21 September 1861

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Writes that he is happy Amanda is staying with her mother and notes she will be cared for there. He is also pleased that her friends are caring for her while he is away. Hopes that he can get out of debt soon so he can send home more money. States that he does not think the army will advance for some time. Tells his wife that he has been to the enemy lines and that the troops there do not have enough food or blankets. Reports that Amanda's uncle, Allen Goodridge, said that Mrs. Walker fears that Washington will be taken. He disagrees and says that "they will hardly come here while five…

GLC03523.13.015

circa December 1794

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph document

Title: Measures in the War Department which it may be expedient to adopt

Hamilton outlines suggestions for improving the military. The first point describes organizing the militia into five classes divided up by age and marital status, beginning with unmarried men age 18-25, excepting certain apprentices and students. Each of the classes will be formed into infantry, artillery and cavalry. Provides details on the order in which each class will be called, and states "In case of domestic insurrection no man able to serve shall be excused on any condition. In case of foreign war any man may be excused paying 50/100 Dollars." Only militia in frontier counties will…

GLC02437.09952

circa 1775-1795

Manuscript document

Title: An explanation of the return

List of various military supplies, including copper hoops, muskets, bayonets, hangers, flint, and drum cords.

GLC02437.09979

20 October 1861

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson and his mother

He has received a letter from his wife's mother that his wife is sick. He is greatly saddened to hear this and hopes she gets better. Wilkinson writes that her life is more precious then his and he wishes he were sick instead of her. Says that they marched with one day's rations and their blankets along the Potomac to Pohick Church. He then writes to his mother asking her to keep him informed of his wife's condition. If she gets worse he will try to return home. Hopes that his mother and her friends will take good care of his wife.

GLC03523.13.022

29 April 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Manuscript letter signed

Title: [Pass for Eliza C. Skidmore and her agents]

Declares that Eliza C. Skidmore of Washington, D.C. has products of the "insurrectionary states" and has made arrangements to bring the products within Union military lines to sell them to agents authorized to purchase them on behalf of the United States. Orders that these products "be free from seizure detention or forfeiture," and that "officers of the Army and Navy and Civil Officers of the Government will observe this order." Requires these officers to provide Eliza C. Skidmore a means of transportation as well as "free and unmolested passage through the lines, and safe conduct within…

GLC02779.01

20 May 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written from New Kent Court House, Virginia. Writes to his wife that he knows she is worried about him, especially since he's been in battle [during General George McClellan's Peninsula Campaign]. Explains that he wrote to her the day after the battle and gave her "some particulars of the engagement." He is very tired from having to march with his heavy knapsack on his back. Thinks that they will be able to take Richmond, Virginia but notes that they have heard a great many rumors and are unsure what to believe. Writes that he will hopefully come home by the end of September and that it will…

GLC03523.13.041

circa August 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: [List]

"Ordnance & stores necessary for the intended operations Southward, to be provided immediately at Philadelphia by the Commissary General of Military Stores." List includes 25 cannon, two mortars, one howitzer, tens of thousands of shells, shot, etc., and 140,000 pounds of powder. "Omitted-slow match" is written at the end of page two in Henry Knox's hand. See GLC02437.01156 and .01160-.01163 for related documents.

GLC02437.09885

2 October 1783

Lillie, John, 1755-1801

Manuscript document

Title: [Request]

Requests six pounds of soap for General Henry Knox's family. Contains a note on page two confirming receipt of rations. Directed to William Bell.

GLC02437.09763

8 January 1864

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, brother-in-law, and sister

Writes that the weather is very cold and has been as low as nineteen degrees below zero. Complains of the lack of fire wood provided for the soldiers. Reports that Major [Everell Fletcher] Dutton of Sycamore, Illinois has returned to the regiment. Asks that he be sent a pocket handkerchief, towel, and ointment.

GLC07460.068

January 31, 1864

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, brother-in-law, and sister

Writes that he is about to march for Alabama. Notes that their equipment is packed and ready as are the troops who are ready to "tramp for freedom through mudholes and over mountains." His boots, however, are worn through. States that he had been sick while writing his previous letter. He has since gotten better though he is not very "stout." The doctor has told him that he can do as he pleases and suggested he guard the cars as the army moved. He would be allowed to ride for part of the time until his health improved. Notes that the army will not march until Thursday morning.

GLC07460.069

February 5, 1863

Painter, Heber, 1841-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to his sister]

Reports that three horses, ten Confederate soldiers, and their arms were captured by his company. Expects to spend the winter in North Carolina. Has not heard from Foster's expedition, but expects to soon. Reports that he is now in Colonel Howell's Brigade. Has withdrawn from his duty as regimental dispatcher to take up a post as the Quartermaster's clerk under Lieutenant Jackson. Recipient inferred from content. Written at Batchelder's Creek.

GLC02016.029

5 November 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at camp of the Michigan 2nd Infantry beyond Union Town, Virginia. He was unable to write because they have been marching for several days, they are now camped not far from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Notes that there have been some skirmishes and that the Union will soon overtake the Confederates. Writes that they are commanded by General Ambrose Burnside and that he will show the rebels "how to fight." He has been promoted to company sergeant. Notes that he has no gun or knapsack, rides almost all the time, does less work, and has someone cooking for him. His pay is only a little…

GLC03523.13.064

8 October 1783

Lillie, John, 1755-1801

Autograph document signed

Title: [Request]

Requests 7 pounds of soap for General Henry Knox's family. Contains a note on page two from Jacob Johnson who confirms receipt of rations. Directed to William Bell.

