7 November 1883

Gibbon, John, 1827-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Discusses what he calls a travesty of justice regarding a Court of Inquiry held in the case of Lieutenant Ernest Albert Garlington. Garlington led the Greely Relief Expedition expedition in the Arctic. The expedition failed, and in the process the ship Proteus was destroyed after Garlington sailed into Smith Sound, Newfoundland. Hunt's son was a member of another one of the Greely Relief Expeditions. Written at Fort Laramie.

GLC02382.050

1846

Mitchell, Augustus S., fl. 1846

Map

Title: Map of Texas, Oregon and California [pocket atlas]

Full title: A New Map of Texas, Oregon and California with the Regions Adjoining. Compiled from the Most Recent Authorities. First printing of this landmark map of the American West. Baughman, Kansas in Maps, p. 35. Graff 2841. Howes M685. Martin & Martin 36: "One of the first widely distributed maps showing Texas as a state in the U.S." Plains & Rockies IV:122b. Wheat, Transmississippi West 520, p. 35: "Based on...the work of Nicollet, Wilkes and Fremont, and 'the Congressional and other maps of Texas, the latest Maps of Mexico, &c.' The 'Oregon Route'...is carefully drawn, as…

GLC02130

7 August 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: to George Washington

A draft of a letter to Washington from Secretary of War Knox sketching out elements of a treaty with the Creek Indians. Signed a public treaty with the Creeks, represented by Alexander McGillivray and all the Creek leaders able to attend. Additional, private articles were signed by McGillivray on behalf of the Creek Nation. Reports that since recent negotiations had failed to produce a peace treaty, and since the informal truce had almost expired, the government felt it necessary to take up new negotiations to protect settler families. Discusses the issues at stake in the negotiation,…

GLC02437.04673

10 June 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to John Adams

Written by Secretary of War Knox to Vice President Adams. Thanks Adams for his hospitality at Bush Hill. Mentions criticism of Adams's travels in the Connecticut and New York newspapers. Comments on the "political heresy [of the] American edition of [the] payne pamphlet mentioned in the preface." This is a reference to Thomas Jefferson's endorsement of Thomas Paine's "The Rights of Man," in which he conflated the spirit of the American Revolution of 1776 with that of the French Revolution of 1789. Knox says "he has assured me that the note he wrote to the printer never was intended for…

GLC02437.04986

19 June 1791

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Vice President Adams to Secretary of War Knox. References Knox's letter of 10 June. Is happy Knox is pleased with his situation at Bush Hill. Hopes to hear soon "of the Birth of a peaceable son of Mars." Says he did not know about the paragraphs in the New York newspapers. Just heard of the "Lyes" from New Haven yesterday. Does not think the criticism originated with Roger Sherman or Ezra Stiles. Says "The Preface to [Thomas] Paines Nonsense has occasioned much Speculation. It is thought rather early for Electioneering. My head I thank God is not easily diverted from its…

GLC02437.05014

31 July 1790

Belknap, Jeremy, 1744-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes in full, "Having received several Letters from Major Sargent under your frank, I presume it will not be disagreeable to you that I should ask the favour of you when you send dispatches into the Western Territory to give my letters inclosd with this, a place in your packet." Letters not included.

GLC02437.04663

16 December 1790

Briggs, Isaac, 1763-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Hawkins

Briggs opens his letter to Senator and Indian agent Hawkins with an allegory of a drunken servant beaten by master; other servants and lower types told the beaten man to commit suicide to escape his situation, others counseled patience, some wanted to take his goods, others to take his position. He was dosed with wormword and in delirium talks on. Briggs quotes his ravings at length. Briggs then shifts to Creek Treaty reception in Georgia: "But excuse the allegorical flight, and I will descend to a more plain, matter-of-fact stile. If, my dear sir, I were detailing the politics or describing…

GLC02437.04798

7 August 1791

Breck, Samuel, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Says he was determined to pursue "the Object relative to the Direction of the Bank which you was so obliging as to advice when I saw you in Philadelphia," but that he has since "abandoned the project & Sold out." Was concerned that if he had a large holding in the bank he would have "to attend its operation," and if he had a small stake he would not accrue "Honor or Proffit." Despite his pull out he claims "I rejoice however at the rising Credit of our Country and expect very soon to see it on a footing, superior to any other whatever." Says that Alexander Hamilton will be gratified…

GLC02437.05109

9 November 1791

Darke, William, 1736-1801

Autograph document signed

Title: to George Washington

Written from Fort Washington, near present-day Cincinnati, Ohio. Battle report providing extensive details of the defeat of General [Arthur] St. Clair at the hands of the Miami Indians on the Northwest Frontier. Docketed by George Washington.

GLC02437.05233

22 December 1791

Butler, Maria, fl. 1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by Mrs. Maria Butler, the widow of General Richard Butler, who had been killed that year by Indians in battle in the Ohio Territories. Refers to the death of her husband and the dangerous living conditions surrounding her in the Pittsburgh area. Requests more troops to protect her and her family and the other white settlers in the region, and to hold onto the land that was so dearly fought for by her husband.

GLC02437.05269

January 22, 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Writes that he has not "list[ed] the characters mentioned yesterday to any mortal." Declares that Arthur St. Clair has arrived, and that he has not seen him yet but will this morning.

GLC02437.05296

13 March 1792

Wilkinson, James, 1757-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clement Biddle

Written from Fort Washington, present-day Cincinnati, Ohio. Received his last letter, which suggests that General [Arthur] St. Clair might not continue in command of the army much longer. This fills him with anxiety. Discusses possible ramifications of the appointment of a new commander. Comments on the difficult situation he has found himself in, between Major [David] Zeigler and Colonel [Samuel] Hodgdon. Explains in some detail the interpersonal conflict among his officers. Comments on the downfall of General [Josiah] Harmar due to his "unfortunate propensity to drink."

