29 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Writes to Colonel Wadsworth regarding a loan Wadsworth and Robert Morris are arranging with Congress. Declares that Mr. [possibly Rufus] King will have explained everything, hopefully to Wadsworth's satisfaction. Wadsworth will receive a letter from the Board of Treasury and the terms of the proposed contracts. Knox has already showed the information to Mr. Morris, and he will be getting a letter as well. If Morris agrees to the terms, "it will be absolutely necessary for you to repair to Philadelphia, in order to make your private arrangements with each other." Hopes he is able to make…

GLC02437.03354

3 December 1786

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he received Knox's letter along with the letter from the Board of Treasury. Has written them back, and also written to Mr. [Robert] Morris to tell him he will come to New York to complete the paperwork if Mr. Morris approves of the terms. Is not fully reconciled to the business because it is a lot of money, but will agree to work with Mr. Morris if he approves (referring to a loan and contracts he and Morris are negotiating with Congress).

GLC02437.03363

December 11, 1786

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the lack of supplies faced by a group of soldiers he encountered, and mentions that he had to supply them himself because "not one shilling will be furnished by the state." However, he is running out of money. Declares that the Board of Treasury must reimburse him from the loan he and Mr. [Robert] Morris negotiated with Congress. Otherwise, Wadsworth must immediately stop furnishing the men. In addition, the heavy snow is making it difficult for him to continue procuring the supplies. In a post-script, discusses the forces working with Daniel Shays, and comments on the ability of…

GLC02437.03372

13 December 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Has received Wadsworth's last letter, and so has the Board of Treasury. Hopes he will not delay coming; everything rests on him, as everything stops until he and Mr. [Robert] Morris sign the papers (they are preparing a loan to Congress). Writes, "For Gods sake do not delay a single moment longer than is indispensably necessary." Discusses the Shays insurgents and mentions that he does not believe they will recede. Will write via Mr. [Rufus] King if he hears any more news. Also mentions several people who have been recently elected from Maryland to the national Congress.

GLC02437.03376

30 December 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Discusses how best to handle Shays and his supporters. Writes, "I will venture to predict that the insurgents must find security in Arms or they must fly the Country I found this opinion on the moral impossibility, of the existence of government with the spirit manifested by the insurgents - One or the other must give place - The insurgents are not the most numerous and therefore they will not have recourse to that expedients. - But they may think they shall advance themselves by arms, and having thrown down the gauntlet the government will take it up." Encourages Wadsworth to come visit,…

GLC02437.03395

10 February 1787

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Has had two conferences with Mr. [Robert] Morris, and writes that Morris is discouraged with the status of public affairs. Had understood that the "monied men" of Massachusetts would be providing funding as well, but they have not. New York has approved regulations limiting the amount that state will contribute, and Pennsylvania has contributed some money but must allocate much of it to its "own pension list." Maryland is having difficulties, as well. Declares that he and Mr. Morris both feel that "every thing wears a gloomy & unpromising aspect." Also comments on guarding the stores…

GLC02437.03448

January 28, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Informs he has persuaded the board of treasury to give orders on Mr. Imlay for $3000, which Knox encloses in another public letter of this same date. States that if Wadsworth could negotiate $1000 more, he will try to get the board to give that sum solely to be applied to the subsistence of the officers and the pay of the men of Colonel [David] Humphreys corps. The money being paid to Wadsworth was related to raising troops that were used to quell Shays' Rebellion. Writes that Congress will probably discuss the troops soon, "it is most likely they must be reduced however keep this entirely a…

GLC02437.03475

25 March 1787

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

States that a Mr. Welles, a subaltern officer, asked about clothing and pay and he is waiting on a warrant to give him an answer. Shoes and shirts are needed and are being made, but again, he needs a warrant to get them delivered. Has heard through General Benjamin Tupper that Colonel Phelps is in favor of the insurgents, referring to the armed uprising of Shays' rebellion. Wants Tupper to sign a statement of facts. Believes a few months time will show the necessity of having the stores guarded. Though the rebels were dispersed in January 1787 and many arrested, Wadsworth worries of another…

