12 August 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jefferson, Secretary of State, responds to Secretary of War Knox's letter about the ratification of the Creek treaty (see GLC02437.04688 and GLC02437.04691). Jefferson asks Knox whether he can invite "the three charge's de affaires" and "respectable strangers of their nation" to the signing. Also asks, "do ladies go?" If so, asserts that Mrs. Otto should be on Mr. Otto's invitation. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.04689

26 August 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jefferson, Secretary of State, writes Knox to hastily give his thoughts on the "treaty of Hopewell, the act of cession of N. Carolina and the act of acceptance by Congress." States that Congress's act of acceptance followed the Treaty of Hopewell, and that North Carolina can not use their right of preemption to take away the right of occupation of the Cherokees. The "question would be a disagreeable one between the general government, a particular government, and individuals." Jefferson thinks purchasing from the Cherokees the right of occupation is one solution. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.04700

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

30 November 1790

Martin, Joseph, 1740-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses the "truly alarming" situation going on in the Virginia back country. Reports the deaths of several people at Martin Station in Powell's Valley. Believes the news that he is no longer the Indian agent there has caused these problems. He had thought about erecting a "station on the bank of the Cumberland river for the security of travellers" with the support of Congress. Martin would buy one hundred acres of land from the Cherokees. Notes that the ford of the river is, by treaty, the line between the United States and the Cherokees. Suggests a trade post and garrison to ensure…

GLC02437.04784

25 March 1783

Mason, John, fl. 1776-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Offers congratulations on the end of the war and requests a leave of absence to attend to personal matters. Includes a reply written and signed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp, stating that Knox is unable to grant Mason's request.

GLC02437.02032

12 August 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 7 August. Thanks him "for your opinion on the department of field Commisary of Military Stores." As Knox hinted, Lincoln said he has submitted it to Washington. Wants his opinion on the peace. Says he received a late letter from London "shewing the miserable state to which their nation is driven. - which, if true, must soon produce a peace provided we do not relax on the present state of things - and thereby lay ourselves open to a stroke." Says a Mr. Blake of South Carolina has recently returned from…

GLC02437.01524

3 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy. Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. Congratulates Lincoln on the "glorious termination of our struggles." References Lincoln's letter of 22 February. Agrees with Lincoln on "the efficacy of the funds you mention, but I cannot determine upon the propriety of the Army pressing the particular funds upon Congress." Expects to see him in a few days as Washington will probably want to see Lincoln before the Army is disbanded. Says the magazines and arsenals cannot be erected without a special order from him.

GLC02437.01972

8 April 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide de camp. To Secretary of War Lincoln. Says with the confirmation of peace the artillery artificers are worried about disbanding before hearing from Congress about a payment settlement for their past services. Says he wrote to Lincoln about this issue previously and asked him to bring it before Congress. Says "it being but reasonable that their stipulated pay, of twenty dollars a per month to the privates and in proportion for the noncommissioned officers, should be made good to them." Hopes Lincoln will use his influence to…

GLC02437.02074

1 August 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. References Lincoln's letter of 22 July. Says he would like to know why his request for compensation was denied, especially the part that relates to his command of West Point. Says his successors all received the pay of a major general and that his expenses have not been greater than any of them. Reports that Captain Patten of the artillery artificers is anxious to have a decision on his communication with Lincoln and will meet with him for that purpose. Says that Patten and his officers are entitled as much as any who have served in…

GLC02437.02359

28 November 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anthony Wayne

Thanks Wayne for his letter of 25 October (GLC02437.04397). Discusses the treaty negotiations underway in Georgia with the Creek nation, referring to Creek leader Alexander McGillivray: "Mr McGillivrays influence over the creeks has been exerted to ill effect in persuading that nation against an immediate treaty with the United States upon the terms the commissioners offered He has sacrificed the interests of the nation to his own avarice." Relates that one commissioner, [Henry Osborne], claims he saw and read a treaty between the Spanish and the Creeks in which Charles IV guaranteed the…

GLC02437.04421

10 April 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anthony Wayne

Discusses the troops in Georgia and the pending decision in Congress regarding Georgia's pre-emption of the western lands. Says that all the troops within the power of the President, George Washington, have been sent to Georgia. Hopes the troop's arrival will ease apprehensions of "the good people of Georgia" and offer them some form of protection. Notes the Governor of Georgia has informed them "that the Creeks are peaceably disposed." States that only the federal goverment can make treaties. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.04580

23 October 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Later copy of a letter to Henry Knox regarding possible peace settlement and the office of Secreatary of War. Asks Knox if he would be interested in becoming Secretary of War, and discusses the views of Congress opinion on a "Peace Settlement," with many opposed. Copy made circa 1855.

GLC02437.09326

5 April 1794

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Later copy of a letter from Washington to Knox, discussing 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. Copy made 8 February 1854. Original of this letter is GLC02437.09428.

