26 October 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: Return of Military Stores in the Magazine at Williamsburg.

Contemporary copy of GLC02437.01267. Lists quanties of ordnance. Compiled shortly after the siege of Yorktown. Jones was a Deputy Field Commissary of Military Stores under the command of Colonel Edward Carrington.

GLC02437.01266

22 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Written by Brigadier General Knox to Colonel Crane. Signed twice by Knox, once on page 9 and once on page 10. Handing over command of the artillery on the Hudson River to Crane as he is about to leave the theatre (for Yorktown.) Gives Crane a sense of his duties in the region, explains the importance of West Point, and provides information on the state of repair of artillery pieces and stores in the area. Says the sick soldiers of Colonel Lamb's regiment are to join him at West Point until further orders. Tells him to make sure General Heath is kept abreast of events. Samuel Shaw has added…

GLC02437.01151

17 October 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: Shots & Shells expended by the Allied Army at the Siege of York in Virginia, from the 9th to the 17th of October inclusive.

Lists quantities of shot and shell used by the French and Americans during the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01235

28 October 1781

Custine, Adam Philip, Count de, 1740-1793

Autograph document signed

Title: to Henry Knox [Request for supplies].

Signed in text. Asks Knox to exchange three drums and provide a fourth, and exchange cartridge boxes also. Also mentions that the Major [François-Louis Teissèdre de] Fleury "paid his respects to the general." Colonel Custine led the Régiment de Saintonge, which was selected in 1780 by the Count de Rochambeau to participate in the French expeditionary force to America that aided in the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01268

18 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to John Lamb

Written at camp near Dobbs Ferry. Gives specific orders for mobilization of Lamb's regiment, and apparently the entire artillery park. Indicates they should cross the Hudson River at Kings Ferry. Closing and signature in the hand of Samuel Shaw.

GLC02437.01139

28 September 1781

Lamb, John, 1735-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Colonel Lamb asserts that Trebell's Landing is the best place to disembark the ordnance for the siege of Yorktown and requests men for the task. Reports that the return of stores Knox requested is impossible because Colonel Stevens (possibly Ebenezer Stevens, who was Colonel in Lamb's regiment) did not make an account of the stores on the vessels. Informs Knox that Captain Duncan has arrived with howitzers and carriages.

GLC02437.01194

21 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Letter

Title: to John Adams

Later copy of GLC02437.01252. A detailed account of the siege of Yorktown. Affirms the correctness of Adams' ideas about a need to conduct a major attack against the British in the southern states. Announces the recent surrender of Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown. Explains the "harmonious concurrence of circumstances" that made the victory possible, mentioning the fleet from the West Indies commanded by Admiral Compte de Grasse, the American and French troops marching down from the Hudson River, and a fleet from Rhode Island under the command of Compte de Barras. Provides a…

GLC02437.01251

April 12, 1782

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter written by Lafayette to Major General Knox. Letter of introduction for Chevalier de [Lameth], whose brother was severely wounded in the attack on the redoubts at Yorktown. Asks that he be introduced to "our Brother officers."

GLC02437.01385

9 October 1782

Lamb, John, 1735-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "Agreable to your request, I call'd on Mr. Billings to see what progress he had made in his work - I find that, he has prepared one of the Cannon, and has traced the device - as the border is to be Engraved, it requires much time to prepare the Cannon properly for the reception of the design. - He means to give such part of the gun, as will be exposed to view, when mounted, a very fine polish, which will add greatly to its appearance. He cannot yet determine when he will be able to compleat the work; But promises to undertake nothing else, till they are done. I flatter myself that…

GLC02437.01655

18 October 1781

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Has not heard from his brother in almost six weeks. News of the operation against Yorktown from General George Washington included the destruction of three of Lord Cornwallis redoubts and a formal demand for surrender, along with Cornwallis' rejection of it. Speculates that defeating Cornwallis will not be easy for the Allied Army, but "Fall he must." Rumors of unsuccessful British activity against General Nathanael Greene near Charleston. Offers high praise for Greene as a potential successor for Washington. Mentions the deaths of 300 soldiers and officers among Colonel William…

GLC02437.01239

27 November 1781

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by William Knox to his brother Brigadier General Henry Knox, who was at Washington's headquarters. Writes from France after a pleasant and short 21 day voyage from Boston. Is astonished by their speed of travel. Says he did not suffer from seasickness and that his little complaints were relieved by the voyage. Tells a convoluted story about meeting a British captain in a brigantine east of Newfoundland who was "castaway" from his merchant ship. Reports on the birth of the Dauphin and the excitement caused by the recent victories in America, but says the former is the greater event in…

GLC02437.01296

10 September 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lieutenant Thorp

Sends Thorp on an urgent trip to Baltimore to obtain supplies from General Mordecai Gist and Major Sebastian Bauman, whom he has written instruction to (see GLC02437.01178 and .01179). He is to embark with Bauman and proceed to the operation with him, referring to the upcoming siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01180

4 October 1781

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses news of the siege of Yorktown, mentioning the activities of the Marquis de La Fayette and naval engagements between French Admiral Compte de Grasse and British Admiral Thomas Graves. Reports that Congress has received indications of the capture of Lord Cornwallis, but faulty intelligence from the past has made them skeptical. Discusses his upcoming business trip to Europe and seeks his brother's approval. Explains his sale of stock to finance the trip and plans to travel by French frigate. Explains his plans in case ships with cargo he owns arrive in Boston after his departure…

