22 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by Major General Knox to General Washington. Says he arrived at camp to find that 22 American women and children, formerly prisoners who had travelled from Canada, were seeking assistance. They travelled down from Vermont to Albany, New York. From Albany, Lord Stirling sent them southward with the idea that they could reach Philadelphia. Says "These unhappy people, were inhabitants of the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania. Their husbands and fathers have been murdered by the Savages and themselves taken into captivity to Canada." Reports that after "horrors unutterable," they…

GLC02437.01624

23 July 1783

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph note signed

Title: [Army rations issued to Captain Vincent and his followers]

Written by General Knox's aide-de-camp Major Shaw ordering West Point Commissary James Forsyth to issue twelve rations to Captain Vincent and his followers, "being friendly indians." Docket signed by George [Dummerton] stating that contractors delivered the rations.

GLC02437.02317

27 July 1783

Forsyth, William, fl. 1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Issue of rations]

Issue of rations for Captain Vincent and four Indians for five days. Signed by William Forsyth and Samuel Shaw, aide-de-camp to General Henry Knox. A docket acknowledging receipt from the contractors for New York and New Jersey is signed by "Joe Indian".

GLC02437.02333

28 July 1783

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Issue of army rations]

Order to issue rations to Captain Vincent and his friendly Indian companions. The order specifies that they be given one peck of peas and in the future, with every ration, issued one gill of rum "whether country or West India." Signed by Samuel Shaw, aide-de-camp to Henry Knox. Also signed by Captain John Vincent in receipt of a peck of peas. The docket reads "Genl Orders No. 10 Indians."

GLC02437.02337

7 July 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written from the War Office. Provides an extensive analysis of the United States's relationship with the Creek Nation in the Ohio territories as well as Georgia. Also provides information on other nations, such as the Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Cherokee. The Indians were facing threats from white settlers encroaching on their land. Knox warns that the situation was growing critical, "Already the Cherokees have taken refuge from the evidence of the frontier people of North Carolina within the limits of the Creeks," Knox wrote. "[T]heir remote situation is their only present protection" and "…

GLC02437.04272

21 July 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Richard Butler

Discusses the possibility of Butler's reappointment [as superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Northern district]. Marked private.

GLC02437.03944

20 December 1788

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Comments on the United States Constitution in Virginia. Notes that he was banished from the house of delegates, but returned to "one of the most antifederal assemblies that could possibly have been collected from amongst the people. This body met in [Phrenzy], and [Patrick] Henry took advantage of that circumstance to push and carry measures which could not have been obtained in the latter parts of the session." Refers to William Grayson, Richard Henry Lee, the evacuation of American Indians, and the possibility of George Clinton being elected as Vice President. Discusses political…

GLC02437.04057

23 October 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Writes that he hopes to be able to visit General Washington at Mount Vernon soon. Is convinced of the General's affection for him and feels sure that his limited correspondence will not be misconstrued; is aware that responding to too many letters can be difficult, and he has been traveling to and from Massachusetts on both public and private business, which has prevented him from writing. Argues that the political system currently in place is inadequate: "The powers of Congress are utterly inadequate to preserve the balance between the respective States, and oblige them to do those things…

GLC02437.03319

22 October 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to James Bowdoin

Writes that he will receive by this post the act of Congress authorizing an additional 700 troops in the Ohio frontier, where the troops there are suffering attacks from local Indians. Reports that Congress has called for the states to pay into the treasury by June of the following year, but that they need money more quickly than that if they want to support the troops already in service and augment the force as well. Hopes that the wealthier men in Boston will agree to help support the government and that they can work out a measure in which they will be "confident of security, and a speedy…

GLC02437.03315

January 21, 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington [incomplete]

Comments on a recent trip Washington took to his western lands. Expresses relief that Washington did not travel as far west as he originally planned due to "the indians being in a bad temper." Referring to settlers on Washington's lands, writes "You must have been chagrined to have found your Lands possessed by a... people who hold in contempt equity- the first principle of Society." Discusses disunity among the states, writing, "We are entirely destitute of those traits which should Stamp us one nation- and the Constitution of Congress does not seem to promise any capital alteration for…

GLC02437.03087

22 November 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to George Washington

Later copy. Duplicate of a portion of GLC02437.03220, a letter by Knox. Discusses the troops at Forts Pitt and McIntosh, as well as treaty negotiations with the Indians. Calculations in blue pencil on verso.

