October 29, 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Warrant for release of Abraham Bell]

The first part of this note, on the first page, is written on behalf of Knox in the secretarial hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. The note describes the circumstances of Abraham Bell, formerly of New York State, who has been captured as a prisoner of war by a militia group (Knox mentions that Bell has "been indicative of his intention of leaving the enemy," suggesting he was a loyalist). After being captured, Bell was taken ill and sent to the hospital. While largely recovered, Bell fears he would get worse if sent back to prison, so has applied to Knox to be given to the custody…

GLC02437.01661

2 January 1783

Bushnell, David, 1740-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Bushnell signs as Captain, Sappers and Miners. Gives his account of a situation involving Captain Lieutenant Taulman and Kirkpatrick. The two soldiers disobeyed his orders concerning their baggage and he had to arrest them. Refer to GLC02437.01788 for Knox's reply.

GLC02437.10514

29 October 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Thomas S. Lee

Asks Governor of Maryland Lee to intervene on the behalf of Captain Thomas Shilds, who Henry Knox ordered to gather supplies for the siege of Yorktown. Shilds was authorized to impress material and he confiscated wooden planks from a man named William Adams, who consequently brought a suit against Shilds. Clerical copy in the hand of Samuel Shaw and signed by him for Washington. See GLC02437.01200 for a related document.

GLC02437.01273

23 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by Major General Knox to General Washington. Reports to Washington that he had to relieve the company of artillery under Captain Lieutenant Ephraim Fenno at Kings Ferry, due to problems with ordnance returns. Replaced Fenno's unit with the company of Colonel John Lamb now under the orders of Captain Fleming. Says if Washington wants a commander responsible directly to him, he recommends Fleming as qualified. Says Fenno was relieved because of an unexplained return which noted 18 damaged barrels of powder. Also, Fenno did not explain why two soldiers in his company left ordnance "…

GLC02437.02019

19 May 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Discusses an "atrocious violation of the Laws of Nations" by a Mr. Honniwell and urges a just punishment for the crime. See GLC02437.02125 for a related document.

GLC02437.02126

15 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sebastian Bauman

Written by Brigadier General Knox to Major Bauman. References Bauman's letter of 10 August 1781. Says he cannot give him a transfer as Colonel Popkins, who was supposed to replace him, was sick. Says all other line officers are not available because they are employed in the court of inquiry involving Colonel John Crane. Says he can leave for a few days if General McDougall is content having a captain replace him. Recommends Captain Frothingham as his replacement.

GLC02437.01134

9 April 1788

Manuscript document

Title: [Receipt for the payment of two West Point men to pursue army deserters]

An unknown recipient received from Captain Henry Burbeck "ten shillings york currency for the purpose of defreying my expences for two men from W. Point into the country in pursuit of Livi Hunter and Joseph Griffin deserters from the Federal Artillery." Includes an account balance on verso.

GLC02437.03834

5 January 1784

Haskell, Elnathan, 1755-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Brooks

Marked as a duplicate. Major Haskell and Captain J. Bliss write to Brooks, assistant clothier general. They give Brooks a report on their inspection of 499 hats in the clothing store: "... in our judgment the whole unfit to be issued to the Troops-- some of them are too small in the crown, others are too narrow brim'd, and the remainder are so illy made as to render them almost unfit for any service."

GLC02437.02914

February 5, 1784

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Manuscript letter

Title: to William Hull

Major Bauman, commanding the artillery at West Point, writes to Hull, commandant of West Point. Refuses to comply with orders issued by Hull requiring artillery to engage in "the common duty of the Garrison" under the adjutant. Anticipates his suspension, noting the command of ordnance and stores should pass to the next senior officer until he receives a proper investigation. Requests a supply of firewood in the interim. Docketed as "No. 2."

GLC02437.02943

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

circa 27 September 1783

Arrickson, Samuel, fl. 1783

Manuscript document

Title: [Testimony of Samuel Arrickson]

Samuel Arrickson's [also spelled Arrixson] testimony for the trial of Lieutenant Wheaton. Relates an incident where Wheaton had ordered boots and shoes to be made and refused to pay for them. See GLC02437.02597. Noted as "Taken & Sealed -/On the Charges Against Lt. Wheaton/To be open'd by the Judge Advocate/Before the Court" and "I [Arrickson] Personally apeared Before ... Benjamin Carpenter one of the People's Justice of the Peac[e] for said County the Within Named Samuel Arrixson the 27 day of September 1783 and was favor to the Within Deposition." Signed by Bejamin Carpenter as a…

GLC02437.02598

16 September 1783

Mahony, John, fl. 1783

Manuscript document

Title: [Testimony related to Lieutenant Joseph Wheaton]

Testimony/disposition of soldiers in the Rhode Island troops in the trial of Lieutenant Wheaton, who sold rum to the soldiers at the garrison of Saratoga for profit. All three men signed with an "X" on "His Mark" at end of their testimonies. John Thompson, Justice of the Peace, took their testimony. John Mahony gave his testimony separately from Thomas Brown and Jonathan Crandle, who gave theirs together. See GLC02437.02204 for Wheaton's lengthy defense and for cross-references to other documents related to this case. According to Wheaton, Thomas Brown, one of those submitting testimony…

GLC02437.10522

18 December 1863

McLaws, Lafayette, 1821-1897

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Special Orders No. 168 issued by General James Longstreet]

Orders number 168. General McLaws writes "In compliance with special orders No 27 of December 17th Inst. from Head Qrs of Gen Longstreet, I relinquish my Command to Brigadier General J. B. Kershaw the senior Brigadier of my Division."

