February 15, 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horatio Gates

Relates a recent adventure in which he was apparently traveling over a frozen waterway to meet a military board that included Gates. On the way, the ice under his party broke, but through a fortunate turn of events they remained safe. Knox and General [Jedediah] Huntington hope that Gates and the board will excuse their absence. Asks that they may make their decision without having to physically attend the board. In a post script, asks Gates to present his [Knox's] compliments to General [Israel] Putnam.

GLC02437.10093

13 July 1783

Gibbs, Caleb, fl. 1748-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Major Gibbs writes from Germantown, outside of Philadelphia, to General Henry Knox, Commander of West Point Describes in detail the march of his detachment from West Point to quell mutineers in Pennsylvania. On the way, they passed through Princeton, New Jersey, where Congress was stationed at that time. Describes saluting Congress, and comments on Elias Boudinot, President of Congress: "the Officers formed in the Center of their Respective Regts & were introduced to the President who asked a number to take Breakfast with him." Discusses the reaction of local residents to soldiers: "…

GLC02437.10121

22 March 1783

United States. Continental Congress.

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Congressional resolution on half-pay]

Resolution of the United States Continental Congress on half-pay commutation signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary of Congress. Instead of half-pay, the officers were given five years full pay in money or securities on 6 percent annual interest. Says the various officers can collectively agree or disagree with the resolution within six months time. Docketed by Henry Knox on verso as "An Act of Congress the 22nd March 1783 for commuting the half pay, pledged to the Army - A certified copy."

GLC02437.02017

March 12, 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

This letter uses oblique language (apparently chosen to avoid its detection by Newburgh conspirators) to call for a meeting of Generals Henry Knox and Jedediah Huntington: "I should be glad to see you & General Huntington at Dinner but be here earlier. The General Orders of yesterday will shew you upon what footing the meeting stands; & when I see you I will assign the reasons for it." That meeting was to discuss an anonymous address to the officers, calling upon them to attend a meeting and to threaten Congress. Washington's "General Orders of yesterday" asked his officers not to…

GLC00390

February 12, 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall, but signed anonymously as "Brutus" to Major General Knox. McDougall reports that he seems to be making progress in lobbying Congress for funding for half-pay pensions for the officers. Says that since the Committee of the Army (made up of McDougall and Colonels Brooks and Ogden) came to Philadelphia that "the Sentiment is daily gaining ground, that the Army will not, nor ought not, to disband till Justice is done to them." Says a motion might be brought up by supportive Congressmen to not disband the army until "Justice is done to them." Asks Knox to keep quiet…

GLC02437.01912

11 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Sends his regrets to General George Washington as he was unable to make a meeting at Head Quarters due to the the large amount of ice in the river. Discusses the "extraodinary notification and address forwarded to Colonel Crane" (the first of the anonymous Newburgh letters, which had been circulated at camp the previous day, 10 March 1783). Washington had doubtless asked Knox to attend a confidential meeting of trusted officer to discuss response to the Newburgh Crisis. (For more information on that meeting, see background for GLC02437.10105.) Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.01995

14 May 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Declares, "The soldiers of the regiments of this garrison have been tolerably quiet until last night, when the behaviour of most or all of the regiments was totally repugnant to discipline, & in many instances highly mutinous... the rioters appeared to have no particular object in view..." Offers to take the responsibility of granting officers' furlough requests, if Washington thinks it appropriate. Knox' retained draft.

GLC02437.10109

10 March 1783

Manuscript letter

Title: to the Officers of the Army [The Newburgh Conspiracy]

Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, this is Henry Knox's copy, and is docketed by Knox. An anonymous address to the officers of the Army, along with a call for a general meeting of officers. This particular copy was sent to the officers at West Point. Gives high-minded praise to the troops, extolling their virtue, bravery, and patriotism -- but then transitions into an emotional-laden section about America's inability to provide for them after the war is over. Says "If this then be your treatment, while the swords you wear are necessary for the defence of America - what have you to expect…

GLC02437.01994

circa March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript

Title: [Letterbook related to the Newburgh Conspiracy]

Table of contents is written on front cover in what appears to be a later hand. Includes copies of letters by various individuals, all in the hand of Samuel Shaw, relating to officers' complaints regarding pay, supplies, and other topics. Contains George Washington's address to officers at Newburgh, New York, intended to quiet dissatisfaction. Letter 1, dated 7 October 1780, is from Nathanael Greene and five other generals in Tappan, New York, including Henry Knox, written to the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut "to represent the distressing condition…

GLC02437.09443

February 25, 1783

Von Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, 1730-1794

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Major General von Steuben to Major General Knox. Reports that "In all proba[b]ility the Peace is signed." Says "At present all our lost Battles are turned to Victories. Great Britain acknowledges our Independence, may other nations acknowledge that we are worthy to be free." Says America's first impressions are important as they will decide "whether we shall be respected as an Empire or be despised as a Banditti." Says the situation of the army and the news of peace are all that are talked about. Wants to know what will happen if Congress disperses the army without pay. Presents a…

GLC02437.01952

9 December 1782

Paterson, John, 1744-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from "Camp." Writes that agreeable to the wishes of the Committee, he has been trying to get "Capt. Pemberton to transcribe our address." Captain Pemberton has been too busy with his own work, so he has asked Colonel Cortlandt, and though he keeps requesting the finished transcript, Colonel Cortlandt has not yet been "able to procure a fair Transcript." Has enclosed a copy of the transcript but as soon as the other copy is complete and he has it signed, he will send it to Knox. Apologizes for the delay and says, "It is not owing to any neglect on my part that this business has…

GLC02437.01734

13 December 1782

Paterson, John, 1744-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he has received his most recent letter accompanying the address to Congress, and will comply with Knox's request to have it signed by the committee members and then pass it on to Colonel [John] Brooks, who will be leaving for West Point tomorrow. Will also pay close attention to Knox's other requests.

