January 29, 1782

Patten, Thomas, fl. 1777-1785

Manuscript document signed

Title: Account of timber wanted for the use of the brigade of artillery for building carriages, waggons and tumbrils

Written from Burlington, likely in New Jersey. Calculations for the amount of wood necessary to build carriages, wagons, and tumbrils (a type of cart).

GLC02437.01343

January 29, 1782

Patten, Thomas, fl. 1777-1785

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of materials wanted for the use of the brigade of artillery

List of necessary materials for the brigade of artillery. Countersigned by Henry Knox, with the words: "Copy given to the War Office this 29 January 1782." Written in Burlington, likely in New Jersey.

GLC02437.01345

18 May 1782

Miles, John, fl. 1782-1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of waggons horses etc. wanting for the brigade of artillery

List of wagons and horses necessary for the brigade of artillery, signed by John Miles, Quartermaster, Brigade-Artillery. See GLC02437.01421 for the accompanying letter.

GLC02437.01422

19 September 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from "War Office." Writes, "I have Sent for the German Armourers and will forward - them to you with the necessary Tools - If I can obtain any considerable number I think we had better send to Mr. [possibly Richard] Cranch who is now employed at Springfield to superintend him - If in your opinion he is not a suitable person for this business - I wish you would mention it to me I can here have the choice of a good Man."

GLC02437.01619

7 December 1782

Billings, Andrew, 1743-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Is honored to report that the two cannons entrusted to him will be ready for delivery by next Wednesday. Will soon be going away for some weeks and wishes he could be present to see them sent off, but hopes they will meet with Knox's approval. Explains that the quality of the engraving is not as high as he might be able to accomplish on copper because of the hardness of the cannon's metal. Describes how best to clean and maintain them: "if they are kept covered and once in a month washed with a clean brush and hot soap suds wrensed off with hot watter they will preserve the pollish."…

GLC02437.01733

16 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Certificate for Andrew Billings Esq. for engravings for two pieces of cannon]

Written and signed for Knox by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Writes, "This is to certify that, in consequence of orders from His Excellency the Commander in Chief, Andrew Billings Esq. has engraved certain devices upon two pieces of cannon ordered by Congress to be presented to the Count De Rochambeau, and that for the said service he charges forty guineas, or the value thereof, to the United States, which as far as I am competent to judge is just and reasonable - and that I have received the said cannon." See GLC02437.01733 for a related document.

GLC02437.01746

4 January 1783

Niven, Daniel, 1742-1809

Autograph document signed

Title: [Provision return for sixteen carpenters drafted from the line, employed in the engineer department at West Point]

Return signed by D. [likely Daniel] Niven [sometimes spelled Nevin] and countersigned "By order of the Comdt", S. [Samuel] Shaw, Aide-de-Camp. Note on verso signed by John Allin.

GLC02437.01793

24 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Billings

Asks Billings to engrave inscriptions on certain cannon as directed by Congress to be presented to the Count de Rochambeau. "As this is a matter in which the Reputation for Arts in the United States is in some degree concerned," instructs Billings to make the engravings as perfect as possible. Suggests Billings engrave the emblems of Justice and Liberty on some cannons, and representations of naval combat on others. Also suggests engraving "a bald head eagle the lately adopted Arms of the United States."

GLC02437.10046

14 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Billings

Discusses cannon Major Billings recently engraved. Remarks that he has received news that Billings did a good job engraving the cannons. Gives Billings instructions regarding delivery and billing of the cannon.

GLC02437.10068

February 23, 1783

Artillery artificers at West Point

Manuscript document

Title: [Address of artillery artificers to Henry Knox]

Petition given to Major General Knox on behalf of the artillery artificers at West Point to be delivered to General Washington. They were angry after "having found our Selves intitled by the General Orders, to draw some Weekly pay rest Verry much dissatisfied Concerning the same. Says they will remain on duty until means to pay them can be found. Contains 59 signatures, 3 of whom left their mark with an "x."

GLC02437.01948

circa January 10, 1783

Heart, Jonathan, 1748-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Provision return for the Carpenters Department

Lists carpenters (4 men, named) by regiment and includes rations issued. Countersigned by Samuel Blatchley Webb and Samuel Shaw. Endorsed by Elijah Royce.

GLC02437.01820

January 16, 1783

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Manuscript document signed

Title: Provision Return for the Masons Under My Directions for Eight Days Comminsing [sic] 17th of Jany 83 & Ending 24th Both Ddayts in Cluded [sic].

Lists men by regiment and company with rations issued. Also signed by Joseph Cheesman with an endorsement on the verso signed by a person surnamed Hayden. The first name is illegible.

