7 October 1783

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a petition in Congress "to postpone the sale of absentees estates till further orders of the court, and to enable agents to lease as heretofore," which would affect Knox's claim to the Waldo patent. Also discusses the issue of commutation in Congress, and includes an update on the voting results.

GLC02437.02627

20 October 1783

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that Congress has voted to "discharge the National Debt," and that one party had wanted to insert a clause to "exclude the Commutation & confirm it solely to discharge the foreign debt," though this clause did not pass.

GLC02437.02691

24 December 1787

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that "By a Resolution of Congress the Ohio Company are intitled to sink their military Rights in the Purchase to the Amount of the Seventh of the Purchase Monies" and asks for documents to facilitate that end. Notes that he has contracted with the Connecticut commissioners "to run the lines of their Reserve to the Indian Boundary." Asks if the military there can assist him, if "a Post will be establish'd next Season near the Mouth of the Cuyahoga, or whither Capt. Hutchins will be directed to take the Course of Lake Erie next Spring." Recommends Mr. [Manasseh?] Cutler to replace Mr.…

GLC02437.03737

30 December 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Knox writes to Osgood, a Continental Congressman. Thanks him for the "disinterested attention" he has paid Knox in several instances. Assures Osgood he prizes their friendship highly. Reports that George Washington has instructed him to dissolve several corps and reorganize the soldiers whose terms have not expired into an infantry and artillery. Writes, "This business has been painful on account of discharging the officers and soldiers at this [severe] season without pay, and in many instances the men are miserably clad." Refers to an instance in summer of 1783 when officers petitioned…

GLC02437.02875

4 December 1782

Osgood, Samuel, 1748-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Osgood as a Continental Congressmen from Massachusetts to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 2 November. After reading it says he "began to repent that I had wrote you with Respect to the System for the Adjutant Genl. Department." Feels honored that Knox was willing to be candid about what he felt were the reasons for the Massachusetts legislature denying half-pay pensions to army officers. It seems that a letter Osgood wrote to Lowell, a member of the legislative committee considering the pension issue, was harmful to the officer's cause. Says "I am extremely sorry…

GLC02437.01730

20 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Written by Major General Knox to Massachusetts Continental Congressman Osgood. This letter is a reply to Osgood's letter at GLC02437.01730. Says that his sentiments have caused "uneasiness" among the officers. Knox made sure the principal officers would hear Osgood's opinions by passing the letter along to General John Paterson to share. Believes that McDougall, Ogden, and Brooks, who have been dispatched to Congress, will be able to convince that body the officers deserve better treatment, especially those that have families. Says the officers have confidence that Congress understands what…

GLC02437.01752

1 January 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Jeremiah Olney

Originally written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp, but now badly faded. Writes, "I this minute reviewed your favor of the 22 ult. with its enclosures. Major Shaw, my aide de camp, who was chosen Treasurer by the Army will execute your orders respecting the money matters. The Committee set off for Philadelphia ten days ago. I have not yet heard any thing from them. As soon as they have the affair in train I will take a pleasure in informing you of it. We have no news. The compliments of the season to you and your gallant corps."

GLC02437.01785

23 October 1783

Putnam, Rufus, 1738-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses his observations concerning the public view of commutation. States that there is still general prejudice against officers especially by "lower class of people" but that the prejudice is abating. Mentions a "Lake Erie Scheme," the prospect of settling the western lands and a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati.

GLC02437.02703

12 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: to Jeremiah Olney

Asks Colonel Olney (possibly Jeremiah Olney of Rhode Island) to deliver a petition and address regarding soldiers' pay to General [Andrew] McDougall and Colonels [Samuel] Ogden and [John] Brooks, who will carry it to Congress in Philadelphia. Declares that General George Washington has seen the petition and address and "has no objection to its presentation." Briefly discusses the contents of the documents.

GLC02437.01740

6 November 1782

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Nicola of the Invalid Regiment to Major General Knox. Was disappointed he could not meet up with Knox at West Point last Monday. Expresses his consternation about the reduction of his Invalid regiment by Congress and the Secretary of War. Claims that the authorities say "the men & officers were a great expence to the States, & from whose services there was little benefit derived." The men and officers are to be examined to discover their situations -- when it will be decided if they are to be discharged with a pension or without one and if they are return to the…

GLC02437.01702

22 December 1782

Olney, Jeremiah, 1749-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Olney of the Rhode Island Regiment to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 12 December on the petition of the army on pensions to Congress. Says he has told his regiment about it and that it meets their approval. The Rhode Island regiment's part of the expenses for the committee to travel to Congress is 37 dollars. Asks Knox to take the money out of a warrant from the paymaster owed to the regiment and to hold on to the surplus. Asks to be kept informed of events.

GLC02437.01758

18 November 1783

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the choice for "the officers & men of the Invalid regt. to go to West Point or retire, the former on the commutation, the latter on pensions or discharges, agrable [agreeable] to their disabilities ... " Mentions the number of those who decided to go to West Point and writes about the line of command for those men.

