January 25, 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Lee

Gives General Lee additional specifics on the artillery ordered from New York City and being sent to Cambridge, Massachusetts, which George Washington has already written Lee about. He sent a list of items sent by the Second Provincial Congress or Committee of Safety in New York (not included). Explains plans for their transport. Notes that even though Knox has retrieved artillery pieces from Fort Ticonderoga, the pieces from New York are badly needed. Knox also discusses his efforts to obtain artillery from New York City in GLC02437.00212, GLC02437.00220, and GLC02437.00222.

GLC02437.00245

January 12, 1776

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Manuscript document

Title: to Henry Knox

Certifies that a Lieutenant Gray "has rode Cannon Seven Miles." Refers to the artillery transport from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts that Knox was overseeing. Contemporary secretarial signature.

GLC02437.00241

January 14, 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Swart

Discusses the movement of artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts, specifically between Blandford and Springfield, Massachusetts. Updates arrangements for the assistance Swart was supplying.

GLC02437.00242

16 November 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes lovingly to his wife. Discusses his journey to visit her, getting caught in a violent storm, and expecting to see her tomorrow night. Explains that George Washington has ordered him to go to Fort Ticonderoga. Knox, having recently been appointed head of the artillery, was sent to Ticonderoga to inspect and bring back to Cambridge the British artillery captured there by a force led by Ethan Allen on 15 May 1775.

GLC02437.00209

16 November 1775

Moylan, Stephen, 1737-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gouverneur Morris

A letter of introduction for Henry Knox. Asks that Morris "make New York as agreeable to [Knox] as the circumstances of the times will admit." Also asks if there were any letters from "our friend Penn." Moylan was a soldier and officer in the Continental Army, and at one point an aide-de-camp to George Washington.

GLC02437.00210

27 November 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes affectionately, asking about Lucy's journey from Worcester. Discusses his own journey to New York City on his way to Fort Ticonderoga, where George Washington had ordered him to travel to in order to bring back to Cambridge the British artillery captured there in the Spring of 1775. He met his brother on the road, a meeting he describes and dubs "truly farcical." Comments on business opportunities. Reports the easy victory by which American forces captured Montreal on 13 November 1775. mentioning the British retreat, the construction of an American battery, and the interception of…

GLC02437.00211

27 November 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

A highly detailed letter in which Knox reports on his efforts to obtain ordnance in New York City for the Continental Army in Cambridge. Discusses similar, unsuccessful activities in regard to the activities of a man named Colonel Read, and his problems with the committee sitting during the recess of the Second Continental Congress, possibly the Second Provincial Congress, which met in New York in late 1775 or the Committee of Safety. Reports Colonel Alexander McDougall's promise to exert his influence on the committee and have them send munitions to Cambridge immediately. Seeks permission…

GLC02437.00212

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

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

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

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

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

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

16 March 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander McDougall

Has procured a large amount of shot from Ogden, the owner of a local iron works. Asks McDougall to procure a vessel from the quartermaster at Peekskill on which to send the shot to Albany, where it is badly needed by General Schuyler at Ticonderoga. Ogden most likely refers to Uzal Ogden, 1705-1780, a local iron manufacturer.

GLC02437.00551

1856

Chappel, Alonzo, 1828-1887

Engraving

Title: Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

One engraving entitled "Capture of Fort Ticonderoga" dated 1856. Depicts Ethan Allen along with the Green Mountain Boys, demanding the surrender of the fort. Engraved by Thomas Phillibrown from a painting by Alonzo Chappel.

GLC08878.0075

10 July 1777

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Replies to a letter from Henry from 21 June, in which Knox discussed British movement in detail. Agrees with Knox, that the British in the New York/New Jersey area will "form a junction with the Nothern [sic] Army." Worries that General George Washington had misleading information, believing William Howe intended to march to Philadelphia (Howe did not march to Philadelphia; refer to Knox's letter to Jackson from 21 June). Expresses misgivings regarding the loyalty of Native Americans near Fort Ticonderoga: "These devils will let their Friendship be what it may- will allways take up the…

GLC02437.00621

13 July 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Knox writes, "the shortness of your two last letters were not very agreable [sic] to me..." Discusses the Battle of Ticonderoga (2-6 July 1777): "We have received... news of the evacuation of Ticonderoga pregnant in my opinion with the most disagreable [sic] consequences of any thing during the War..." Mentions Generals John Burgoyne (British), Arthur St. Clair (American), and Philip Schuyler (American). Refers to a wagon of supplies Lucy sent to him. Wishes his brother William would not join the Army, but would instead remain in Boston, serving as a "disinterested friend and protector"…

GLC02437.00622

14 July 1777

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the Continental evacuation of Ticonderoga: "My God, what a Stroke we have met with in Loss of Ticonderoga- after all the trouble, pains, & expense the Continent has been at in Fortifyg [sic] that Post, to think we should be obliged to give it up without fire'g a gun- is too much..." Predicts that because of the loss, "there will be nothing but Scalp'g & [Butcher'g] our back settlements..." Reports on the capture of The Fox, a British ship. Mentions the capture of British General Richard Prescott, and hopes for the exchange of Prescott for General [Charles] Lee.

GLC02437.00624

21 June 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson

Written at Camp Middlebrook. Replies to an earlier request from Colonel Jackson to enlist Hessians from a captured British ship: "I have not mentioned to the General your request to be permitted to enlist some of [the Hessians], it is so repugnant to the good of the service and your own reputation..." Discusses General William Howe's recent movements, and General John Sullivan's Continental force in Princeton, New Jersey. Is confused by the movements of the British. Assumed they intended to march to Philadelphia, but they instead fortified their position at Middlebrook, New Jersey. Notes…

GLC02437.00617