GLC02437.03500

28 March 1787

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses his unhappiness over not yet receiving the warrants he needs to pay the balance for rations at Springfield, Massachusetts. These warrants were likely related to raising troops to quell Shays' Rebellion. Wadsworth writes, "the troops may perhaps disband for want of food." Mentions more instances of insurgency in the state, including an incident in which Sergeant Hill and eleven recruits were beaten by some men that "spoke favorably of Shays." They were sent to prison but all escaped except Sergeant Hill and two recruits. "Free" handwritten on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.03504

31 March 1787

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph document signed

Title: Receipts for warrants to the amount of 3000 dollars

Two (duplicate) notes of receipt of three warrants for $1000 each on William Imlay from Major General Henry Knox for Continental taxes for the state of Connecticut. Warrants numbered 115, 116, and 117. These warrants were related to raising troops that were used to quell Shays' Rebellion. Title from docket.

GLC02437.03505

1 April 1787

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Received Knox's letters enclosing warrants for $3000 (possibly GLC02437.03475) and encloses receipts (see GLC02437.03505). Mentions that the troops need clothing and that Colonel [David] Humphreys ordered some to be made. But if the troops are to be reduced, he will stop the clothing order. Fears that if the soldiers are discharged without pay, they may join the Shays' rebellion insurgents. Discusses other warrants and how the money would be allocated. Mentions that he wants to send Knox some salmon but that he has not been able to catch enough due to the weather. "Free" handwritten on…

GLC02437.03509

15 April 1787

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the allocation of money from the Treasury warrants. Believes the troops "at all hazards" need to be paid. Wants the next warrant to be used to pay the officers or "they...will consider themselves as greatly injured & will give weight to the opposers of a Federal Government ... " Expresses anxiety about the possibility of rebellion if the men are not paid, "this state I am persuaded never was so ripe for rebellion as at present the friends to Chaise [Shays] & his party are increasing & growing bolder every day - they have in general carreid their Elections throughout the…

GLC02437.03522

5 May 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Notice of payment sent to Jeremiah Wadsworth]

Knox's warrant to Wadsworth to pay $3000 to Captain Joseph Wilcox "paymaster to the quota of troops raised by the state of Connecticut agreeably to the resolve of Congress of the 20th of October 1786...being the amount of an order of the board of Treasury on William Imlay Esqr. receiver of continental taxes for the state of Connecticut..." The troops were raised to quell Shays's Rebellion. Noted as written at the War Office.

GLC02437.03543

23 September 1787

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that they have not been able to obtain a cow yet that will produce enough milk for the whole winter but hopes to soon. Says when they do purchase a cow she will need to be driven in a herd of cattle as opposed to being sent by water. Notes that a strong political party is forming against the convention (the Constitutional Convention, which had finalized drafting the Constitution four days earlier) and Wadsworth fears the new government may not be formed. Notes "if the Massachusetts rebellion had continued we might hope their is many of our Leading Men who dread the lessening…

GLC02437.03667

February 14, 1792

Wilkinson, James, 1757-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Fort Washington, present-day Cincinnati, Ohio. Marked "Private, Personal & Confidential." Tells Knox that "a most lawless outrage was committed by a party of the soldiers on the person of a civil magistrate in the village of Cincinnati on the 12th." Believes that the incident might have been fatal to 40 or 50 people, but for the intercession of Captain Haskill, who happened to be nearby. Explains what is apparently a struggle for jurisdiction between the civil authorities (represented by himself) and the military authorities (represented by a Major Leyton).

GLC02437.05321

1856

Greeley & McElrath, 1841-1866

Pamphlet

Title: The border ruffian code in Kansas.