GLC02437.03219

31 May 1785

Carleton, Joseph, 1754-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Carleton, acting Secretary at War, writes to Knox, recently elected Secretary at War. Relates that John Dickinson, President of Pennsylvania, informed him that Pennsylvania's quota of troops cannot be raised until the meeting of the General Assembly on 25 August 1785. Also reports that Matthew Griswold, Governor of Connecticut, forwarded the names of officers appointed to command Connecticut troops. Further discusses raising and providing clothing for troops. In a postscript notes that "the Commissioners for Indian Affairs will not be ready to move to the Southward before the middle of…

GLC02437.03150

7 October 1785

Carleton, Joseph, 1754-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from "War Office." Discusses Mr. [possibly William] Duer's inability to find a man to provision Captain [likely John Francis] Hamtramck's company to the frontier. Suggests giving Hamtramck himself money to handle it, because Hamtramck appears to be responsible. Asks for Knox's response by Sunday's post. Listed as "Public Service" above address.

GLC02437.03207

3 August 1783

Denniston, George J., fl. 1782

Autograph document signed

Title: [Army rations issued]

Request to issue 12 rations to Captain Vincent and four Indians. Signed by Denniston, countersigned by a Mr. Bell.

GLC02437.02361

13 August 1783

Pearsee, Jonathon, fl. 1780-1797

Autograph document signed

Title: [Request for rations]

Request for thirty days' worth of provisions for Indians going to "Niagia." Note of receipt signed with a mark by a Peter Quenungedau.

GLC02437.02382

18 August 1783

Walker, Benjamin, 1753-1818

Autograph note signed

Title: [Request for rations]

Request for provisions for Indians. Noted as written at Head Quarters. Countersigned by a Captain Joseph.

GLC02437.02396

August 1783

Manuscript document

Title: Extra issues

Hand drawn chart, apparently listing issues distributed to prisoners, engineers department, police officer garrison, Indians, discharged person, artillery artificers, and General [Jedediah] Huntington. Verso contains the single word "Cast."

GLC02437.10131

17 September 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Knox, Commander at West Point, writes, "I cannot refrain from communicating the joy I feel, and the pleasure manifested by the officers in general, upon the noble testimony of gratitude exhibited by Congress in their resolve concerning the equestrian statue..." Requests information regarding an officers' petition to Congress in which officers would be granted lands in place of their back pay. Assures Washington, "Were the prayer of the petition to be granted, the officers in a very few years would make the swift settlement on the frontiers, and form a strong barrier against the barbarians…

GLC02437.10138

20 September 1783

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Request for rations]

Request for rations for two men going to Congress. Docket signed by John Vincent.

GLC02437.02542

10 October 1783

Lillie, John, 1755-1801

Autograph document signed

Title: [Order to deliver rations]

Order to deliver eighteen rations for Captain John Vincent and his men. Includes a note on the verso signed by Vincent with his mark.

GLC02437.02629

December 11, 1785

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses trade between Indians and the British stationed on the American side of the territorial line (in the Northwest Territory). Reports criticism of the Society of the Cincinnati, including a pamphlet, Considerations sur l'ordre de Cincinnatus, by Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau. Refers to limestone previously discussed with Knox in relation to Washington's construction projects. Sends his best wishes to Knox, his wife Lucy, and their family.

GLC02437.09408

19 November 1790

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses an expedition against the Wabash Indians. Expresses disappointment in General [Josiah] Harmer. Expected little from Harmer, after hearing he was a drunkard. Instructs Knox to present other important matters before Congress, as they occur to him, preceding Washington's arrival. Notes that recent heavy rains may hinder his progress to Philadelphia. Marked private at the top of page one.

GLC02437.09421

5 April 1794

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses General Israel Chapin's negotiations with the Six Nations (possibly referring to the Canandaigua Treaty of 1794). Notes that the Treaty should take place apart from British agents and spies.

GLC02437.09428

circa 1790

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document

Title: [Drafts of secret articles in a treaty between the United States and the Creek Nation]

A working manuscript that has been corrected by Knox probably intended for George Washington. Consists of several secret articles pertaining to the proposed treaty; in each case, "secret" has been struck. One article grants trading rights in United States ports. If the Spanish obstruct Creek commerce, promises to transport Creek goods through United States territory until the obstruction is removed, as long as the goods do not exceed 60,000 dollars in worth. Another article appoints Alexander McGillivray, Chief of the Creek Nation, as Brigadier General in the United States Army with 1,200…

GLC02437.09459

26 August 1790

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Proclamation regarding the violation of treaties made with the Choctaw and Chicksaw tribes]

President Washington warns citizens of the United States against violating certain treaties previously negotiated with Native American tribes. Instructs civil and military officers of the United States to govern themselves according to the treaties. Also signed by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State (1790-1793), who has added the words "By the President" below Washington's signature. This draft proclamation is in the hand of Attorney General Edmund Randolph.

GLC02437.09397