circa 1780

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Mensuration of North River at Dobbs Ferry

Map drawn by or for Knox as commander, bearing his emendations and handwritten docket on the verso identifying the map as "Mensuration of North River at Dobbs Ferry," New York. Measured in yards. Date was added later in pencil.

GLC02437.10668

22 October 1781

Teissedre de Fleury, Francois Louis, 1749-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Has heard Knox has replaced ordnance lost or damaged during the siege of Yorktown by the Regiment of Bourbons and inquires if the same can be done for the Régiment de Saintonge. Also requests flags for marching. A note on the back requests information about whether or not a black man who was given to Major Fleury by a British officer has a master. "If he truly he has no master," Fleury writes, "send him back to his new one." The Régiment de Saintonge was selected in 1780 by the Count de Rochambeau to participate in the French expeditionary force to America.

GLC02437.01256

24 December 1781

Freeman, James, fl. 1781-1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions he is aware that Congress has decided to "make good the depreciation of pay, to such officers as have not been under the patronage of any particular State, and have diverted the auditors to Liquidate their accounts, and give them a certificate of the amount of pay due." Has applied to the auditors, but they inform him they have no business with him. Asks if Knox has any advice as to how to receive some or all of his pay: he is "entirely dependent upon Strangers for even the common necessaries of life," and hopes this will induce Knox to reply as early as is convenient, "without…

GLC02437.01310

23 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Fleming

Discusses orders for Captain Fleming for posts at Verplanck's Point and Kings Ferry. Wishes Fleming to replace Captain Fenno, take stock of all of the ordnance and stores, and take their posts a half hour before daylight. States that "[a]lthough you are not exactly the commanding officer yet as you are in the advanced post of great importance to the public ... "

GLC02437.02021

29 March 1783

Fleming, George, 1748-1822

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that he has now taken command of the posts from Captain [Ephraim] Fenno. Describes the condition of the arms, stores, guns and gunpowder in the magazine there. Notes that a number of the paper cartridges have been damaged and the magazine is unfit to store powder in. (See GLC02437.04043 for Knox's reply to this letter.)

GLC02437.02040

30 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Fleming

Replying to an earlier letter from Captain George Fleming (see GLC02437.02040) about the bad condition of Kings Ferry's magazine. Asks Fleming to improve the state of the magazine if possible, and if not, remove the stored gunpowder and stores to the Verplancks Point magazine if it is better.

GLC02437.02043

10 April 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Flucker

Responds to a letter from Flucker in which Flucker expressed his desire to settle the terms of his deceased father's estate. Informs Flucker that in 1778 the Commonwealth (of Massachusetts) passed a law seizing properties without a formal trial. The property of Thomas's father was seized, but the portion of the estate brought by Thomas's mother, Hannah Waldo Flucker, could not legally be seized. Discusses the complexities of Samuel Waldo's (Flucker's grandfather) Penobscot Estate (also known as the Waldo Patent, it was not legally divided among his heirs). Worries about the future of the…

GLC02437.02992

13 April 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Eustis

Replies to Eustis, Vice President of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. Eustis had previously written regarding Knox's appointment by the State Society of Massachusetts to attend the general meeting, scheduled for May in Philadelphia. Agrees to attend, but only for a few days. Discusses the society's need to form a constitution, noting that it should be unanimously embraced. Adds that the May meeting will be "without effect" if the delegates are not conferred with the power to create a constitution.

GLC02437.03836

20 April 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Eustis

Signed "H.K." Replies to a letter from Eustis pertaining to two sons of the "late amiable and gallant Genl [Joseph] Warren," noting he will attempt to persuade some of the members of Congress to extend the public bounty to Warren's youngest son.

GLC02437.03853

20 October 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Eustis

Discusses the payment of the pensions to the invalid regiments. Congress considered holding further investigations, but decided against it, as they "were of opinion that it would have a very improper affect to subject the invalids to any further investigations." Considers who might be responsible for paying out the pensions. Also discusses future positions Dr. Eustis might hold in the public service and offers to help him.

GLC02437.04392

13 December 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Eustis

Relates that he delayed responding to Eustis's previous correspondence in hopes that Congress would decide upon an arrangement for paying the invalids (refer to GLC02437.04414 and GLC02437.04386). If someone is specially appointed to the post of paying the invalids, and Mr. [John] Lucas (commissary of pensioners) resigns, Knox thinks Eustis can easily obtain the appointment. Predicts that the Secretary of the Treasury will make the appointment with the approval of the President. Discusses Society of the Cincinnati diplomas Eustis previously requested. Agrees with Eustis regarding the…

GLC02437.04439

January 23, 1790

Eustis, William, 1753-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses pensioners of the Revolution, especially the fact that he feels that "this State has judged her citizens so grudgingly & so exclusively that she has not her just number & those who are pensioned do not receive enough." Also states that many soldiers were cut off from their pensions, leaving especially those who have been disabled from the war, without a means of support. Asks Knox for his help in supporting this cause. Mentions the Waldo patent, saying without fully understanding the subject he does believe the settlers pose any danger to the heirs of the patent.