GLC02437.02786

31 May 1790

Olney, Jeremiah, 1749-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that the Rhode Island state convention in Newport has ratified the United States Constitution and that he encloses a copy (not present). Congratulates Knox on "this happy & important event ... again compleats [sic] the Band of Union & must therefore Relieve Congress from many Serious Embaresments [sic]." Reports that he would have left for New York immediately after the vote but had to remain in Rhode Island to pay out the invalid pensions. Hopes to arrive in New York before the revenue officers are appointed. However, if he cannot arrive before the President begins…

GLC02437.04620

13 December 1818

Sampson, Zabdiel, 1781-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Discusses reports of vote tallies in the recent congressional election (which Sampson won) for several Massachusetts towns. Also discusses the processing of pension petitions, indicating that those from his district will be ready by 1 March 1819. Notes that he is sends President Monroe's message (possibly the state of the union) with several documents for Hobart to read (not included).

GLC06313.04.068

5 January 1820

Sampson, Zabdiel, 1781-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Discusses a law passed on 18 March 1818 and his expectation of news from the Secretary of War about "to whom pension certificates have been granted." Also discusses the "bankrupt Bill now before congress."

GLC06313.04.075

19 August 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. References 2 private letters from 7 and 10 August. Says he cannot furnish him estimates. Says he read over his last public letter (which was on the issue of soldiers pensions at half pay) to Lincoln of 31 July and cannot find anything improper in it. On the peace negotiations, he says "Unequivocally then, we have drank such liberal draughts at the fountain of peace that we can see no other object." Goes on to say that "The independence of America being fully acknowledged, say we[,] France will be easily satisfied by the adjustment…

GLC02437.01532

7 August 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the commutation of Captain Patten's pay. Hopes Patten will signify to Congress his acceptance of it. Marked as private.

GLC02437.02372

9 January 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall to Major General Knox. Says nothing decisive about whether the half-pay pension issue has been decided. Says it took a week of travel to get to Philadelphia in bad weather. Wanted to lobby the delegates before the memorial was put before Congress. Says that has been accomplished and after the memorial was submitted, Congress decided to form a committee with a member from each state. Says that they will meet tomorrow night. Encloses a list of the committee members (not included here). Reports that "The Result of our Conversation with the members is, that a great…

GLC02437.01819

8 October 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Lowell

Recounts the story of young Isaac Winslow, who had been taken to Canada at age 11 by his loyalist father, upon the outbreak of hostilities. His parents are now dead, and his other family is in Boston. He wants to be in service to his country. Knox would like to exchange him, or help him return to Boston. See GLC02437.01408 and GLC02437.01649 for related information. Also discusses Congress's debates over payment of military officers.

GLC02437.01650

14 December 1782

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I received your favor of this day. I shall be ready to sett off from this, on Tuesday next, if the weather is fair, and all other arrangements are compleated, which dont depend on me. I suppose Col [John] Brooks will bring over the Memorial &c &c with him."

GLC02437.01743

16 May 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Jackson

Confirms that he was out of town the previous week and that this is why he was unable to respond to a previous letter. Reports that he will forward Jackson's circular letter during the coming week. Declares that Jackson has "involved me in an embarrasing [sic] predicament by asking my opinion of the intended memorial of the Massachusetts Line." Discusses his beliefs on the memorial, which pertains to solider pay.

GLC02437.04609

19 February 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall to Major General Knox. Says that Colonel Brooks has no doubt reached him before this letter, but hopes to give an update to events in Congress since. Says "Nothing has since been done by Congress on the Subject of our memorial [on army pay and officer's pensions]." Reports that Georgia, Maryland, and Delaware are not represented at the moment. Says "The Kings Speech is the only intelligence, which has reached this of any moment, relative to a Peace." Thinks Congress is leaning in support of the army, but he cannot be certain. Says members of Congress focus on two…

GLC02437.01933

15 March 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall to Major General Knox. McDougall was a member of a committee sent by the officers to lobby for half-pay pensions to Congress. Mentions that only Georgia is not represented at this point and there were divisions on the pension issue among the other states. Says 7 were for it, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire against it, with Connecticut divided. Goes on to discuss parliamentary maneuvers made by members of Congress on the issue. Says Colonel Dyer of Connecticut, who was to vote for the issue after it was brought up for discussion again shocked everyone…

GLC02437.02005

25 July 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall to General Knox. Writes from Highlands, New York. Says that the latest news from Massachusetts is that they will not support a "speedy relief to the Army from Continental Funds." Says the state senate supports Congress's resolution, but has put the issue aside until next session. Says he has fears that the funds will not be provided. Believes the most important thing now is to let the country know of the justice of their claims. Reports that other states might also hesitate in giving funds to officers. Wants him to consider starting "a train of correspondence…

GLC02437.02326

19 October 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox to order and send him supplies including nails, paint, and screws. Wonders if one of Knox's artificers can help him hang a new bell he has acquired to summon his servants. Also mentions that "This fellow [most likely referring to Colonel Hopkins] I am well informed has had a Bastard with a negro wench; and when I was lately in Dutcess County, a Muleto woman was shewn to me, by Mr Benson, that is reputed as his Daughter..." Jokes about having an officer write a song about the situation. - McDougall also mentions Hopkins in the context of "the Great Question of Commutation" (soldiers…

GLC02437.02688