GLC02437.05354

4 November 1791

Manuscript document

Title: Pay due the non commissioned officers and privates...in the year 1791 who were actually discharged at Fort Washington

Date from title. Lists officers and the pay due to them as of 4 November. Noted as a copy in the upper left corner. Noted as A and N 11 at the top of the first page. Extensive water damage at the top of the document. Watermarked. Letterpress copy.

GLC02437.10239

January 19, 1792

Barton, Benjamin, fl. 1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Ogden

Lists his location as "Niagara," in Western New York, as he refers to Indians from Geneseo, also in Western New York. Discusses his receipt of reports regarding General [Arthur] St. Clair's defeat at the hands of Indians. Comments on his experiences against various Indian tribes in the North and Northwest.

GLC02437.05294

12 April 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to John Brooks

Writes to officially appoint Brooks Brigadier General of the army. Lists the other members of the General Staff, including A[nthony] Wayne, D. Morgan, M. Willit, and James Wilkinson. Wishes him the best of luck.

GLC02437.05409

27 June 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to [Joseph] Brant and Clement Biddle

Contains two sections. The first section is directed to Captain [Joseph] Brant and informs him that he will have fifty guineas to defray his travel expenses to and from Philadelphia. In the second section, Knox asks Clement Biddle to deliver the guineas to Joseph Brant.

GLC02437.05518

24 July 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Carrington

Informs Carrington that he has received his letters concerning appointments for young officers and that though they generally arrived too late, he will keep them in mind for future consideration. States that there were many more applications than positions. Speaking about the last session of Congress, he writes, "The indian war, and the failure of the last expedition combined with a partial aversion to the government excited much ill humor during the last session. It was thought proper by a party, to levell some shafts at me....Parties will arise in free governments - and party prejudice is…

GLC02437.05558

28 October 1792

Allison, David, fl. 1785-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that Mr. Reed brought news from "the falls of the Ohio." On his way to Allison's location, Reed met with Mr. Irwin, who reported that "five or six hundred Indians in the beginning of this month had appeared on the Frontiers of Cumberland and attacked a Station, the event of which I have not learned, that a party of the Militia about seven hundred pursued the Indians, overtook them, and a small skirmish ensued in which it is said about a Dozen Indians were killed the others dispersed in such manner they could not be pursued. I did not learn that any of the Militia were killed…

GLC02437.05671

5 March 1796

Bingham, William, 1752-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses land purchase negotiations with Mr. [possibly Alexander] Baring. Also considers the purchase of Indian lands, though the location of those lands is unspecified. Writes that General [Henry] Jackson has been too busy lately to help with their business arrangements, which Bingham regrets. Briefly discusses the last purchase made by [Samuel] Shaw before his death.

GLC02437.06653

circa 1791

Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820

Manuscript document

Title: [Army expense/supply report and a copied letter written by Hodgdon]

Copy of a report written by Sargent as Adjutant General. Discusses Samuel Hodgdon's role as Quartermaster for the army raised for General Arthur St. Clair's 1791 Western expedition. Contains a letter from Hodgdon to Henry Knox, Secretary of War. Final page contains a morning report for the army commanded by St. Clair 89 miles from Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. Letterpress copy.

GLC02437.10356

circa 1789-1795

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Expenses for recruiting]

Written in Knox's hand. List of expenses for the recruiting service. Goods and services include clothing, transportation, bounties, rations, medicine and pay to recruiters. Tens of thousands of dollars was allocated and spent. Page 4 has a reference to the "Indian department." Line items for the "Creek" and Cherokee" add up to $8,000 and a line item for "Indians N West Ohio" is $10,000.

GLC02437.08413

circa 1790-1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: The present number of troops

Notes the number of troops stationed in Ohio, Florida, the North Carolina frontier, Georgia. Troop totals add up to 1,680. Lists reasons for the proposed troop augmentation. These reasons include: to awe the Wabash and Creek Indians, to draw "a line of posts around them [the Creeks]," and to protect frontier settlements. Writes on "The situation, Temper, and views of the frontier people to be stated - and the general policy considered of protecting and regulating them - or of suffering them to protect themselves and of the immediate and ultimate consequences of such a measure." Makes…

GLC02437.08454

23 December 1793

Henley, David, 1749-1823

Autograph document signed

Title: [Voucher for Henley's pay as a clerk in War Department]

Asks James Henry Langier, a clerk in the War Department, to give his pay to Burgess Allison. He is asking for pay for his services as clerk in the War Department from 1-5 July. The total is $7. It is signed at the bottom by Allison stating he "Received the above."

GLC02437.06004

March 30, 1795

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvanus Bourne

Delineates his plan to make a fortune selling, settling, and improving six million acres of American frontier land to be purchased by men and women in America and Europe seeking a new place to settle. Stresses the amount of money that shareholders can make by investing in this opportunity. Notes that "Every State in the Union is filling up faster than the most knowing people suppose." Letter addressed to Bourne in Amsterdam.

GLC01773

December 3, 1755

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Hunter

With autograph free frank. Franklin says that "By our late Act I am engag'd in the Disposition of the 60,000 pounds," money given to him by the Pennsylvania legislature to raise a militia for defense of the state's borders during the French and Indian war. He then asks about "a train of artillery, arms, etc." arriving in Virginia. A personal letter.

GLC01656