January 22, 1782

Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de, 1725-1807

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Indicates that he received intelligence from his correspondent about the British receiving reinforcements from New York in Charleston, he is "of opinion that the reinforcement you have received from General St. Clair, must have put you in a position to withstand those newly arrived." Doubts the news that the British reinforcements come from Ireland. The rest (starting on p. 1) at the end of which appears the signature. A separate three pages(which measure 28 x 21.5 cm) records the solution to the cipher, which discussion military strategy in the Southern Campaign. The cipher also notes…

GLC08903

1814/08/31

Fonciu, John, fl. 1814

Autograph document signed

Title: [Provision of Fortifications indispensable to the defense of Philadelphia] [French]

Fonciu, a French officer who had lived in Philadelphia, was Jonathan Williams' chief assistant in the volunteer association of field engineers organized by Philadelphia's Committee of Defence.

GLC02978.05

1814/09/18

Fonciu, John, fl. 1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson [French]

Fonciu, a French officer who had lived in Philadelphia, was Jonathan Williams' chief assistant in the volunteer association of field engineers organized by Philadelphia's Committee of Defence.

GLC02978.14

November 2, 1785

L'Enfant, Pierre Charles, 1754-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette [in French]

Letter written by Major L'Enfant to Lafayette. Probably in reference to the problems he was having with payments owed to Parisian jewelers for badges made for the Society of the Cincinnati. The eagle insignias did not sell well among American officers when L'Enfant returned to the United States in 1784.

GLC02437.03212

20 December 1856

Maitland, William G., 1846-?

Manuscript document

Title: Naturalization Laws

Small note titled "Naturalization Laws," which discusses the laws of Congress, noting there changes over time. Remarks, "there was a secret society called the Illuminists in the latter part of the last Century all those who have had the history of France can learn there the blood that was shed..." Mentions details about French Revolution as well. Note has mathematical calculations.

GLC03523.10.016

31 August 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes on paper sent to him by his sister and teases, "I guess you thought if you sent this size paper you would get large letters." She has also sent him some socks, and Damuth thanks her for them but adds, "I think I would rather be the one that stays at home and knits them than to be the one that stays down here and wears them out." Some men are being discharged for illness, but on the whole, the company is well and eating fresh food. Though the men have marching orders, they have had them "so long that I dont depend much on them. We are soldiering now more as the army under McClellen…

GLC03523.14.35

14 October 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes from the same campground where he wrote his last letter. Damuth thinks they will be there for some time. They are very isolated, "for all I know peace may be declaired now we are so far from any whear." The men have noticed a "great difference eather between Banks and Grant or els the Expedition against Vixburg and this is not much alike." Describes their lifestyle as calm and pleasant. Finds that he has "been to work for Old Abe 14 months," so that he has almost gotten halfway through his three years service. Mentions that there have been rumors "that France was about to…

GLC03523.14.39

2 April 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Report of General Knox's letter to Dr. Gordon]

Later copy. Apparently an excerpt of GLC02437.03257, outlining an incident between General George Washington, the Comte de Grasse, General Rochambeau, General Henry Knox, and Lord Cornwallis. Note at top of page reads, "Report of Genl Knox's letter to Dr Gordon, which the Dr has transferred to his history ii 255,256. outlining General Washington's letter to Count de Grasse, 'which,' says Knox, 'by some unaccountable means has been published.'" Embossed seal in the upper left corner.

GLC02437.03258

13 June 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to George Washington

Later copy of GLC02437.03273.

GLC02437.03274

June 16, 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

Knox references Lafayette's letter from February 11, 1786. He thanks Lafayette for his kindness toward his brother, William, when he was ill. Says that William has recovered and has been with him since October 1785. Hopes the recovery is permanent. Discusses the affair of Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who had been sent to France in 1783 to purchase jeweled eagle badges for the members of the Society of the Cincinnati. L'Enfant returned to America in 1784 and brought back many badges purchased on credit. The price proved too high for some officers, which left L'Enfant in a bind. Goes on to…

GLC02437.03276

January 19, 1786

Francastel, Nicolas Jean, fl. 1784-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette [in French]

For an English translation of this French letter see GLC02437.03239. The translation is in a different hand. This letter was written by Parisian jeweler Nicolas Jean Francastel, who was one of the creators of the jeweled eagle insignia worn by some members of the Society of the Cincinnati (Claude Jean Autran Duval was the other). Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant had been sent to France in 1783 to order the badges for the Society, which he did on credit and was later unable to sell to officers in America. This letter details the settlement over the payment for the badges. With interest,…

GLC02437.03238

January 19, 1786

Francastel, Nicolas Jean, fl. 1784-1786

Manuscript letter

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

An English translation of GLC02437.03238 in a different hand. This letter was written by Parisian jeweler Nicolas Jean Francastel, who was one of the creators of the jeweled eagle insignia worn by some members of the Society of the Cincinnati (Claude Jean Autran Duval was the other). Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant had been sent to France in 1783 to order the badges for the Society, which he did on credit and was later unable to sell to officers in America. This letter details the settlement over the payment for the badges. With interest, Francastel was to be paid 20,229 livres. Francastel says…

GLC02437.03239

12 March 1786

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

General Nathanael Greene writes, "I thank you for the public attention you are paying to my public Trophies; but I have been so embarrassed and perplexed in my private affairs for a long time past which originated in the progress of the War that I have but little spirit or pleasures on such subjects. My family is in distress and I am overwhelmed with difficulties and God knows when or where they will end. I work hard and live poor but I fear all this will not extricate me." Describes some business losses he has suffered, including poor harvest due to wet weather. Mrs. Greene is about to "…

GLC02437.03251

12 July 1784 - 13 July 1784

Hull, William, 1753-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Letters exchanged between William Hull and Frederick Haldimand]

Marked as a copy, but written in Hull's hand. Hull asks Haldimand, Governor of the Province of Quebec, "when each of the Posts within [United States] Territories now occupied by his Britanic Majesty's Forces will be delivered up agreeably to the definitive Treaty of Paris..." Also proposes the exchange of cannon and stores at the posts. Contains Haldimand's answer from Quebec, dated 13 July 1784. In his reply, Haldimand encloses a letter to Knox (not included) giving reasons why the matter is out of his power.

