January 19, 1777

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clement Biddle

Written by Major General Greene with his men in winter quarters at Morristown to Biddle as Deputy Quartermaster General of the militia of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Claims nothing has changed recently. Says it appears General Howe is collecting his forces in New Jersey. Says he seems to be operating on the defensive, but with reinforcements he might move to the offensive. Mentions that recruiting is slow and that the army is suffering as a result. Says he heard that 1000 militia under Lord Sterling have gone home dissatisfied. Wants a complete report on the incident. Says he heard firing in…

GLC04305

01 July 1778

Faden, William, fl. 1750-1836

Map

Title: British camp at Trudruffrin [Penna.] from the 18th to the 21st of September 1777...

title continues: "...with the attack made by Major General Grey against the rebels near White Horse Tavern, on the 20th of September. Drawn by an Officer on the Spot." Engraved and Published by W. Faden. Depicts the positions of various regiments and physical landmarks. Battle of Paoli, PA. References: Nebenzahl, "Battle Plans of the American Revolution", 127; Winsor VI: 424; Snyder fig. 190. Written at Charing Cross train station in London.

GLC04312

1775

Montrésor, John, 1736-1799

Map

Title: A Plan of the City of New York & its environs

Actual title: "A Plan of the City of New-York & its environs..." Shows Manhattan Island up to Greenwich Village. Hand colored.

GLC04315

1784

Faden, William, fl. 1750-1836

Map

Title: Plan of the Siege of Savannah...

Nebenzahl, Battle Plans of the American Revolution, 76.

GLC04316

24 July 1776

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter

Title: to Nathaniel Barber

A secretarial copy of Continental Congressman Adams's response to Barber as Deputy Commissary in the Department of the Commissary General of Military Stores. References Barber's letter of 15 July 1776 in which he asked to be given pay at the rank of captain. Says the best way to succeed would be to go through Generals Artemas Ward or George Washington. Not knowing the nature of his duties, he would not help Barber by bringing it up in Congress. Says success is likely if he goes through the chain of command.

GLC04538

circa 1840

Huntington, E., fl. 1840

Print

Title: [Engraved copy of the Declaration of Independence]

Printed by E. Huntington.

GLC04530

23 November 1779

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Hudson & Co.

No Free Frank. Contests Hudson & Co.'s claim of losses, discusses debts, and comments on the plummeting value of Continental currency. One full length seated black and white engraving of Robert Morris included.

GLC04540

20 April 1779

Massachusetts Bay Council

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Orders for the Sheriff of Dukes County to hold elections for representatives to Massachusetts General Court]

Signed by John Avery as deputy secretary. Also signed by members of the Massachusetts Bay Council: Jeremiah Powell, Artemas Ward, B. Greenleaf, Thomas Cushing, Moses Gill Benjamin Austin, Daniel Davis Timothy Danielson, Oliver Prescott, A. Fuller, Samuel Baker, Eleazer Brooks, John Pitts, O. Wendell. Provides some instructions for the election. Paper seal intact.

GLC04547

19 September 1778

Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795

Printed document

Title: [Secret draft budget for the United States]

Partial printed budget that the Continental Congress ordered the Committee on Finance to draft. Recommends a loan of 20 million dollars sterling from Europe and outlines the financial relationship with the states. Also recommends poll taxes and duties. With manuscript notes of Josiah Bartlett on the front and docket of "M. Bartlett" on verso.

GLC04658

6 June 1799

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: [Ohio land grant of 1200 acres made by Congress to Brigade Chaplain Alexander Balmain for three years military service].

This document is a record of lands given to Alexander Balmain for three years of military service. It is signed by John Adams as President and countersigned by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. A grant made in accordance with a 1790 act called "An Act to enable the Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Line on Continental Establishment to obtain titles to certain lands lying north-west of the River Ohio, between the little Miami and Sciota," and an unspecified amendment to that act passed June 9, 1794 are mentioned as precedent for the certificate's authenticity. The document contains a…

GLC04675.09

5 November 1780

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Letter signed

Title: to Hillsborough Board of War

Entreats the Board of War for a magazine of salted meats to sustain the Southern Army during the upcoming winter, which they have been tardy in getting done.

GLC04684

24 March 1778

Biddle, Clement, 1740-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathanael Greene

In response to a query from General Greene, Biddle discusses the resolves of Congress relating to the regulation of the Quarter Master General's Department and their relationship to his duties as Commissary General of Forage. Several edits suggest this may be a retained draft. Signed with initials. Written at Moorhall, the magazine at Valley Forge.

GLC04611

October 13, 1776-1782

Kościuszko, Tadeusz, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Kościuszko requests provisions promised by Quarter Master General Thomas Mifflin. Letter written on October 13.

