1781

Manuscript document

Title: [Profile of a 5-inch shell]

Drawn diagram of the profile of a 5-inch shell. Includes a scale and various measurements. Date written later in pencil. Possibly docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.09978

circa August 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: [List]

"Ordnance & stores necessary for the intended operations Southward, to be provided immediately at Philadelphia by the Commissary General of Military Stores." List includes 25 cannon, two mortars, one howitzer, tens of thousands of shells, shot, etc., and 140,000 pounds of powder. "Omitted-slow match" is written at the end of page two in Henry Knox's hand. See GLC02437.01156 and .01160-.01163 for related documents.

GLC02437.09885

circa 1783

Sketch

Title: [Building plan]

Drawn colored plan for a powder magazine, with views from the side and front, with a scale. Docket written in Henry Knox's handwriting.

GLC02437.10448

3 January 1778

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Military advice for George Washington]

Written from Artillery Park of Great Valley (Valley Forge), Pennsylvania. Knox discusses the necessity of recruiting more men. Argues that New York City is of greater importance to the British than any other place due to its accessibility by way of water. Writes, "The disagreeable circumstances to which the loss of New York would reduce the Enemy operate so strongly on my mind, that were the numbers there fully ascertained, their works of defence & ca so as to render the Success of a Coup de Main probable, I should most readily give my opinion to open the Campaign by an attack upon…

GLC02437.00683

3 January- 29 December 1778

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: Ordnance & stores received during the year 1778

Lists items such as cartridge, muskets, bayonets, and drum shell, among others. Marked "No. 1" at the top of page one.

GLC02437.00684

circa January 1779

Manuscript document

Title: Articles issued in the Year 1778

Lists items such as muskets, cartridges, quills, broad swords, and bayonets, among others. Indicates the names of some 600 men receiving the articles, including officers. Marked "No. 6" at the top of page one.

GLC02437.00685

January 12 - March 24, 1777

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Artillery record book]

Book of records for Knox's artillery regiment. Contains inventories of artillery, notes regarding regimental activities and some daily entries. Samuel Shaw created the book, which dates between 12 January 1777 and 24 March 1777. The first page, probably the cover page, contains sketches, some appear to be of cannon. Page 2 is a list of the amount of ammunition delivered to various officers. At bottom is a note informing Captain Lieutenant Joseph Crane that he is "considered as no longer an officer in the Corps of Artillery." States this document is a copy, and that the original was…

GLC02437.00518

24 April 1777

Gardner, Joseph, ?-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Dr. Gardner informs Knox that both his wife and daughter have been successfully inoculated against smallpox, and are feeling well again. Also a French ship has just arrived with 58 cannons, as well as shot, powder, clothing, blankets and tents. Promises to continue writing and offers to do any favors Knox needs.

GLC02437.00579

circa 11 June 1776

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Military Printing Bill]

Bill for Revolutionary War printing done by Ebenezer Watson for the Connecticut Assembly between 12 June 1775 and 27 May 1776, and receipt of payment by Watson, Hartford, 11 June 1776. Includes 1,000 passes for Col. Benedict Arnold received by Col. Henman from Crown Point, advertisements for deserters, 500 copies of the Salt Peter and Gunpowder act, an unknown quantitiy of the Minuteman Act, 100 copies of the Embarg Proclamation, enlistment orders printed on three occasions, 400 orders and enlistments for minutemen, 2100 enlistments, and beating orders for Continental and Connecticut…

GLC09046

February 3, 1862

Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Toole Clark

Benjamin discusses the defense of North Carolina. He will send reinforcements, but cannot send as many as he would like, which he blames on the shortness of enlistment terms. Lack of men is not his real concern though, "I am sure I could organize the defenses of our country, wherever attacked, if I only had munitions." Overall he assures him North Carolina will be safe, "Your people may suffer somewhat at points where the enemy's superior water forces enable them to ravage the country within reach of their guns, but I do not fear, and am sure you need not, that they can do more than this and…

GLC01353.01

December 29, 1775

Ellsworth, Oliver, 1745-1807

Document signed

Title: [Receipt for the payment of the select men of Plainfield]

To Connecticut Treasurer John Lawrence. Cosigned by Thomas Seymour. Requests payment from the Colony of Connecticut to the select men for gun powder and ball and flints supplied to Colonel Douglas's (possibly William Douglas) Company. Signed by Joseph Dunlap (on behalf of the select men) confirming receipt of the sum on verso. Docket indicates that this receipt was audited 13 May 1776.

GLC01450.609.05

28 April 1862

Allison, William A., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stockton Bates

He writes while squatting on the ground with his portfolio on his knees. Describes the soldier's life with the bulk of time spent in marching: "marching is what breaks the men down so much; they hate it worse than they do fighting." He prefers picket duty. He describes the battleground of Sharpsburg and the march to Williamsport. "The Mined balls, shells, and grape and canister make a fellow feel a little shaky." He also describes food.

GLC03523.23.02

circa June 1785

Autograph document

Title: Dementions & cost of a 16 inch wall for a fore wall at the magazine at Springfield

Document states each side wall will be 116 feet long and the ends will be 52 feet wide. Provides costs for 70,560 bricks, sand, boards, timber, and the labor to lay the bricks. The total comes to £179.9.0. Though dated in pencil with the year 1779, this document is apparently an enclosure for GLC02437.03152, a letter to Henry Knox from June 1785. The letter was accompanied by several estimates for buildings and construction projects at the Springfield armory. One of the enclosures described in that letter matches the title of this document.

