…

GLC02437.00230

circa 1775-1776

Autograph document

Title: [Plan for setting fire to British ships in Boston Harbor]

Affirms the practicability of laying siege to Boston Harbor, landing soldiers in the town of Boston, and setting fire to British shipping. Provides a lengthy list of military preparations and plans for the siege, For a map of the plans see GLC02437.00232.

GLC02437.00231

10 June 1791

Macpherson, John, ?-1775

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Macpherson writes seeking Knox's assistance. Claims he is very poor and does not have "Two Shillings on the Earth." Boasts of what he has done for the nation, claiming "I have enriched it more than any other ever did of my Station." Poverty got him thinking that he could repeat the success he had lecturing on natural philosophy, but he has since given up that idea. Has an interest in some patents still pending, but they are unpaid for. Claims he deserves help when "it is considered, what risque I ran to serve this Country, by going thro' the British Army as a Spy!" Says he deserves to…

GLC02437.04985

20 May 1794

Moustier, Éléonor François Élie, marquis de, 1751-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox [in French]

Discusses the French Revolution and mentions St. Domingue [Haiti]. Mentions obtaining a title [or introduction?] for an acquaintance. Refers to George Washington. Also speaks of affairs in Europe. States, "La France sera une monarchie" (predicts France will be a monarchy).

GLC02437.06101

13 September 1782

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Morris as Assistant Superintendent of Finance to Major General Knox. A sarcastic letter expressing annoyance about Congress and their activities after receiving information on the conduct at Elizabethtown -- probably a reference to the negotiations for prisoner exchanges or for the evacuation of New York City taking place there. Says "Our Sovereign Lords the Congress have at length assented to (not approved of) our Conduct at Elizabeth town." It seems that Congress was not willing to respond harshly to General Sir Henry Clinton's letter, which expressed things the American…

GLC02437.01608

8 October 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gouverneur Morris

Relates a variety of information regarding (a prison cartel) meeting with the British Commissioners, General Campbell and Mr. [Andrew] Elliot [lt. gov. of British-occupied New York]. Contrasts Campbell with former British commissioner General [William] Dalrymple. Believes that Morris was "perfectly right" in his opinion that "the British Commissioners wouldn't be able to treat us with equal power." Mentions General William Heath. Knox notes the recent death of his child and illness of his wife Lucy and family

GLC02437.01651

6 October 1783

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that he has visitors passing through, a Mr. Vernon and the Count Wengierski, and asks if Knox would mind showing them West Point. Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

GLC02437.02622

31 July 1785

Moriarty, John, fl. 1785-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the possible purchase of some of Knox's land in present-day Maine, referring to Knox's ownership of two farms and a limeworks. Notes that he could arrange to bring people from Ireland to settle the land. Proposes his method of payment.

GLC02437.03169

21 July 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Moultrie

Writes to Moultrie, the president of the Society of the Cincinnati's South Carolina chapter, about society business. Reports that the Society as a whole has decided to repay Major L'Enfant for money he laid out on their behalf, but without their permission, to buy more Eagle insignias; they wanted to preserve the "immaculate" reputation of the Society. The Society also felt that "the general credit of our country does not stand well in Europe," so they wanted to ensure that the credit of their foreign members remained in good stead. Provides details of their reimbursment of L'Enfant,…

GLC02437.03609

29 October 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Gouverneur Morris

Reports that a Mr. Hoffman and a Mr. Hornblower have been in contact with a British company interested in pursuing a project with Morris. Requests that Morris make a decision as to whether he wants to participate, and what his share would be; and that he provide the necessary funds. Briefly describes his own interest in the venture, and adds that Mr. Hoffman would like to write to England right away with Morris's decision. See GLC02437.03687 for further discussion of this project.

GLC02437.03686