January 30, 1783

Fenno, Ephraim, fl. 1776-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Captain Lieutenant Fenno reports the results of his investigation, ordered by Knox, into stolen items at two garrisons. Relates that stores at Verplanck, New York, were deficient. Asserts that it is impossible to indicate who took the powder, which was stolen long before it was missed. Adds that boards and a lock and key are needed for the magazine [at Verplanck]. "Public service" written on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.10088

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

January 10 1782

Manuscript document

Title: Estimate of artillery & ordnance stores

Estimate of artillery and ordnance stores for "the ensuing campaign," written from Fort Pitt. Campaign is not named.

GLC02437.01332

22 June 1782

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses a return of firearm stores Knox asked for (see GLC02437.01461). Specifies the amount without bayonets, but says they can be fitted with them if necessary, and likewise mentions that the damaged ones can be fixed.

GLC02437.01463

25 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Heath

Writes that Captain [Thomas] Seward has informed him of the "ruinous" state of brass items in the stores. Suggests "the propriety of replacing the cannon, giving them a proper supply of ammunition and sending 20,000 rounds for the infantry - Capt. Seward is pressing for a supply of ammunition as it is expected the enemy will visit the frontier of state soon with a pretty large body of troops." If Heath agrees, Knox asks him to issue an order for Captain Seward to bring to Colonel [John] Crane for items Captain Seward will "exhibit" to him. Also asks him to order from Mr. [John] Ruddock,…

GLC02437.01502

3 January 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Congress

Written by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Knox gives a report on the state of West Point soon before his intended departure for Boston. Notes the dissolution of several companies/corps. Gives status of hospital, cannon, ammunition and supplies, and ordnance. Writes, "I hope it may not be thought presumptuous or impertinent to indulge the rapture which fills my mind upon so interesting a contrast, so honorable and so highly flattering to my country- especially when so great a part of the cannon are trophies, wrested by the hand of virtue from the arm outstretched to oppress it."…

GLC02437.02903

25 July 1786

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox if he will help him request a settlement of his accounts. So far he has been unsuccessful, and the Paymaster General's office, headed by Mr. [John] Pierce, has not been authorized by Congress to perform the necessary actions.

GLC02437.03284

circa 1864

Photograph

Title: [Cartes de visite of men of the 10th New York Heavy Artillery] [Decimalized .01- .26]

Mostly photographs by R. W. Addis, Washington. Includes images of Col. Alexander Piper, Lieut. Col. Arden, Maj. C.C. Abell, Maj. James Campbell, and others.

GLC05528

1 June 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson

Discusses their correspondence and friendship, affirming that he feels "the same sublime disinterested friendship for you that has existed in both our bosoms for so long." Also discusses the possible appointment of the French general Charles Tronson du Coudray as commander of artillery, and asserts "no other person shall Supersede me the instant the Congress Confirms his appointment I shall leave the Service." Notes that other officers were making the same threats.

GLC05543

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

3 May 1863

Russell, Andrew J., 1829-1902

Photograph

Title: No. 162. Battery of thirty-two pounders

Image of an artillery battery behind entrenchments. The men in the foreground adjust their gun, while others in the background prepare to fire theirs. Three cannons and about a hundred soldiers are visible. Fredericksburg lies in the background, meaning that the battery is located on Stafford Heights. The photograph was taken during the Second Battle of Fredericksburg, also known as the Second Battle of Marye's Heights, part of the Chancellorsville Campaign. A label below the image bears the title and subtitle. The subtitle reads "Fredericksburgh, May 3, 1863."

GLC05189

1861-1865 ca.

Photograph

Title: Marine Barracks, Charlestown Navy Yard, man sitting on cannonballs

Frank Rowell, Boston, Mass., publisher. Heywood, photographer. A civilian man seated among stacks of cannonballs. Caption: "Marine Barracks, Charlestown Navy Yard."

GLC05137.266

1779

Muller, John, 1699-1784

Book

Title: A treatise of artillery.

First American edition of this work, based on the second London edition. This copy was owned by Paul Revere, but not marked as such. Dedication reads: "To his Excellency George Washington...General Henry Knox...and the Officers of the Continental Artillery." Printed in Philadelphia by Styner and Cist, in Second-Street, for John Norman, engraver. Evans 16378.

GLC05306.02

1757

Book

Title: A treatise of artillery.