Published by the Tribune Office in New York City. Includes an examination of the "The character of the Code of pretended Laws enacted by the bogus Territorial Legislature of Kansas- a Legislature notoriously forced upon the people of that territory, at the hands of invading ruffians from Missouri, using the persuasive arguments of the Bowie-Knife and Revolver..." Includes a presentation of the Presidential platforms of 1856 and the acceptance speeches of John C. Frémont, James Buchanan, and Millard Fillmore for their respective nominations. Final page displays a map of the United States…

GLC05116.19

28 March 1863

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written at Camp Dennison to his wife. Reports he is finally paid $62.50. Expects to move soon, though "grape vine dispaches," or camp rumors, are unreliable as to where. Mentions some soldiers' receiving packages from home. Laments vice in camp, commenting "I have heard profanity in its worst form I have seen allmost every form of vice and its affects." Finally, reacts to news of an incident in Noble County, Ohio (the Hoskinville Rebellion) in which the "rattle snakes," or "butternuts," as Wood calls them, i.e. Southern sympathizers demonstrate opposition to war. Written at Camp Dennison .

GLC02176.05

22 June 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

There are signs that they will be stopping here for a few days, so he will write a longer letter than the last one. The 6th corps will act as reserve troops for the army, and will "go where it is most needed." Is within 10 miles of Bull Run. Thinks there might be another battle there soon. There are now fewer than 10,000 men in the corps. A full corps should have over 40,000 men. A few more two-year and nine-month terms end soon, and many think the corps will only number 7,000 after that. "We had a hard time being up nearly every night at work or on picket." Was at work for 26 hours straight…

GLC09355.008

16 August 1863

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

This letter came with a note saying it was dated 1863/08/16 but came in an envelope from 1863/10/07. Most of the soldiers are at church, so he has time to write. Very quiet around the fort today. Did not go to church because he did not have his uniform and did not want to be dressed poorly in church. Camp is "flooded with ladies. Most of them are from home come to see their relatives in the 37th." It is "quite warm" in New York City. Often takes a salt water bath in New York Harbor in the morning. Thinks he will have "a chance to come home after the Draft has taken place." The draft starts…

GLC09355.016

8 December 1875

Harvey, George N., fl. 1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Blanche Kelso Bruce

Harvey is asking Senator Bruce for help in securing a position in the Post Office of Iuka Mississippi. He says the position is held by a woman who is thinking of giving it up and recommending someone who has never worked in a post office, and has no loyalty to the Republican Party. he asks the Senator for help in getting this position claiming that he has always been a great defender of the Republicans, and that this letter was "written under the pains of wounds received from a gang of Democratic banditts who attempted to murder me on account of the action I took in the last campaign in this…

GLC09400.181

25 November 1861

Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

to mother [Ann Smith] He notes the arrival of three regiments, saying that it appears there is going to be a fight and implying that Yorktown will be hurt by the Union's forces. He describes how troops from Delaware caught a Confederate soldier, and also captured six more Confederates nearby. He tells of an altercation between the Massachusetts 16th and the New York 20th, a largely German unit. The New York 20th men attacked a Massachusetts 16th soldier one day, which resulted in a huge brawl where the New York 20th got the worse of it. He tells about giving up their meals to a cavalry unit…

GLC03696.04

February 17, 1787

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Broadside

Title: A Proclamation: [amnesty offer to Shays's rebels]

Offers pardons to Massachusetts citizens who participated in Shay's Rebellion (1786-1787). Document includes a printed seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Printed by Adams and Nourse. Noted in Ford no. 2474.

GLC00518

ca. 1860-1870

Alberger, William C., 1837-1925

Scrapbook

Title: [Loose Page from Scrapbook of William C. Alberger]

Page contains: Best, R. H. PD: Buffalo, New York, [Summons William Alberger for assistance in riot suppression]. 3 August 1863. 1 p. Best, the Buffalo sheriff, requires Lieutenant Colonel Alberger's presence on 5 August 1863 for prevention and suppression of city riots. Alberger's name is handwritten, while the rest of the document is printed. (9.8 x 20 cm.) Beckwith, Charles. PD: Buffalo, New York, [Invitation to participate in Independence Day activities]. 26 June 1863. 1 p. + docket. Invites Lieutenant Colonel William C. Alberger to prepare for Buffalo's 87th Independence…

GLC06628.04

4 January 1863

Parry, E., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: To "Dear Sir"

GLC09190.08

13 August 1863

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

They went out among the mines yesterday and enrolled 500 people. Though they had to arrest 7 or 8 for attacking a quartermaster. They will probably have to stay until those men are drafted.

GLC02161.091