9 December 1758

Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778

Letter signed

Title: to Stephen Hopkins

Addressed to Governor Hopkins "& Compy of Rhode Island." Relays requests and information on a planned invasion of Canada during the French and Indian War. Describes the rationale for the invasion to carry "War into the heart of the enemy's possessions" and orders that troops be raised. Specifies that the troops should rendezvous at Albany, New York, and be prepared to begin the invasion by 1 May 1759. Outlines the general plans for the invasion. Grants authority to issue commissions and indicates that the King will provide arms and supplies, but the Provinces must supply "…

GLC05562

29 May 1800

McHenry, James, 1753-1816

Letter signed

Title: [Report on Department of War to the successor of James McHenry]

Written shortly after McHenry's resignation as Secretary of War on 13 May 1800. McHenry wrote this report to his successor. He offered his resignation to President John Adams after an angry Adams accused him of working behind the scenes with Alexander Hamilton. Adams eventually selected Massachusetts Senator Samuel Dexter to the post. Report details instructions for the Provisional Army, created in the face of French aggression in 1798. McHenry, attempting to facilitate a smooth transition, touches upon many subjects important to the War Department. These include: logistics of clothing and…

GLC05230

17 October 1782

Wheeler, Paul, fl. 1782

Document signed

Title: [Record of money due to an African American for service in the Connecticut militia]

States that eight pounds, nine shillings, and three pence is the balance due to Cato Cuff from the State Treasurer for his military service. Signed by Wheeler on behalf of Cuff. Partially printed.

GLC05333

19 July 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Sends copies of "the act for establishing the...permanent seat of the government of the United States" in Washington, D.C. and an act providing for the payment of invalid pensioners (the actual copies are not included). The text of this letter is exactly the same as GLC04886, which is addressed to the President of New Hampshire Josiah Bartlett.

GLC07668

13 March 1776

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander McDougall

Encloses articles (not present) in reply to McDougall's questions about Seamans wages. Informs that a model of a pike will be sent to him. Hopes that he has received word of the resolution of Congress restraining military officers from offering oaths to inhabitants as a test. Remarks, " ... to impose a Test is a sovereign Act of Legislation - and when the Army becomes our Legislators, the People that moment become Slaves."

GLC07489

14 September 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Order to the Commissary for the arrearage of provisions due to Mrs. Corbin of the Invalids]

Includes a note at the top of the page, in Shaw's hand, from Jonathan Pugh, Lieutenant of Invalids, which reads, "This is to certify that Mrs. Margaret Corbin (wife of John Corbin a soldier in the corps of Invalids) has not drawn any liquor with the ration allowed her since the 1st Jany 1782." Below, Shaw relates that Mrs. Corbin has two Congressional resolves in her favor, "she having had a husband and son killed and was herself wounded at Brandywine in 1777. She is allowed a full ration per day, half pay for life and a suit of clothes annually. " Orders the Commissary to give her the…

GLC02437.01611

22 December 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: [Certificate to Asa Copeland]

Certifies that Asa Copeland has been serving as a Conductor of Military Stores since 21 April 1779 and that he is still serving as such. He is therefore entitled to his pay and the depreciations of his pay during this period, deducting whatever money might already have been received from the public.

GLC02437.01759

September 1790

Cook, David, fl. 1751-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Captain David Cook turns to Knox to help him "advance [his] commutation." The recent "resolve of Congress" prohibits Cook from getting his friends to help him. Cook tells Knox that the problem is that "they say the Commutation amounts to more, then the arrears of pay due me." Cook has sent his own calculations for Knox to consult.

GLC02437.04740

December 11, 1790

Cornell, Ezekiel, 1733-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Tells Knox that Benjamin Bourn will be bearing this letter on his way to Philadelphia to take his seat in the House of Representatives. Points to Bourn's visit with him as "evidence to you that he is not an Anti" [possible anti-federalist or anti-National Bank.] Says the "once famous Mr. [David] Howel[l] is dispised by all parties in the state to which he belongs which brings to mind that test of scripture which says that the wicked shall not live out half their Days - But there is a Number of other characters of the same Description that must go the same way before that once happy state…

GLC02437.04794

8 May 1776

Crafts, Edward, 1746-1806

Document

Title: [Abstract of pay, January 1776, Captain Edward Craft's company in Henry Knox's artillery regiment]

Written at Fort Sterling, New York. Lists rank and corresponding pay for Sterling's company for January.

GLC02437.09520

14 August 1781

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Crane to Brigadier General Knox. Writes in response to officers who have accused him of withholding money from soldiers under his command. Asks for a court of inquiry to investigate the matter. Hopes everyone "who have made free with my Character behind my back will appear at this Court."

GLC02437.01133

5 October 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Insists on commenting on accounts General Crane had left for him. Knox had the paymaster go over Crane's account with great care so that it would be satisfactory to both Crane and the public. Knox writes that "the result doe not leave any balance in your favor." Knox is currently not in possession of the statements, but will take care of the matters as soon as he returns [to New York] so that "the difficulties will be removed."