GLC02437.08362

17 December 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [List of cannons and shells]

Notes that twelve 4-pound and two 6-pound cannon and 5-10 tons of each size of various shot and shell were ordered on 27 November 1775. Several hundred more shells were ordered on 17 December.

GLC02437.08382

December 10, 1775 - January 13, 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: An inventory of cannon &c brought from Ticonderoga

Evidently a working document, with entries added at various times; possibly part of a longer journal. The first page comprises a detailed inventory of 16 mortars and howitzers, and 43 cannon, with a total weight of 119,900 pounds, "brought from Ticonderoga December 10th 1775." Information includes composition (iron or brass), bore size and weight. Subsequent annotations amend figures and cite which armaments have been "Carr[ie]d." Pages two through three include a template of information to be kept regarding the transportation of the arms. The name of one carrier, Herman [Fort], has been…

GLC02437.08383

15 March 1864

Drayton, Percival, 1812-1865

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to John B. Marchand

Enclosing twenty copies [not present] each "of 2 circulars issued by the Bureau of Ordnance" with orders to distribute them to all the vessels on Marchand's station. Written on board the U.S.S. Hartford, of which Percival was captain, off Pensacola, Florida, during the Union blockade of major Southern ports. On "Western Gulf Squadron" stationery. Drayton was Fleet Captain to Farragut, who was commanding the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. As commander of the "Hartford," Drayton fought in the Battle of Mobile Bay. He was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Navigation the next year.

GLC02680.24

7 December 1759

Ellis, Henry, 1721-1806

Letter signed

Title: to William H. Lyttelton (marked "copy")

Georgia Governor Ellis responds to South Carolina Governor Lyttelton's letter about illicit trade with the Cherokee Indians occurring in Georgia. Expresses his desire to discipline those involved with selling arms and ammunition to the Cherokee. Mentions John Williams as one of the people who they have information on; Ellis indicates that he is "determined to treat him with Severity." Also notes that he has sent a circular letter to the merchants supplying the traders (see GLC05228.02) which he hopes will deter them. Discusses the possibility of enlisting the aid of the Creeks in…

GLC05228.01

7 December 1759

Ellis, Henry, 1721-1806

Letter signed

Title: to John Rae, Lachlan McGillivray, Francis McCartan, and others

Circular letter from Georgia Governor Ellis to the merchants and storekeepers in Augusta, Georgia. Informs the merchants that he has learned from South Carolina Governor William H. Lyttelton of their involvement in "a clandestine and most pernicious traffick with the Indians especially the Cherokees." Forbids them from supplying traders with arms, ammunition, and other goods for the Cherokee, "who must be considered in a state of actual War with us." Threatens prosecution and the loss of future Indian trade licenses. Copy sent with a letter to Governor Lyttelton (see GLC05228.01)

GLC05228.02

January 22, 1848

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: General orders: No. 28

"Col. Geary" inscribed on back page. Publication of Ordnance summaries. Includes blank spreadsheets for recording goods used for a particular company. Crude string binding intact.

GLC00911.59

23 May 1848

Butler, William Orlando, 1791-1880

Document

Title: Orders No.103

Signed by L. Thomas. Docket reads "No. 103." Announces the appointment of Brigadier General S.W. Kearny as civil and military governor of Mexico City and Major W.H. Bell as chief of the Ordnance Department.

GLC00911.85

24 April 1861

Trimble, Isaac Ridgeway, 1802-1888

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Proctor Kane

Trimble, colonel of engineers in Virginia's forces (Confederate), discusses the delivery of arms and ammunition to George Proctor Kane, Marshal of Police in Baltimore, Maryland. Authorizes H. F. Alberte and Company to make the delivery. Claims he delivers the arms to Kane for safe-keeping "to deposit with the city, properly packed up- with Inventory of the same- to be taken to the City, if [the?] state determine to do so." Docketed in pencil. Contains two pieces of mounting tape.

GLC08883.01

28 April 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John and Joan Damuth

Writes that the 29th Wisconsin left its plantation campground, and has been on the march since. In the woods, they find evidence of rebel building projects and bridges. Damuth and a group of men go out to fix up the roads ahead. Describes their meals on the march. All men have been ordered to carry 100 rounds of cartridges and the camp doctors are preparing their field instruments. There is general excitement and Damuth describes the soldiers behaving "as if they were going to a place of amusement." Written from "40 miles below Vicksburg, Louisiana."

GLC03523.14.23

25 May 1783

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Manuscript document signed

Title: Provision return for Captain Thomas Patten's Company of Artificers belonging to the Ordnance Department

Signed by Captain Patten on both pages. Covers 25-28 May. Contains a note on page two written by Dudley Mercer, who confirms receipt of rations.

GLC02437.09740

29 August 1863

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from a camp in Vicksburg. Thanks her for copies of the newspaper "Independent." Reports they are not campaigning now and have much free time. Comments letters from the North are scarce and wonders if his friends have all turned copperheads or simply forgotten him. Speculates many of his lady friends have gotten married because they did not want to wait for the soldiers' return. Inquires if she is going to school and playing the piano. Writes about the beautiful weather and lovely flowers. States that a large steamer blew up at the dock loaded with ammunition…

GLC03523.31.24

9 May 1783

Lillie, John, 1755-1801

Manuscript document signed

Title: Provision return for ten men employed in the Ordnance Department

Also signed by Captain Thomas Batten. Contains a note on page two written by Sergeant R. Blakley, who confirms receipt of rations. Covers 9-12 May. Possibly created at West Point, New York. Contains water damage.

GLC02437.09715