GLC02460.09

14 March 1864

Wheeler, Joseph, 1836-1906

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Braxton Bragg

Wheeler, commanding Cavalry Corps, Army of Tennessee, writes to Bragg, overseeing Confederate military operations from Richmond, Virginia. Replies to correspondence from Bragg. Discusses the establishment of a military court: "... I must first acknowledge my indebtedness to you for the kindness you have shown in evincing such an interest in our behalf. The court will be of great service to us and will aid much in enforcing discipline." Reports that Major Hugh M. King (formerly quartermaster on General John K. Jackson's staff and Captain of the fifth Georgia Infantry) has been serving as…

GLC02460.18

13 December 1863

Whiting, William Henry Chase, 1824-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Zebulon Baird Vance

General Whiting informs Vance, Governor of North Carolina "I have received with much regret this morning the letter of Capt McBride to you- regret that any officer of this command should have so far forgotten himself both as citizen & as soldier as to write to the chief magistrate of his state a communication of such insolence." Relates that General [Milbret?] will be instructed to reprimand McBride at once. States "Inspt Genl will prepare charges against him for... disrespectful conduct to the government of N. C. based on this letter which is insolent in the extreme. Capt McB will be…

GLC02460.19

1 June 1864

Wright, Marcus Joseph, 1831-1922

Autograph letter signed

Title: to General [Wayne]

Possibly to General Henry Constantine Wayne, Adjutant General of Georgia (1860-1865). Wright, commanding the district of Atlanta, reports: "I have sent an officer of my staff out this morning to find out something about the outrages mentioned in your note. I am exceedingly anxious to bring these men to punishment, but have no mounted force whatever at my disposal." Further discusses the unspecified outrages, and suggests asking General Johnston (possibly Joseph E. Johnston) "to have those dismounted & straggling cavalry men sent across the river." Written on Headquarters Post, Atlanta.

GLC02460.20

7 November 1861

Ashby, Turner, 1828-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

State inferred from content. General Ashby reports, "Mr. Duke who has been arrested as a spy and upon his own evidence has done acts that will establish beyond doubt his felony... He is a dangerous person..." A pencil note at the bottom of the page indicates that this letter refers to John H. Duke, a citizen of Sheperdstown, Jefferson County, Virginia (present-day West Virginia). One bust engraving of Ashby included as collateral. Written at Camp Evans.

GLC02461.01

16 July 1864

Sykes, George, fl. 1802-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marsena Rudolph Patrick

General Sykes writes from Headquarters, 5th Corps, to Patrick, Provost Marshal of the Army of the Potomac. Writes that a friend of his, Miss Mary Delaplane, wishes to go to Alexandria or Washington, D.C. to meet one of her brothers, who "has important business with her solely on family affairs." Remarks, "There are five sisters residing together- & no one to help them or give them advice- I will answer for their doing nothing prejudicial in any way to our cause." Requests a pass for Delaplane. One bust engraving of Sykes included as collateral.

GLC02456.29

9 September 1782

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Proposes use of prisoners as armorers, discusses trial of Sergeant Spinoza [Spinosa] for treason, requests help organizing the Department of the Commissary of Military Stores and wonders if "it be possible to get the field pieces directed to be presented to the Count de Rochambeau, engraved with the proper inscriptions here - or must the Secretary at War endeavour to have it done in Philadela." Written at "Head Quarters." Washington's signature clipped.

GLC02437.09358

17 September 1782

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Refuses to grant leave to Captain Machin while he is on trial. "Captain Machin being under Arrest there would be an impropriety in his transacting any public business - or in granting him leave of absence from Camp. His Trial must soon come on in course, if that terminates in his favor I shall then have no objections to granting the leave requested, and if in the mean time any business of the Corps requires that an Officer should go to Philadelphia, leave shall be granted to any other you may think proper to send." Written at "Head Quarters." Washington's signature clipped.

GLC02437.09359

8 November 1782

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Enclosing a note regarding a case that he wishes Knox to deal with. "You will be pleased to take up the matter in question, have a fair investigation made into the Merits of it, and cause justice to be done to the Individual concerned, as well as the Public." A endorsement in the hand of Samuel Shaw at the bottom of the page reads "Answered, and the papers returned to the man who brought them." Written at "Head Quarters." Washington's signature clipped.

GLC02437.09362

February 25, 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Orders Knox to inquire about the repeated theft of artillery stores at Kings Ferry. Written at "Head Quarters."

GLC02437.09381

14 May 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Washington writes to Knox, commander at West Point. Supports Knox's approval of officers' court martial of rioters. Writes, "I am loth at this time to consent to the absence of Officers from their Corps,- wanting their influence as much as possible, to quiet & allay the discontents of the Soldiers." Allows Knox to consent to officers' absence under special circumstances. Instructs Knox to give non- commissioned officers or soldiers with "mutinous dispositions" furloughs for "any length of time they wish- we are better without them than with them." Relates that General Huntington (…

GLC02437.09386

8 November 1862

Holt, Joseph, 1807-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry W. Halleck

Recommends Donn Piatt as a Judge Advocate to a particular military commission at Cincinnati.

GLC02490.10

19 April 1776

Lee, Charles, 1731-1782

Letter signed

Title: to Chairman of the Committee of Botetourt

Written by Major General Lee as commander of the Southern Department. Says the spirit of desertion is on the rise and endangers the safety of the colonies. Requests the committee to exert themselves to secure deserters.

GLC02486