GLC02437.09348

September 20, 1795

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Later copy of a letter from Washington to Knox, discussing a letter recently received from Knox "with great pleasure." Comments on Knox's home in Maine (Knox retired to his estate, Montpelier, in 1795, located near the St. George River in Thomaston, Maine). Mentions the "Treaty with Great Britain," possibly referring to the Jay Treaty, signed by Washington in August 1795. Refers to public opinion of the Treaty. Discusses the details of providing for George Washington Lafayette (son the Marquis de Lafayette and the President's godson). Relates that he has arranged for Lafayette to be cared for…

GLC02437.09349

25 October 1789

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Describes the situation in western Georgia concerning negotiations with the Creeks. The Commission has not succeeded as of yet in negotiating a treaty with the Creeks. Mentions violence along the frontier between Native Americans and white settlers, including incidents in which Native Americans attacked forts and burned them. Reports that the Spanish have concluded a treaty with the Creek Nation, and that Creek leader Alexander McGillivray was involved. Describes the Creeks as "numerous & insolent, until they were made to experience our superiority in the Field..." Suggests a…

GLC02437.04397

12 May 1790

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for sending three more companies of men to him, as he believes this will help deter the Indians from hostilities. Provides the opinion of Creek leader "McGilvery" (referring to Alexander McGillivray), who believes that it is likely some Creeks will reinitiate hostilities because they feel the truce between the government and the Creeks has expired. McGillivray requested to the Governor that a government agent be sent to meet with the Creeks. Therefore, a group of commissioners will be sent in an attempt to sue for peace. Also remarks, "It's also said that Mr. McGilvery is to…

GLC02437.04604

25 December 1789

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

General Wayne acknowledges a letter from Knox of 28 November and talks about information on a possible treaty between the Creeks and the Spanish government. Wayne gives his opinion of rifles "when a professional gentleman who had been in the British services, asked my Opinion of the efficiacy of rifles, to the fire of which the British attributed in great degree the loss of that Army - I gave my sentiments very candidly, that I thought them a very improper arm for an Army, that a few of them in the hands of expert marksmen might occasionally be servicable for small desultory parties, when…

GLC02437.04808

December 1, 1783

Upham, Joshua, 1741-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses his regret on having to leave New York as he is leaving behind many friends, both Loyalists and Patriots, including Knox. Asks for and expects Knox's protection and attention for and to his friends and their families who remained in the city. States that "I am distressed that so many Gentn ... have been under the Necessity of leaving New York etc. and separating from their Families - their sorrows are very much in the extreme ... " Noted as written "On Board the Ceres off Staten Island."

GLC02437.02814

13 May 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Mr. Doughty

Writes to inform the addressee that a report is circulating "on the frontiers" that the addressee's son ,Major [John] Doughty, may have been fired upon by a party of Indians while traveling on the Tennessee River. Is not sure of the details of the situation; fears the reports have been exaggerated. Believes it is likely that the boat was indeed fired upon, that Major Doughty "thought it prudent to retire," and that the boat did not ultimately fall into enemy hands. Resolves to provide further information when he receives it. (See GLC02437.04628 for what may be a follow-up letter.)

GLC02437.04606

16 June 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Mr. Doughty

Writes in reply to an earlier inquiry regarding the recipient's son (Major John Doughty). Wishes he could relieve the recipient's stress. Encloses a letter he originally sent via Mr. David Ogden, but believes at the time it was "not delivered lest it should excite in your breast fears which might be groundless." In the month since the letter was originally written, he feels more hopeful for the fate of the son: "My last letters from Genl Harmar were dated the 5th of April - and the boat was said to have been fired upon the 2d of March - If the fact was true of your sons being killed as has…

GLC02437.04628

25 July 1790

Van Berckel, Franco Petrus, fl. 1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Thanks the recipient for visiting with [Alexander] McGillivray. Hopes that the recipient and McGillivray can come to dinner since he missed their visit. Possibly written to Henry Knox.

GLC02437.04660

7 June 1793

Manuscript letter

Title: to unknown

Discusses the province of West Florida. Notes the boundaries that were ceded to Britain and the Treaty that was made with Spain. Mentions Britains then ceded [West Florida] to Spain and disposed the better part of the land to another country causing the dispute.

GLC02437.09828

31 August 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt]

Signed in text by Knox "Genl Knox." Also signed by William Hull. Notes that Knox gave $540.74 to William Hill "on account of supplies furnished the indian commissioners." Half the page contains a list of names and sums of money that may be unrelated.

GLC02437.04344

1 September 1789

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt]

Receipt for 350 dollars given by Henry Knox to Sebastian Bauman for supplies furnished to the commissioners for negotiations with the Southern Indians. A possibly unrelated list appears at the top of the page in a different hand (perhaps that of Henry Knox).

GLC02437.04347

5 August 1790

Street, Samuel, fl. 1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Considers the implications of a recent diplomatic success Colonel [Alexander] McGillivray had negotiating on behalf of the Creek Nation. McGillivray recovered for the Creeks land that the governor of Georgia had given to Georgia citizens. He declared that under the law, the President had to help protect Indians' rights and allow them a redress of grievances. Street hopes that a similar dispensation will be given to the Five Nations. Declares that in the same law, "the President is vested with power to make such order respecting the Indian Tribes which are surrounded in their settlements…

GLC02437.04670