GLC02437.01207

29 October 1781

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

He is leaving for Europe tomorrow on a French frigate commanded by Count De Grasse. Remarks that in his haste the contents of this letter are only things of greatest importance. Discusses leaving his store with Joshua Loring, arranging for a Mr. Pierce to serve as Henry's attorney and leaving important papers with him. William does not know how long his trip will last, but his plans will be affected by the prospects for peace. Mentions business plans to transport hemp and iron. Comments on his funds for the trip, how he raised them, and expected costs. He will be happy to be able to…

GLC02437.01270

May 7, 1782

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter written by William to his brother Major General Henry Knox. Says he will not ship anything with the capital he has accumulated until the peace is complete. Says his business accounts were messy, but are now settled. Says he wrote to Lucy that he had no news of the Fluckers. Says the recent changes in the British Ministry probably been "influenced by the honest representations of Lord Cornwallis relative to the impracticability of reducing America, which rendered that Gentleman not so welcome an informant to the late Ministry as his Brother Passenger General Arnold, who from encouraging…

GLC02437.01412

1 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Responds to his wife's letter dated 29 September 1781 (GLC02437.01200). Discusses investing Yorktown and General Cornwallis' evacuation of his outer works the day before writing this letter. Discusses the Continental Army's prospects to "impress our haughty foe with a respect for the combined arms," (of the American and French forces). Asks his wife to give his compliments to Martha Washington.

GLC02437.01203

19 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Announces that "a glorious moment for America" has arrived, Lord Cornwallis has surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown. Discusses how General Washington refused Cornwallis' request that Britons and Germans be sent back to their countries prior to his surrender, instead giving the British Army the same terms that the Americans received upon their surrender at Charleston in 1780. Washington has ordered Knox to headquarters immediately. Clement Biddle has written Knox to tell him his daughter Lucy is well. Tells his wife he will send her his most recent letter from his brother William Knox, who…

GLC02437.01244

23 October 1781

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Has heard from Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth that Lord Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown had occurred, or would shortly. She has received his letter of 16 October 1781 and is awaiting the next, which Knox wrote on 19 October 1781 (see GLC02437.01231 and GLC02437.01244, respectively). Indicates that this letter will be delivered by Lund Washington, who will provide some news about Knox's young son. She has not heard from their daughter Lucy in Philadelphia. Wants to know when she will see him and indicates that another letter from her will be delivered by Martha Washington. In a post script…

GLC02437.01257

31 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Received Lucy's letter via Martha Washington and is glad to hear his daughter is in good spirits. Hopes to see her in ten days. He has to prepare to transport ordnance in the aftermath of the siege of Yorktown. Mentions that the French army will winter at Yorktown. All the Continental troops south of Pennsylvania, including Knox's, will join General Nathanael Greene. Encloses his brother William Knox's last letter (see GLC02437.01270). Reports that the British ships intended to relieve Lord Cornwallis have just arrived at the Capes too late to help. Comte de Grasse plans to attack them,…

GLC02437.01277

3 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Written by Brigadier General Knox to his wife Lucy from camp near Dobbs Ferry. References receiving three letters from her, dated 23, 26, and 30 July 1781. Expresses his happiness upon reading them and says "The longer the War lasts the more sick am I of it and sigh for domestic felicity with my Lucy." Remembers that her birthday was yesterday and claims he "petitioned heaven to grant us the happiness of continuing our union." Wants to know how long she will remain at Colonel Duer's. Says if she can get to New Windsor, he might be able to visit her. Tells her that "I cannot explain to your…

GLC02437.01114

25 September 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Mr. Jones will apply to Mr. Frothingham and receive five hundred Arms & bayonets].

Instructions indicating that a Mr. [Thomas] Jones will collect ordnance and transport it to Williamsburg, Virginia. Closes by saying "This order will be executed instantly." The arms were for a Virginia regiment commanded by Major General Baron Steuben. The Continental Army was then preparing for the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01190

August 6, 1781

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter includes military and political content. The letter discusses the war in Virginia and the Carolinas, news of Washington coming south, and news of the Yorktown campaign. Also mentions: British fleet, York, VA, possibly Gloucester, VA, York River, Marquis de Lafayette, Baltimore, MD, General Greene, and military rumors.

GLC00099.074

September 10, 1781

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter describes the situation at Yorktown, the arrival of the French fleet and troops, fleet actions, and the Virginia military. Also mentions Lord Cornwallis, Marquis de Lafayette, the war in Virginia. Edmund Pendleton discusses the anticipated arrival of George Washington and the capture of Lord Rawdon.

GLC00099.076

August 27, 1781

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter describes the British moving into Yorktown, French news, the establishment of Vermont as a separate state, political problems, and "the brave general Campbell." Also mentions: British fleet, York, VA, Gloucester, VA, removal of Jacques Necker from office, statehood of Vermont, Ethan Allen, death of General Campbell, and General Morgan.

GLC00099.075

October 8, 1781

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter discusses the siege at Yorktown and foreign affairs. Also mentions the French fleet and the British attack on Pigeon Hill (General Nelson's farm near York, Virginia) and difficulties with Spain. Three penciled notes on page 1 (possibly James Madison's): 1. next to line penciled next to lines 8-16: "[illegible] Resolution of 2 Jan 1781", 2. Referring to "x" in line 12: "navigation of the Mississippi" (uses long "s"), and 3. inserted above "Minister to Spain" in line 16, "Mr. Jay."

GLC00099.077