GLC02437.04744

13 May 1784

Colerus, Christian de, fl. 1776-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Major Colerus seeks to obtain four months pay for his service in 1776 and 1777. Notes that his wife has died, and "with her all my Happiness is Vanished."

GLC02437.02997

November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Dr. Cochran's certificate in the case of Dr. Hortons widow]

Marked "copy." Draft in Knox's hand. Certifies that, as Surgeon General of the Army in 1777, Cochran had the right of appointing assistant surgeons when necessary, and that he did appoint Dr. Jonathan Horton as assistant to Dr. Stafford in the state of New Jersey. Specifies what pay Horton was offered. Certifies that Horton died, while in service, of "a contagion and a fever." Explains why he believes Horton's widow should be eligible for financial support by the United States. See GLC02437.03329 for a related document.

GLC02437.03358

December 1782

Manuscript document

Title: [Officers' grievances, to be presented to Congress]

"The Officers of the Army, in Behalf of themselves and the Soldiery, beg leave, in plain & respectful language, to lay a State of their Circumstances and Grievances before Congress." The writer claims that the Government has not upheld its end of the bargain in supplying officers with adequate pay and rations. Argues that Continental money at nominal value was "palmed upon the Army," that the quantity of rations doled out to troops was frequently altered (to the disadvantage of soldiers), and that the account for rations has been unsettled for several years. Includes other grievances…

GLC02437.10073

4 January 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: To the United States in Congress assembled, the address and petition of the officers of their Army, most humbly sheweth,

Written by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide. Last page contains text written in another hand. Appears to be a draft of Knox's petition to Congress on behalf of the Massachusetts officers, regarding their grievances. Similar to GLC02437.10074. Closes with, "[The officers] therefore intreat that, to obviate any ill consequences which may arise from a dependence on the future forbearance of the Army, to convince the soldiery & the world that the Independence of America shall not be placed on the ruin of any particular Class of her Citizens, some mode may be pointed out for immediate redress."

GLC02437.10077

23 October 1786

Lewis, Joseph, 1748-1814

Manuscript document

Title: [Certification regarding Doctors Isaac Stafford and Jonathan Horton]

Joseph Lewis, clerk at Morristown, New Jersey, authorizes this document as a true copy of the original certificates presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions in September 1779. Includes the copied signature and statement of Henry Knox, who certifies that he authorized Stafford to appoint Horton as his assistant in 1777 at Mendham, New Jersey. Attests that Horton was paid "one dollar and two thirds p day," and died in the service of the United States. Also includes the copied statement and signature of Surgeon John Cochran, who attests to the veracity of Knox's statement, noting that he…

GLC02437.10454

25 July 1786

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to John Pierce

Writes, "Please to pay into the hands of General Henry Knox all the certificates which may be found due to me on settlement of my accounts lodg'd in your Office, and his receipt will be your sufficient voucher."

GLC02437.03283

1786

Howell, Joseph, 1750-1798

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Return of officers under Colonel John Crane]

Date added later in pencil. Lists officers who have partially settled their recruiting accounts, who served in Colonel John Crane's regiment of artillery.

GLC02437.03399

24 December 1787

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the settlement of his accounts. Mentions being afraid that Mr. Peirce lost his accounts with the "certificates from My Officer and the accounts attested on Oath, [since] it will be very cruel to keep me out of my interest, it will be impossible for me now to procure the certificates again - " Says he does not owe money to the public and that if his troops at the Rhode Island expedition had not been paid, it would have become known by now. Noted as written in Passamaquady, which is most likely by Passamaquoddy Bay, in present-day Maine.

GLC02437.03738

17 June 1788 - 19 June 1788

Swan, Caleb, 1758-1809

Manuscript document signed

Title: Statement of Colonel John Crane's old emission accounts

Signed by Caleb Swan for John Pierce, Paymaster General, 17 June 1788 in the Pay Office at New York (front cover). Signed 19 June 1788 by Joseph Howell, [Junior] Assistant Commissary, in the Office of Army Accounts at New York (page 13). Includes details of John Crane's account with the United States from 1776-1779. Pertains to recruiting accounts.

GLC02437.03900

1792

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Memorial]

Discusses the command of the artillery and the payment of soldiers. Date previously inferred, written in pencil.

GLC02437.08101

3 May 1788

Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks whether Invalid Regiments and heirs of those killed in battle or who died from sickness are entitled to army lands according to an Ordinance of Congress. Writes, "The Spirit of emigration to the western country is dayly increasing in the N. England States- we shall certainly have more than one thousand families at the Muskingum in the course of the present year, unless the natives should be so uncivil as to interrupt those already on the ground... Will all the Tribes who have relinquished their claim to ye lands we have purchased be summoned to attend ye treaty at Muskingum?" Assures…

GLC02437.03864

December 1775-March 1776

Document

Title: [Pay abstract for Captain William Dana's company in Henry Knox's artillery regiment]

Includes pay for December 1775 and February-March 1776.

GLC02437.09511

6 May 1776

Dana, William, 1745-1809

Document

Title: [Abstract of pay for Captain William Dana's company in Henry Knox's artillery regiment]

Lists rank and pay for February- April 1776.

GLC02437.09517