GLC02437.09772

11 October 1783

Lillie, John, 1755-1801

Autograph document signed

Title: [Request]

Requests six pounds of candles and 15 pounds of bread for General Henry Knox's family. Contains a note on page two from Jacob Johnson who confirms receipt of rations. Directed to William Bell.

GLC02437.09778

20 October 1783

Lillie, John, 1755-1801

Autograph document signed

Title: [Request]

Requests six pounds of soap and 15 pounds of beef for General Henry Knox's family. Contains a note on page two from Jacob Johnson who confirms receipt of rations. Directed to William Bell.

GLC02437.09793

24 October 1783

Lillie, John, 1755-1801

Autograph document signed

Title: [Request]

Requests six pounds of candles and seven pounds of soap for General Henry Knox's family. Contains a note on page two from Jacob Johnson who confirms receipt of rations. Directed to William Bell.

GLC02437.09800

11 July 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: [A statement on Mr. Greene's evidence]

Letter is not signed but appears to be in Henry Knox's handwriting. Discusses a memorial the late General [Nathanael] Greene had submitted to Congress and the dire financial situation that now threatens Greene's family. Writes a lengthy letter defending Green's character. Describes the measures Greene took in 1782 regarding the army's clothing and provisions and why such measures were needed at the time. Also mentions various communications that took place between Greene and other gentlemen in 1782. Appears to ask Congress to relieve Greene's estate from any obligations Greene entered with…

GLC02437.09816

May 11, 1862

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: John Morris.

Wilmor's regiment lost many men at Williamsburg, but the Confederates lost twice as many and "left in a hurry." The road between Yorktown and Williamsburg is strewn with "guns, wagons, knives, clothing of all kinds." He is using "secesh paper" and the "envelope is secesh" as well. A note to George promises a letter soon.

GLC06451.048

3 January 1778

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Military advice for George Washington]

Written from Artillery Park of Great Valley (Valley Forge), Pennsylvania. Knox discusses the necessity of recruiting more men. Argues that New York City is of greater importance to the British than any other place due to its accessibility by way of water. Writes, "The disagreeable circumstances to which the loss of New York would reduce the Enemy operate so strongly on my mind, that were the numbers there fully ascertained, their works of defence & ca so as to render the Success of a Coup de Main probable, I should most readily give my opinion to open the Campaign by an attack upon…

GLC02437.00683

9 January 1778

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for a horse]

Receipt to Henry Emmanuel Lotterloh, signed by him. "Received of Samuel Shaw... a horse suitable for an Express, in lieu of which I have given him permission to take one for a Batt Horse from Benja Hadden, which... Hadden says was valued last June at fifty pounds." Written at Camp Great Valley.

GLC02437.00689

circa January 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Invoice of payments to Henry Knox from the Unites States] [incomplete]

List of payments made to Knox by the United States between November 1775 and January 1777. Includes dates payments were made, what they were for, how much they were for, and who actually gave the money to Knox. Figures include pay for Knox and his men as well as money for blankets during their expedition to retrieve cannon from Fort Ticonderoga during the winter of 1775-1776, pay and recruiting fees throughout 1776, and money to be distributed as a bounty in January 1777.

GLC02437.00527

January 17, 1777

Manuscript document

Title: Sundry accounts to General Knox

Date from docket. Apparently a quartermaster's account. Includes a list of named captains under Knox, including A[lexander] Hamilton, and corresponding figures (possibly their pay or money allotted for their use for supplies, etc). A note in Samuel Shaw's hand at the bottom of page one includes account information for General [Thomas] Mifflin and Colonel [Stephen] Moylan.

GLC02437.10011

24 April 1777

Gardner, Joseph, ?-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Dr. Gardner informs Knox that both his wife and daughter have been successfully inoculated against smallpox, and are feeling well again. Also a French ship has just arrived with 58 cannons, as well as shot, powder, clothing, blankets and tents. Promises to continue writing and offers to do any favors Knox needs.

GLC02437.00579

30 April 1777

Isaacs, Ralph, 1741-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes that his health has improved, and his wife is recovering from smallpox. Details the Battle of Ridgefield (27 April 1777) and the British actions leading up to it. Says British troops landed near Norwalk, marched to Danbury, and there destroyed Continental stores. Then relates how General Wooster and his men fought the British with "justice and bravery," but Wooster received a wound that he thinks may prove fatal. Next the British engaged General Arnold's forces, with both sides suffering heavy losses, his friend doctor Attwater of New Hampshire among them. Pierpont Edwards and "…

GLC02437.00581

February 1778

Richardson, James, fl. 1778-1779

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for provisions]

Receipt to James Richardson, and signed by him. Lists provisions received by Knox during the month of February. Indicates that Knox received bread, flour, beef, pork, rice, soap, and rum. Possibly written from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; location inferred from date of document.

GLC02437.00694