GLC02437.04479

6 March 1790

Eustis, William, 1753-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the pensioners and mentions: "...it is evident there are about one fifth of the pensioners of this Common Wealth who can receive no benefit from the years pay granted by Congress - their names are by some means not included in the return & they will neither receive this, not a years pay granted them by the General Court this session - To effect a thorough remedy for this evil it is absolutely necessary there should be a new inspection & return of the whole..." Also suggests that the inspection be run by the federal government and to perhaps conduct an inspection in every…

GLC02437.04531

14 May 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Flucker

Knox, Commander of West Point, writes to Thomas Flucker, brother of Knox's wife Lucy. Notes that Thomas is still very dear to Lucy, despite the "turbulence of the times" (Lucy's family were Loyalists, and her parents had left America for England at the start of the Revolutionary War). Remarks, "The War being over we may hope for a revival of intercourse and mutual goodwill between friends who have been separated... Suffer me to press you to write often and to confide me in the light of a real brother." Encloses a letter (not included) to Flucker's mother, explaining the method by which…

GLC02437.10110

30 March 1791

Davis, William, fl. 1786-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Solicit Knox's support for appointment as Inspector of Excise. Notes he has already sent his petition to President George Washington and hopes Knox can wield some influence over the president. Believes Knox can attest to his character and that he has "been a staunch friend to the liberty of my Country." Explains "had I not met with very heavy losses, since 1775, which has reduced me, I should have had no occasion for this my application." "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.04893

17 October 1781

Wigglesworth, Edward, 1732-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Indicates that he has enclosed copies of a vote of thanks from Harvard College to Granville Sharp for a donation to the library that was conveyed through Knox (see GLC02437.01220). Asks that when Knox arrives in France he send thanks to Sharp, who lives in London. Requests that the communication be sent in way that does not expose Sharp "to political resentment." Also mentions that Harvard has not acquired any British publications since 1774 and asks that Knox attempt to procure some while in Europe. Wigglesworth was president of Harvard College.

GLC02437.01236

21 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Williams

Announces the surrender of the British and German forces under Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown, which occurred two days earlier. Explains that the enemy was given the same terms of surrender that the American forces received at Charleston the year before. The enemy forces number greater than 7000 men. States that there were over forty ships in the harbor. Comments on the unmatched harmony between American and French troops and offers praise for the French. Williams was a diplomat who served as an inspector of arms shipments with his uncle Benjamin Franklin's mission to France.

GLC02437.01250

14 December 1781

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Happy to receive news of Lord Cornwallis's surrender: "The Effect this reverse of Fortune has on the british Government is similar to what we often see in a man mad with Rage - Vengeance, Death Destruction foams at his mouth although he has not strength enough left to manage his weapon." Discusses the perspectives of the British King and Lords of Commons and their attitudes toward the American victory. Talks about Major Franks's arrival in Nantes and his acquaintance with Knox. Wishes he could be "galloping by your Side in pursuit of an Enemy; I have not much confidence in myself, but I…

GLC02437.01304

1 January 1782

McDougall, Ranald Stephen, fl. 1782

Autograph document signed

Title: [to the issuing commissary at New Burg New Windsor or Fishkill Landing]

Relaying orders of General Alexander McDougall. Written by McDougall's son and aide-de-camp. Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Henry Knox's aide-de-camp. Orders that "Sarah Dean the wife of Moses Dean Sergeant in the Artillery Artificers" receive a ration for herself and half a ration for each of her six children until further orders. "No Rum is to be issued to her or the Children." On verso, an autograph note signed by Daniel Niven, Captain of Engineers, certifies that the document is "a true Copy of the Original."

GLC02437.01322

10 April 1787

Williams, Henry Howell, fl. 1775-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests Knox's help in getting Congress to compensate him for the loss of his property during the Revolution. Mentions that many articles were taken from Noddles Island either for use of the American army or to keep them out of the hands of the enemy. He has received no compensation and has been reduced to beggary. Noddle's Island is now a part of East Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.03516

February 2, 1783

Stevens, Ebenezer, 1751-1823

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Recommendation for a leave of absence for Captain Reed]

Recommends Reed for a leave of absence until 15 March 1783. Directs his recommendation to Major General Henry Knox.

GLC02437.09625

16 March 1783

Bushnell, David, 1740-1826

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Recommendation for a leave of absence for Sergeant Nathaniel Osborn]

Captain David Bushnell recommends Osborn for a twenty-five day leave of absence. Directs his request to Major General Henry Knox. Written at Constitution Island.

GLC02437.09691

12 September 1781

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that they have enough planks, but there has been an objection by Major Bauman and Mr. Thorp to the plans of General Mordecai Gist and the French generals to cut the planks and transport them with the troops. The planks were part of the supplies needed for the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01184

16 May 1782 - 17 May 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Addressed to the "Contractor or Commissary for subsisting the troops at this post." Consists of working drafts of two letters, one on the front and one on the verso. The first, a signed letter dated 16 May 1782, tells the commissary that he must deliver to the artillery artificers the one and a half rations of provisions they were promised upon joining the army. Captain [Thomas] Patten will provide the commissary with a count of how many persons require rations. There is a note at the bottom which appears to be the beginning of another rough draft of the letter. On the verso is an…

GLC02437.01420

29 July 1782

Cogswell, Thomas, 1746-1810

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Major Thomas Cogswell writes, "I wrote to the Quarter Master General on the 17th Instant in which I express'd my desire to know how the Artillery was to be furnished with horses, as we had but five on hand that would answer - Since I saw you at Head Quarters I received his answer of the 24th at Philadelphia, in which he writes thus "unless there should be a prospect of active Service, I presume Artillery horses will not be call'd for" - It seams by that, as though he was not made provision for horses, as was expected, and has no Idia of the Parks mooving, at present. it will be impossible to…

GLC02437.01506