GLC02437.03028

February 8, 1785

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Jay

Discusses political and military affairs in Europe at length. Writes, "I strongly am of opinion no War will take place, at least for this year the assurance of things, however, is still Warlike enough to have made it proper for me to be arrived at the time I am..." Refers to the Marshal de Castries and discusses French trade. Mentions Longchamps, possibly the chevalier Charles Julian de Longchamps, who in 1784 assaulted François Barbé-Marbois in Philadelphia. Creator and recipient identified by GLC02437.03096, with which this letter was likely originally enclosed.

GLC02437.03095

23 July 1787

Lotbinière, Michel de Chartier, chevalier, marquis de, 1723-1798

Manuscript letter

Title: [Extract of a letter to Monsieur de Gribeauval respecting Mr. Knox]

Discusses his acquaintance with Knox, who hopes to start a correspondence with Gribeauval, most likely due to their common experience with artillery. Reports that Knox is knowledgeable about Gribeauval's reputation in Europe. Noted as an extract of a letter. Translation of GLC02437.03614.

GLC02437.03613

7 January 1787

De Jean, fl. 1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks him for his letter. Writes, "By the contents of Mr. Macomb's, friendly letter, I am convinced, how wrong and presumptuous I was, in my former letter to you, to desire you to write to so many gentlemen, and to take so much trouble for a man entire [a] stranger to you." Begs his forgiveness and his "good patronage and protection." See GLC02437.03396 for a related document.

GLC02437.03410

April 8, 1787

Grégoire, Marie-Thérèse de, 1733-1811

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Forwards a letter of recommendation from the Marquis de Lafayette, and asks Knox for help in her claim of "a tract of Land Laying at the Eastward with the Island of Mount Desert," in what is now Maine.

GLC02437.03515

23 July 1787

Lotbinière, Michel de Chartier, chevalier, marquis de, 1723-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Extract of a letter to Monsieur de Gribeauval respecting Mr. Knox] [in French]

Discusses his acquaintance with Knox, who hopes to start a correspondence with Gribeauval, most likely due to their common experience with artillery. Reports that Knox is knowledgeable about Gribeauval's reputation in Europe. Noted as an extract of a letter. See GLC02437.03613 for a translation.

GLC02437.03614

29 October 1787

Manuscript document

Title: [Naturalization certificate]

Later copy. Certifies Barthélémy de Grégoire, and his wife, Marie-Thérèse de Grégoire, as naturalized citizens of the state of Massachusetts, along with their three children.

GLC02437.03685

9 March 1780

Smith, Oliver, 1749-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Smith writes to Knox in Amsterdam. Issues a lengthy apology for not writing sooner. Relates that his friend, Mr. Whitlock, shipped Knox's trunks. Describes a mutual acquaintance, "young Mynham," as "a perfect Dutchman." Compares the virtues of the French and Dutch. Recently spent time at Clapham, England, where he finds the air "particularly wholesome & agreeable." Mentions news of mutual acquaintances in Boston, Massachusetts, including the marriage of William and Peggy Goldthwaite. Bottom quarter of first page and second is missing. Address directs the letter to Knox at J.…

GLC02437.00803

3 April 1780

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that this letter as an introduction and states that it will be delivered by a Mr. Gau, the Commissary at War for the Corps of Artillery. Remnants of sealing wax on the address leaf.

GLC02437.00806

after 1783

Manuscript document

Title: A List of Officers, Massachusetts Line of the Army of the U. States

Pages 1 and 2 comprise "A List of Officers, Massachusetts Line of the Army of the U. States Jany. 1. 1781." Dozens of names are listed, broken down by rank. Page 2 also contains a chart of seven "General Officers killed in battle," including names, locations and year. Cited are "Warren at Bunker's Hill - 1775," as well as Montgomery, Mercer, Wooster, Nash, Pulaskie and Decalb [Baron de Kalb]. Page 3 comprises "A list of General Officers of the Army of the U. States Jany. 1. 1780. George Washington, Commander in Chief." Major generals and brigadier generals are listed below, along with their…

GLC02437.00868

February 13, 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Discusses a meeting with the French army and navy and General Daniel Morgan's victory over General Banastre Tarleton, "the Kill-Devil of Cornwallis's Army," at the battle of Cowpens, South Carolina, 17 January 1781.

GLC02437.00889

1 January 1781

Aboville, Francois Marie, comte de, 1730-1817

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Related to the artillery of Rochambeau's army] [In French]

Signed by "d'Aboville," Colonel Francois Marie, comte de Aboville. Also signed by Gau as commissary of artillery and by Nadal as director of the artillery park. A third signature is illegible. Lists artillery equipment and munitions for a siege by the army of the Comte de Rochambeau for the 1781 campaign.

GLC02437.10016