GLC02437.01741

6 January 1783

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses sending a box to General Knox, a farm Knox may wish to purchase, and the need for raising money to pay the Army.

GLC02437.01805

30 December 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Knox writes to Osgood, a Continental Congressman. Thanks him for the "disinterested attention" he has paid Knox in several instances. Assures Osgood he prizes their friendship highly. Reports that George Washington has instructed him to dissolve several corps and reorganize the soldiers whose terms have not expired into an infantry and artillery. Writes, "This business has been painful on account of discharging the officers and soldiers at this [severe] season without pay, and in many instances the men are miserably clad." Refers to an instance in summer of 1783 when officers petitioned…

GLC02437.02875

4 December 1782

Osgood, Samuel, 1748-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Osgood as a Continental Congressmen from Massachusetts to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 2 November. After reading it says he "began to repent that I had wrote you with Respect to the System for the Adjutant Genl. Department." Feels honored that Knox was willing to be candid about what he felt were the reasons for the Massachusetts legislature denying half-pay pensions to army officers. It seems that a letter Osgood wrote to Lowell, a member of the legislative committee considering the pension issue, was harmful to the officer's cause. Says "I am extremely sorry…

GLC02437.01730

20 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Written by Major General Knox to Massachusetts Continental Congressman Osgood. This letter is a reply to Osgood's letter at GLC02437.01730. Says that his sentiments have caused "uneasiness" among the officers. Knox made sure the principal officers would hear Osgood's opinions by passing the letter along to General John Paterson to share. Believes that McDougall, Ogden, and Brooks, who have been dispatched to Congress, will be able to convince that body the officers deserve better treatment, especially those that have families. Says the officers have confidence that Congress understands what…

GLC02437.01752

1 January 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Jeremiah Olney

Originally written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp, but now badly faded. Writes, "I this minute reviewed your favor of the 22 ult. with its enclosures. Major Shaw, my aide de camp, who was chosen Treasurer by the Army will execute your orders respecting the money matters. The Committee set off for Philadelphia ten days ago. I have not yet heard any thing from them. As soon as they have the affair in train I will take a pleasure in informing you of it. We have no news. The compliments of the season to you and your gallant corps."

GLC02437.01785

12 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: to Jeremiah Olney

Asks Colonel Olney (possibly Jeremiah Olney of Rhode Island) to deliver a petition and address regarding soldiers' pay to General [Andrew] McDougall and Colonels [Samuel] Ogden and [John] Brooks, who will carry it to Congress in Philadelphia. Declares that General George Washington has seen the petition and address and "has no objection to its presentation." Briefly discusses the contents of the documents.

GLC02437.01740

22 December 1782

Olney, Jeremiah, 1749-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Olney of the Rhode Island Regiment to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 12 December on the petition of the army on pensions to Congress. Says he has told his regiment about it and that it meets their approval. The Rhode Island regiment's part of the expenses for the committee to travel to Congress is 37 dollars. Asks Knox to take the money out of a warrant from the paymaster owed to the regiment and to hold on to the surplus. Asks to be kept informed of events.

GLC02437.01758

9 January 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall to Major General Knox. Says nothing decisive about whether the half-pay pension issue has been decided. Says it took a week of travel to get to Philadelphia in bad weather. Wanted to lobby the delegates before the memorial was put before Congress. Says that has been accomplished and after the memorial was submitted, Congress decided to form a committee with a member from each state. Says that they will meet tomorrow night. Encloses a list of the committee members (not included here). Reports that "The Result of our Conversation with the members is, that a great…

GLC02437.01819

14 December 1782

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I received your favor of this day. I shall be ready to sett off from this, on Tuesday next, if the weather is fair, and all other arrangements are compleated, which dont depend on me. I suppose Col [John] Brooks will bring over the Memorial &c &c with him."

GLC02437.01743

19 February 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall to Major General Knox. Says that Colonel Brooks has no doubt reached him before this letter, but hopes to give an update to events in Congress since. Says "Nothing has since been done by Congress on the Subject of our memorial [on army pay and officer's pensions]." Reports that Georgia, Maryland, and Delaware are not represented at the moment. Says "The Kings Speech is the only intelligence, which has reached this of any moment, relative to a Peace." Thinks Congress is leaning in support of the army, but he cannot be certain. Says members of Congress focus on two…

GLC02437.01933

15 March 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall to Major General Knox. McDougall was a member of a committee sent by the officers to lobby for half-pay pensions to Congress. Mentions that only Georgia is not represented at this point and there were divisions on the pension issue among the other states. Says 7 were for it, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire against it, with Connecticut divided. Goes on to discuss parliamentary maneuvers made by members of Congress on the issue. Says Colonel Dyer of Connecticut, who was to vote for the issue after it was brought up for discussion again shocked everyone…

GLC02437.02005

14 September 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall to General Knox. Says he will visit with Knox to finalize spending accounts of the officers. Says he has "written to Mr. Gaine in the most perfect secrecy, to print thirteen thousand Copies, of the Commander in Chief's circular letter, to the States, but no opportunity has yet offered, by which I could expect to receive an answer." Indicates that the circular letter's tendency toward mercy will appeal to the printer and other Loyalists. Reports the copies will be in pamphlet form because "I know that a Newspaper is read, torn or appropriated to such use, as, that…

GLC02437.02512

3 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander McDougall

Discusses with McDougall the possible result of his mission, informing him that everyone is anxious for it and continues to deplore the lack of a strong Congress.

GLC02437.01975