27 November 1775

Quincy, Josiah, 1710-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Discusses the need for and benefits that would come from establishing an American naval force. Has changed his mind and now believes Row Gallies could be effectively used in the Boston Harbor. In support of establishing a navy, cites successful transportation of provisions in whaleboats, "excursions to the Lighthouse and other Islands, by Detachments from the Companies posted to guard the Shores, and especially, the numerous Captures by our armed Cruisers." Discusses financial applications of taking up Major Benjamin Tupper on an offer to command a flotilla of whaleboats. Enumerates…

GLC02437.00213

5 December 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

A brief note to tell his wife that he has arrived near Fort Ticonderoga and is in good health. Comments that the battery is waiting for him, in reference to his orders from George Washington to inspect artillery seized from the British earlier that year and return with it to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Written from Fort George in Lake George, New York.

GLC02437.00214

5 December 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Discusses working with General Philip Schuyler to arrange to have artillery seized from the British earlier in the year forwarded from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Describes the garrison at Ticonderoga as weak and "the Conveyance from the fort to the landing so indifferent & the passage across the lake so precarious that I am afraid it will be ten days at least before I can get them on this side the lake." Mentions potential problems with the sledding. Written from Fort George in Lake George, New York. Knox's retained working draft. Docket is written in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.00215

9 December 1775

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests Knox's presence at headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts on behalf of George Washington. The letter was addressed to Worcester, Massachusetts, but at the time, Knox was at Fort George, in Lake George, New York.

GLC02437.00217

17 December 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander McDougall

Docket is written in Knox's hand. Asks Colonel McDougall to use his influence to have the listed shells sent to Cambridge, Massachusetts, immediately. In a post script, asks that McDougall inform George Washington if he cannot obtain the listed items. When Knox was in New York City a month earlier (en route to Ticonderoga to retrieve ordnance for American forces in Massachusetts), McDougall had promised to assist him in obtaining artillery by exerting influence on a committee representing the Second Provincial Congress (see GLC02437.00212). Written from Fort George in Lake George, New…

GLC02437.00220

17 December 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Discusses activities relating to the transport of artillery captured from the British at Fort Ticonderoga earlier that year. Comments on difficulties of getting the ordnance over Lake George. Mentions that he has obtained sleds and oxen. He will use the oxen to drag the artillery to Springfield, where he will get new animals to drag them the rest of the way to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Explains the route and speculates on potential for either progress or hardship. Expects to arrive in Cambridge in 16-17 days. Sends an inventory of the artillery from Ticonderoga and the pieces requested…

GLC02437.00222

11 November 1775

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

In response to Knox seeking a commission as colonel, Adams writes that he is "rejoiced to learn that you have at last determined to take a more important share than you have done hitherto in the conduct of our military matters." Explains that he has been impressed with Knox's military knowledge and has been making his name known among the members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Reports that he is lobbying for Knox to receive the commission he seeks, and believes he will. Wants Knox to keep him informed about everything that is happening in the camp. Adams wants "to know the…

GLC02437.00208

12 December 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Palmer

Asks Captain Palmer to obtain forty sleds for transporting artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the oxen or horses needed to pull them. Asserts that he will assist in any way possible. Requests an immediate response. Written from Fort George in Lake George, New York.

GLC02437.00218

14 December 1775

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that the boat with letters and provisions sent by Henry arrived yesterday. Explains how a boat William was riding to Sabbath Day Point in sank close to the shore, making the artillery on board and the vessel salvageable. Captain Johnson also arrived, and together with William sent a boat toward Lake George, but the ice will make it slow. William will ride a different scow up to Lake George. Asks Henry to pay Captain Johnson. Henry was then engaged in an operation to transport artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.00219

17 December 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Philip Schuyler

Gives General Schuyler an update on the progress of preparations to transport artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mentions that he has gotten the mortars and cannon over Lake George and arranged with Captain George Palmer to obtain sleds and oxen or horses to pull them (see GLC02437.00218). Discusses plans for moving forward. Asks that Schuyler increase the length of the amount of rope he requested from Mr. [Walter] Livingston and that it be sent expeditiously. Also asks him to forward enclosed letters (not included). Written from Fort George in Lake George, New…

GLC02437.00221

17 December 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Longs to see his wife and plans to in three weeks. Discusses activities relating to the transport of artillery captured from the British at Fort Ticonderoga earlier that year to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Reports that both his and William Knox's health has been good. Quips about his rotund figure. Discusses the "Bravery of America" and a growing awareness of it among the British prisoners he has seen: "Enemies who would not before this allow the Americans a Spark of Military virtue." Blesses America and Lucy. Links God watching over Americans to God watching over Lucy in particular.…

GLC02437.00223

18 December 1775

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he is happy to hear Knox was able to get the artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Fort George on the other side of Lake George. Schuyler has already made arrangements to transport the artillery to Cambridge and consequently orders Knox to countermand his directions to Captain George Palmer to obtain carriages and pack animals for the journey (see GLC02437.00218).