GLC04630

February 26, 1775

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph note signed

Title: to David Hartley

Signed in text in the opening of the note and written in the third-person: "Dr. Franklin presents..." Sarcastically explains British methods for taxing the American colonies. Date from docket.

GLC04632

22 August 1828

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Rush

Comments on "An Act for the relief of surviving officers and soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," Secretary of Treasury Rush's health, and the difficulty of his position. Anticipates Rush's resignation and thanks him for his service. Also discusses a classical essay by Rush's son, commenting on ancient Rome and the superiority of the statesman over the warrior. Docketed by Rush.

GLC04899

December 9, 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln re: reprimanding Col. Gibson (Yorktown, British POW)

The document is overall stained, especially on verso. Written to Sec. of War Benjamin Lincoln. Reprimanding Col. Gibson for allowing a British officer, Dr. Thomas Shield, to leave Yorktown. Shield was surgeon of the 87th Regiment, British Army.

GLC04942

13 December 1776

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Trumbull

Informs Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut, that "We join with you most fervently in your prayer that America may not be lost, or fall a Victim to the rage of a merciless tyranny. On the contrary we trust there is virtue & spirit enough in the United States to produce exertions sufficient with the blessing of Heaven to prevent it." Discusses details regarding enlisting soldiers for the Continental Army, including wages, length of service, the raising of militia, and cooperation between New England states related to raising troops. Mentions Generals George Washington, Lincoln (possibly…

GLC04947

21 July 1780

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document signed

Title: [Minutes of field council held during attack on Bull's Ferry blockhouse]

Co-signed by six field officers, including Brigadier General William Irvine of the 2nd Brigade of the Pennsylvania Line. The minutes of a council of war held during an attack on Bull's Ferry blockhouse. It appears that Knox wrote this on the verso of a letter he received from Captain Zebulon Pike while in the field. Says ammunition was nearly expended and even though artillery had made it within 60 or 70 yards of the blockhouse, it could not be captured and a withdraw was ordered. The attack at Bull's Ferry was a lopsided defeat, as Wayne's force of 2000 troops could not dislodge the 70…

GLC04898

22 June 1775

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Commission of Captain Daniel Morgan]

Partially printed document signed by Continental Congress President John Hancock and co-signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary to Congress. The writing in the document's body was done by General George Washington. Document appoints Daniel Morgan as "Captain of a Company of Riflemen."

GLC04825

22 August 1775

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Palmer

Washington discusses supply and armament of the Army, strategic locations for placing artillery, how best to prosecute the war, and his public image. Asks Palmer for his advice on strategy for defending Boston and the surrounding area, and has solicited the advice of other men on this topic.

GLC04858

1 August 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Anthony Walton White

Washington writes that the recipient should scrutinize the characters of his men and immediately dismount any suspicious ones since "the loss of a worthless soldier will occasion less regret when it is not accompanied with that of a Horse and Accoutrements." Written in response to the disappearance of a horse from White's unit.

GLC04859

25 August 1778

McIntosh, Lachlan, 1725-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lieutenant of Berkeley County, Virginia

Conveying instructions of Virginia Governor Patrick Henry to contribute militia for McIntosh's expedition into Indian Territory. Asks for three hundred fully armed men and requests that they be enlisted for the longest possible duration because the distance and obstacles are uncertain. Written from Fort Pitt.

GLC04818

3 August 1791

McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Rodney

In the summer of 1791 enemies of the Rodneys in Delaware were alleging that Caesar Rodney, Thomas Rodney's brother, had misappropriated funds authorized by Congress for an attack on Canada during the American Revolution. Caesar had died in 1784. McKean expresses his belief that Caesar's behavior with the funds was honorable, and Caesar's papers may reveal a contemporary letter from McKean to Caesar in which McKean spoke about the complex details of the transactions. If Thomas finds this letter, it will clear his brother: "With a view to afford some consolation to you in your present…

GLC04819

15 September 1775

Middleton, Arthur, 1742-1787

Autograph letter

Title: to William Henry Drayton

Discusses South Carolina's military preparations for the revolution. Informs that transports and frigates will be at Charleston soon and that Fort Johnson is reinforced and garrisoned. Reports on armed schooners ready for defense and batteries that are being formed. Letter is not signed but Middleton is noted as the author on the docket.

GLC04820

1 March 1783

Middleton, Arthur, 1742-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lyman Hall

Asks Hall to resolve a debate over ownership of a slave. Mr. Melvin purchased a slave that had belonged to Middleton but had been captured by the British. When Middleton encountered the slave he claimed it as his own, since it had been wrongfully stolen from him. Melvin appears to want full value in exchange for the slave, while Middleton believes he owes only a fraction of this. Paper border around letter. Written at Cedar Grove Plantation.

GLC04821