This copy was owned by Paul Revere, who signed his name twice on the front paste-down, once on the contents page and once on p. iii. He has added corrections (mostly from the errata) and drawn a spiral (or perhaps a sword handle) on p. 35 and a cannon butt in pencil opposite p. 114. A name has been erased from the rear pastedown. This is the 1757 edition of Muller's treatise, printed for John Millan, London. Revere served as a lieutenant of Artillery in the expedition of 1756 to capture Crown Point from the French, and later served as a colonel of artillery in a Boston militia regiment…

GLC05306.01

1965

Muller, John, 1699-1784

Book

Title: A Treatise of Artillery

Modern facsimile reprint of Muller's Treatise of Artillery, in the 1780 edition, thought to be the best. Limited to 850 numbered copies, of which this is copy 400. Muller's Treatise was first published in 1759 and went through four edition before 1800. According to preface by Harold L. Peterson, Muller's influence appears to have been greater in America than in his homeland. Collateral to Paul Revere signed copy of this book, GLC 5306.01.

GLC05306.03

30 June 1782

Craig, Isaac, 1742-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses an ordnance return and a return of his detachment. Writes that since his arrival, "the whole Garrison have been Employed in puting the Fort in a better State of defence - my Detachment are Engaged in making new Platforms, Reparing Gun Carrages and removing Some of them that were too much Decayed to be Reparid. The Guns that I was under the necesity of dismounting in Coming up the Ohio Last Fall I have Remounted on New Cariges, and these together with all the other Field, in good Order and Compleatly Painted - I Expected agreeable to my Request, and if I Recollected Right, Your…

GLC02437.01470

14 November 1786

Cook, David, fl. 1751-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to offer himself as "a candidate to your Excellency, for an appointment to command a Company of Artillery" in the expedition to "quell" the Indians in the Western territories or any other expedition. Writes that Knox knows of his service in the war as well as the suffering he endured. Has "lost all that was dear to me in this world (my children excepted)" and would like to "remove my person from the scene of my late unhappy loss." Writes that since he is not at present engaged in any business, he would be able to raise a company at short notice.

GLC02437.03337

February 24, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Cooper

Writes that the arrangements of the Massachusetts artillery are completed and all the vacancies filled. Notes he will mention Cooper's request to Col. [Henry] Jackson. In a different hand, noted as written at "W. O.," which most likely stands for War Office. The War Office was located in New York City at that time. Also noted as "Private" on the docket.

GLC02437.03467

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

February 13, 1776

Crafts, Edward, 1746-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Return of goods drawn from Continental Army stores from September 1775 to January 1776]

Lists the names of 40 men in Captain Craft's Company, with a numeric figure. Docketed in graphite.

GLC02437.10437

6 August 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Writes that he has mentioned to General George Washington his and Crane's opinion that the west redoubt is the best place to deposit the powder now at Fishkill, and Washington agrees completely. Declares that Washington has asked Knox to direct the preparations, so he asks Crane to examine the west redoubt with a Captain Lieutenant Sears. If they find it an acceptable place, Crane should order Sears to prepare the redoubt to "render it proper for the safety of the powder that may be placed there." Also asks Crane to provide Crane's regiment and Captain Moody's company [likely Captain…

GLC02437.01516

12 October 1781

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses a return of ordnance and stores. Reports that nothing will be done in the fall toward building the magazine at Fort Clinton or Fort Putnam because of all the work needed to prepare for winter. The artificers have been building a workshop at West Point to work in over the winter. Indicates that a Mr. Gray has been appointed a commissary of military stores for General William Heath. Colonel Crane commanded the 3rd Battalion of Artillery.

GLC02437.01221

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

19 December 1781

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to inform Knox of his "wishes that the detachment from the Regiment may joine us" if consistent with Knox's plans. They are acquiring clothing for the regiment and he wants the men to anticipate the new clothes and feel satisfaction from attaining them. Mentions that all but three companies of the Regiment are quartered at the Joint. They are collecting the materials for the ordnance as fast as possible but the men are not well fed so he does not want to rush them. Has the men in good winter quarters, is trying to build a guard house for the artillery, and declares the ammunition…

GLC02437.01307

January 13, 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Discusses Colonel John Crane's regiment, which is on its way to West Point to obtain clothing. Mentions that he will have to keep the regiment there to work in the laboratory repairing the ordnance. Describes various repairs that need to be made, and says he will likely need to remain in Philadelphia through the spring.

GLC02437.01333