GLC02437.00224

25 December 1775

Palmer, George, 1719-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Responds to Knox's cancellation of an arrangement for Captain Palmer to obtain sleds and pack animals to transport artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Reports that the patriotic people Palmer contracted with are insulted by the cancellation and cryptically comments that Knox's "Penetration will Easily Discern the Consequences that will follow Disappointing Such A Number of People So Resolutely Determined." General Philip Schuyler ordered Knox to cancel the arrangements (see GLC02437.00224).

GLC02437.00225

February 25, 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Burbeck

Asks Colonel Burbeck to procure horses and carts, and move some artillery pieces from Prospect Hill in Somerville, Massachusetts, after assessing the road in the daytime. Notes that he would have done this himself if his wife, Lucy Knox, was not currently ill.

GLC02437.00254

3 March 1776

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph document signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Indicates changes made to the organization of artillery at Roxbury, Massachusetts, per Knox's request. The artillery was for the siege of Boston. Crane was a major under Knox's command.

GLC02437.00256

February 26, 1776

Read, Joseph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Artemas Ward

Gives a military report provided by Thomas Mayfield. Describes ship activities in Boston Harbor, mentioning workers and loading occurring at "the Castle," in reference to the military garrison on Castle Island in the harbor. Written in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.00257

December 11, 1775-April 19, 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Account of officer pay under Colonel Henry Knox]

Knox's record of officer's pay. Signed by Knox more than 25 times (all but once in the text); also signed by more than 23 other officers, including Henry Burbeck, William Eustis, Eliphalet Newell, Ebenezer Stevens, William Dana, Dimond Morton, Edward Burbeck, William Perkins, Jeremiah Niles, John Popkin, Edward Crafts, Jotham Drury, Isaac Coren, and Timothy Stow. Unbound military ledger accounting for pay issued to officers (and some other cash outlays) under Knox's command in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.00258

13 December 1775

Livingston, Walter, 1740-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Recommends distributing the horses over more sleighs in order to transport the artillery. Knox was then on a mission to bring British artillery pieces captured from the British earlier that year at Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Livingston was then serving on the commissary of stores and provisions for the department of New York.

GLC02437.00228

circa 1775-1776

Autograph document

Title: [Plan for setting fire to British ships in Boston Harbor]

Affirms the practicability of laying siege to Boston Harbor, landing soldiers in the town of Boston, and setting fire to British shipping. Provides a lengthy list of military preparations and plans for the siege, For a map of the plans see GLC02437.00232.

GLC02437.00231

circa 1775-1776

Map

Title: [Battle plan for the siege of Boston Harbor]

Mapped battle plan for an American siege of Boston Harbor. Shows boats and some major geographic markers. For written plans see GLC02437.00231.

GLC02437.00232

circa 1775-1776

Document

Title: [Description of an impregnable floating engine]

Provides both a drawn and written explanation of the design of a vessel "constructed to destroy Barges, Tenders, Ships, Towns, Castles, & Magazines." Made of iron and wood, the vessel has an octangular design "in order to annoy the Enemy upon all Quarters." Notes that the size and artillery can be adjusted. The word "Taliacotius" appears at the end.

GLC02437.00233

circa 1775-1776

Document

Title: [Plans for siege of Boston Harbor][incomplete]

Discusses an oil fire at Nantucket, raises questions about plans to use an oil fire to destroy British ships in the Boston Harbour, and suggests making "an experiment on some small pond." A fragment from the middle of a document. For more on the plans to attack Boston Harbor see GLC02437.00231.

GLC02437.00234

10 February 1776

Waters, Josiah, fl. 1776-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Congratulates Knox on a safe return from Fort Ticonderoga, where he was retrieving artillery pieces for the Continental Army in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Has had trouble obtaining books on military fortification and asks Knox, who had been a bookseller in Boston, if he could find some. Asks Knox to inform him of what maneuvers are being planned against the British, and promises it will "be most sacredly kept." Mentions that the saltpeter (a compound used in gunpowder) works are proceeding rapidly.

GLC02437.00249

6 September 1775

Patten, William, 1731-1796

Document signed

Title: [Muster roll for Colonel Drummon's Regiment]

Patten signs with various other sergeants, corporals, drum and fife, and privates, verifying their receipt of one month's pay. Drummon's Regiment was part of Captain Lewis's (possibly Morgan Lewis's) Company.

GLC01450.603.03

February 24, 1783

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1775-1783

Document signed

Title: [Reciept of son's wages]

Jones acknowledges receipt of a sum of money from Captain Morgan Lewis towards his "soons wages for serving as a Solder at Cambridge in the year 1775."

GLC01450.603.13