1781-1791

Manuscript document

Title: [Revolutionary War orderly book]

For New York garrison located at West Point, New Windsor, Peekskill, Dobbs Ferry and Philipsburg Manor. Contains orders from Washington, describes Cornwallis's defeat and surrender at Yorktown (although this garrison remained on the Hudson), news of the final peace settlement and resulting celebration. Includes copies of correspondence between high ranking officers and foreign diplomats and dignitaries. The book mentions or alludes to many important figures in the Revolution, including D'Estaing, Greene, Robert Howe, Lafayette, Marion, Pickens, Rawdon, Cornwallis, De Grasse, Rochambeau and…

GLC05969

2 March 1790

Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox about what is due to an officer in Colonel Henry Jackson's regiment, Samuel Rogers, who was killed in the Battle of Yorktown, which Gerry calls "the seige of Cornwallis."

GLC02437.04524

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Gun battery number one, Yorktown, Virginia

Image shows five cannon behind heavy fortifications. Imprint on recto "Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by Barnard & Gibson, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Columbia." Graphite inscription on verso "Battery no. 1 Yorktown, Va." "1866."

GLC05111.02.1361

3 September 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph Woodbridge

Indicates that he has referred Woodbridge's letter about finalizing a cannon purchase to Robert Morris because he (Washington) has to march southward (for the Yorktown campaign). See also GLC06427 on the cannon purchase.

GLC06428

22 September 1781

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathanael Greene

Major General Wayne writing shortly before the siege of Yorktown, looks forward to the arrival of Admiral François de Grasse and praises the French forces. Predicts victory over Lord Cornwallis. Expects that the arrival of George Washington "will enable us to complete the investiture immediately." Comments on the Marquis de Lafayette's illness and his own wound. Describes the British fortifications at Yorktown and Gloucester and expresses his "fervent hope to see the American Colours...displayed upon the British lines."

GLC06691

June 3, 1782

Kościuszko, Tadeusz, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathanael Greene

Kościuszko, a colonel and engineer in the Continental Army, discusses military preparations for the Yorktown campaign. Comments on his earthworks and the need for more troops to protect them. Letter written "at Colo. Mayens."

GLC05545

8 October 1781

Clift, Samuel, fl. 1777

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sally Clift

Clift, a captain in the Continental Army from Connecticut, writes to his wife describing preparations for siege of Yorktown: "till night before last we erected our first parallel within 600 Yards of the Enemies Lines, we shall continue to approach nearer & nearer till the Enemy fall into our hands." Also mentions casualties, his good health, and missing her.

GLC05307

January 25, 1782

Clinton, Henry, Sir, 1730-1795

Letter signed

Title: to Lord Germain

Despite the fact that "the Commander in Chief...shall not oppose the reviving Civil Government" for the purpose of meeting "the Rebels on the Ground taken up by General Washington in...the Capitulation of York Town," General Clinton, writing on behalf of "His Majesty's Commissioners," advises against declaring New York at peace. He claims that "a Revival of the Act of Trade would immediately set aside the restraints at this port." Docket identifies this as a "Sketch of a letter from the King's Commissioners to Lord Geo. Germain."

GLC07534

19 October 1781

Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis, 1738-1805

Manuscript document

Title: [Articles of capitulation settled at Yorktown]

List of articles dictating the surrender of Cornwallis (Lieutenant General of Britain) to George Washington, the Count de Rochambeau (Lieutenant General of the French army), and the Comte de Grasse (Lieutenant General of the naval armies of France). Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Henry Knox's aide de camp. Shaw has penned the signature "Thomas Symonds." Shaw apparently also attempted to create with the same pen a look-alike signature of Cornwallis. Symonds was the commander of British naval forces in the York River. Article one indicates that the garrisons of York and Gloucester,…

GLC02437.09555

circa 1804

Printed document

Title: Prospectus of an historical and allegorical picture, entitled the Siege of York

Title continues: "or, the British surrendering their arms to General Washington after their defeat at York-Town, in Virginia, in the month of October, 1781." States that John Francis Renault is the creator of the work. Contains a description of the picture, noting that each subscriber pays twelve dollars for an engraving of Renault's work. Attests to Renault's patent of the picture. Printed at the Emerald Press. Docketed by Knox, who notes he paid five dollars and will pay the remainder "when finished."

GLC02437.10361

8 August 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Certification of the creation of a return of ordnance and military stores after the Siege of Yorktown]

Marked as a copy. Knox attests that he ordered the creation of an ordnance and military stores return. Adds, "But from the confused state in which the British stores were, and even our own, which were divided in the trenches, at the Park, and on board the vessells, it is probable there might have been considerable errors..." Mr. Jones, deputy field commissary, also acknowledged the possibility for errors in the initial return.