GLC02437.01855

8 January 1783

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Provision return for masons covering eight days]

Also signed by Joseph Cheesman, Superintendent [of Masons;]. A note written on verso, signed by [?] Hayden, confirms receipt of rations.

GLC02437.10078

March 9, 1783 circa

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Printed document signed

Title: [Army rations issued to Engineer's Department]

Document specifying the number of persons, days, and rations issued for the engineers at West Point from 1 March to 8 March. A total of 16 persons (from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Connecticut Regiments and the 3rd Artillery - as well as 1 hired mason) were used for the 8 days. A total of 192 rations were issued. Signed by Major Shaw as Knox's aide-de-camp and Joseph Chasman as superintendent. Docket signed with an illegible signature.

GLC02437.01991

4 December 1781

Manuscript document

Title: [Return]

Return for the regiment of artillery and artificers stationed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania under command of Captain Thomas Wylie. Men listed by name (59 cited), time of enlistment, length of service, occupation and place of work. Bottom appears to have been cut off.

GLC02437.10686

circa March 16, 1783

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Document signed

Title: [Army rations issued to prisoners]

Partially printed document detailing number or rations given to members of the [engineering] department from 9 March - 16 March. All in all, 18 persons from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Connecticut Regiments and the 3rd Regiment of Artillery, along with 1 independent mason were given 216 rations. Note on verso signed by a Jacob Gillet.

GLC02437.02006

29 March 1783

Byers, James, fl. 1767-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the casting of new cannon and artillery, particulary the howitzers in regards to size and length and placement of "the dolphins."

GLC02437.02039

28 April 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Billings

Written by Major General Knox to Major Billings. Says he heard Billings would be willing to contract to engrave the cannon recently taken from the enemy for two dollars each. Would like him to take care of this business as soon as possible.

GLC02437.02110

23 April 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Myers

Discusses the artillery of the army and corrects a mistake regarding the placement of the dolphins for the guns. Also discusses placement of the "Arms of the United States" on artillery. Closes by saying that "Although peace has taken place" he still wishes to have six of the howitzers cast "as soon as possible." Signature is partially torn off.

GLC02437.02111

16 August 1781

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Major Bauman, commander of artillery at West Point, to Brigadier General Knox. A response to Knox's letter regarding his transfer from West Point (GLC02437.01134). Says General McDougall has no objections to Bauman's transfer and that Captain Frothingham will take his place. Says he cannot leave West Point until tomorrow, when he will send letters and settle the situation. Reports on some of the heavy and light brass cannons at West Point, and says some need chains, timbers, and carriages. Says "many things are wanting here" and has requested the commissary to give him reasons why…

GLC02437.01136

28 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Billings

Written by Major General Knox to Captain Major Billings. Says that General Washington directed him to forward two cannons to Billings to be engraved in a similar fashion to the cannon done for Count De Rochambeau (see GLC02437.02198). These cannons are for Count De Grasse and reports that the inscription to be engraved will be sent from headquarters. Would like to know how long it will take. Hastily written postscript asks that the design for Rochambeau's cannons be sent if he still has them as it will be necessary to make some alterations to the emblems and coat of arms.

GLC02437.02199

5 July 1783

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Major Bauman of the artillery corps asks General Washington to discharge four older German men under Bauman's command. Says that the Board of Inspectors of Invalids told him to go to Washington as the men did not "come under the description of men in bad health." Says the Germans are all in their 60s and worn out and want to go back to Germany; they and their families seek discharge. The Germans said "from their short service they have rendered this Country, they could never Expect or demand any bounty from it, and their sphere of live being passed to labour, consequently would become a…

GLC02437.02241

28 June 1783

Billings, Andrew, 1743-1808

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for cannon]

Receipt of two brass cannons from General Knox by the hand of Captain Buchanan for engraving.

GLC02437.02196

28 June 1783

Billings, Andrew, 1743-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Captain Major Billings to Major General Knox. References a previous letter from Knox that arrived with 2 brass cannons -- says he will "set about them as soon as the directions arrive, and will finish them as soon as possible." Billings is engraving the cannon for Count De Rocheambeau (see GLC02437.02199) also has designs relating to the Society of Cincinnati but he claims the "design [is] ... so defased and torn that they are unfit to be seen, if that is wanted I will draw it over and send down, I have a design now drawn which if aproved off may suit for those cannon for sake of…

GLC02437.02198

4 July 1783 circa

Cheesman, Joseph, fl. 1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Provision return for masons hired by the engineers department]

Provision return for the superintendent of the Masons; employed by the engineers department. One man was hired for four days from 1 - 4 July 1783 for a total of six rations issued. Signed by Joseph Cheesman, a superintendent, and countersigned by Major Samuel Shaw as an aide-de-camp to Major General Henry Knox. Docket signed by a Jacob Wight stating that the rations were delievered.

GLC02437.02232