GLC02437.10125

19 October 1781

Manuscript document

Title: [Return of prisoners taken at the surrender of the British garrisons of Yorktown and Gloucester, Virginia]

Lists numbers of prisoners taken 19 October 1781 in the British surrender of Yorktown (excluding marine prisoners). Docketed by Knox's aide-de-camp, Samuel Shaw: "Prisoners of War under [Earl] Cornwallis."

GLC02437.10665

circa 26 October 1781

Frothingham, Richard, 1748-1819

Manuscript document

Title: [Return of Ordnance & Military Stores Taken at York & Gloucester in Virginia by the Surrender of the British Army]

This is a copy, in the hand of Samuel Shaw, of a "Return of Ordnance & Military Stores Taken at York & Gloucester in Virginia by the Surrender of the British Army," which Washington enclosed in his letter to Congress of October 27-29, 1781. (See Papers of the Continental Congress, NARA M247, Item 152, Vol. 10, pp. 336+. Note that their copy appears to be missing the final page(s). An additional copy, transcribed by Congress, is in the Papers as well.) Based on the content of Washington's letter, an October 26th draft of which is in the George Washington Papers at the Library of…

GLC02437.10031

4 November 1781

Manuscript document

Title: Return of ordnance and military stores prepared for the Southern detachment.

Lists mortars, howitzers, and their implements, field pieces, items "in common for the whole," and musquetry. Docket notes these items were "order'd to the Southward from York in Virginia under Genl [Arthur] St. Clair." Docketed by Henry Knox.

GLC02437.10027

1 October 1781

Autograph document

Title: Monthly Return of the Corps of Artillery.

Chart enumerating various types of ordnance held by several regiments, including Colonel John Lamb's 2nd Artillery. The ordnance was needed for the siege of Yorktown, which began that month. Henry Knox's copy.

GLC02437.10495

19 October 1781

Smith, John, ?-1837

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of ordnance ammunition & stores at Glo'ster Point

Signed by Lieutenant Smith, commanding Royal Artillery Glocester.

GLC02437.10496

12 September 1782

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Will soon inform Knox "whether the field pieces or royal Howitzers, will be most acceptable to Count de Rochambeau." Also tells Knox that a certain inscription should be in Latin and says Captain Doughty is "appointed fort Major of West point & its Dependencies." Written at "Head Quarters." Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide.

GLC02437.09379

5 September 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Transmits a box and map (not included), asking Knox to commit them to a person in whom he can confide. Notes that Knox should go by water to Christiana (possibly Delaware). Gives his compliments to Knox's wife, Lucy, hoping that she will spend some time at Mount Vernon. Docketed in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.09399

October 1781

Map

Title: [Map of Yorktown, Virginia]

Drawn map of Yorktown, Virginia. Shows roads, rivers, and other land markings, but not fortifications. With Cornwallis autograph note written across the front: "you will deliver the town immediately." Likely created by the British right before the October 1781 siege by the Americans.

GLC02437.10669

28 November 1826

Trumbull, John, 1756-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Bulfinch

Listing titles for Trumbull's four existing Revolutionary War paintings in the rotunda of the Capitol and four he proposed to create for the rotunda's empty recesses. The extant paintings depicted Independence Day, Saratoga, York Town, and Annapolis. Trumbull was not commissioned for the proposed paintings of Bunker Hill, Quebec, Trenton, and Princeton. He hoped these paintings would create a "series of the History of the Revolution." He also suggests engraving keys (to the people in the paintings) in the printed guide to the Capitol, rather than placing them directly under the paintings.…

GLC02510

12 July 1781

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Major General Wayne discusses the campaign that led up to the Battle of Yorktown. Discusses forcing Lord Cornwallis to retreat, justifies his unorthodox tactics, and describes an amazing escape at the battle of Green Spring.

GLC02620

1862

Tucker, John S., fl. 1862-1865

Diary

Title: [Diary of John S. Tucker, D company, 5th regiment, Alabama, infantry]

Tucker's 1862 autograph manuscript diary contains his account of day-to-day life in D company and discussions of battles such as Seven Pines, Williamsburg, Mechanicsville, and the Seven Days battles. Also mentions the evacuation of Yorktown.

GLC00653.19.01

April 25, 1862

Van Laer, Edward, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charley Taft

Van Laer served in the 1st Battery of the New York Independent Volunteers. The letter discusses the Battle of Yorktown.

GLC00653.23

24 October 1782

Rostaing, Juste-Antoine-Henri-Marie-Germaine, marquis de, 1740-1826

Letter

Title: to Henry Knox [in French]

Docket, in English, notes "From the Marquis Rostaing acknowledging the receipt of two mortars taken in the enemy redoubts at York Town in Virginia... "

GLC02437.09556

11 September 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas S. Lee

Informs the Maryland governor of the need for 30,000 feet of wooden planks for the upcoming siege of Yorktown. Has asked General Mordecai Gist to obtain the supplies. Also mentions eight tons of powder that need to be forwarded "to the points of operation in Virginia." Reports that these needs are extremely urgent.

GLC02437.10025