28 August 1782

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions that he went to "the Point" [possibly West Point] the day before to pay his respects and inform Knox about the movement of the Invalids between Fishkill and West Point. Also writes, "My further intention was to request your permission to remain here a short time with my family 'till I can have a place prepared for its reception, subject to attend when ever my presence is necessary, which I flatter myself you will be so kind as to grant." Comments that he was unable to find any building in West Point that would be large enough to accommodate his large family, so he is hoping the…

GLC02437.01544

1 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Lewis Nicola

Written and signed in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Writes, "As soon as all the stores can be removed the waggons necessary to transport the remaining part of your regiment procured, you will direct it to repair immediately to the Post, I shall be happy if suitable accommodations can be provided, so as to render the situation of yourself and family agreeable while they may remain here. In the mean time, you have my permission to continue at Fishkill, agreeable to your request, until the purposes on which it is founded are accomplished."

GLC02437.01556

6 September 1782

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "Lieut [probably William] Honeyman, late Quartermaster to the Invalid regt resigned yesterday that employment & as he belongs to the company quartered in Philadelphia, in which he is mustered, he begs your permission to return to his proper post." "Granted" is written at the bottom of the letter in Samuel Shaw's hand.

GLC02437.01582

3 October 1782

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Writes, "I am informed the work at the house I am to occupy at the Point cannot proceed for want of boards, & as I am anxious to be where my duty calls me, I am under the necessity of requesting your application to Genl. [Henry] Knox to know whether I can be permitted to pull down some of the empty barracks here & have them removed to West Point for the house I am to inhabit there, this I am willing to do without putting the publick to any trouble or expense, except halling them from the beach at the Point to the house; if this is agreeable to the Genl I beg his order, as, during Col…

GLC02437.01639

19 October 1782

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Declares that he is convinced of Knox's desire to help old and infirm soldiers (he is a colonel in the Invalid regiment). Writes, "I find by experience I have over rated my abilities in undertaking to remove boards from here to the Point; my horses are so weak they would not be able to hall any quantity of a long time, and I have been obliged to pay a dollar a load for a two horse waggon, an expense my purse will not bear, besides this & the removal of my furniture & I have a considerable quantity of vegetables, raised for a winter store, which I cannot afford to leave behind or take…

GLC02437.01674

24 October 1782

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he has received an enclosed document (see GLC02437.01682) but "not having power to comply with Lt Gibbs's request take the liberty of referring [Sgt. Gerrolds?] to you." Lieutenant Gibbs might be Samuel Gibbs, of the Invalid Regiment, of which Colonel Nicola is the commanding officer. Sends his respects to Mrs. Lucy Knox. At the bottom of the letter, Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp, has written "Granted a furlough for six weeks 25 Octo."

GLC02437.01679

26 October 1782

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Nicola, commander of the Invalid Regiment, to Major General Knox. Says he has been in conversations with others about the necessity of keeping a standing army in America after the peace. Has concerns that "some in authority as well as others" think militia will only be needed. Says that "while we retain our senses, we shall have little occasion of quarrel with any european power, yet our being in a very defenceless state may in time induce some to attack us. Ventures to make some observations on military matters, as he has 30 years experience. Would like to see a small…

GLC02437.01683

6 November 1782

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Nicola of the Invalid Regiment to Major General Knox. Was disappointed he could not meet up with Knox at West Point last Monday. Expresses his consternation about the reduction of his Invalid regiment by Congress and the Secretary of War. Claims that the authorities say "the men & officers were a great expence to the States, & from whose services there was little benefit derived." The men and officers are to be examined to discover their situations -- when it will be decided if they are to be discharged with a pension or without one and if they are return to the…

GLC02437.01702

2 January 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Moylan

Writes to John Moylan, the Clothier General, that the "troops in this department are reduced to one regiment of Infantry of 500 rank and file, and one corps of artillery." Has enclosed a return of the articles necessary to clothe the men for the year. Asks him to procure these items and send them to West Point, to Colonel H. [likely Henry] Jackson for the infantry and to Major [Sebastian] Bauman for the artillery. Also discusses the structure and size of the departments; may be referring to the commissary department.

GLC02437.01789

27 January 1783

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Forwarding Knox a letter from General Horatio Gates and informing him that he will help Gates in any way possible. Noted as granted. See GLC02437.01862 for the enclosed letter. Written at Constitution Island.

GLC02437.01865

24 March 1783

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses current situation on "the Island" and his difficulty in obtaining supplies to build proper housing for himself and his family. Also writes concerning fatigue work and relief for the men. Also notes that he has enclosed his views on punishments. See GLC02437.02027 for that document.

GLC02437.02026

16 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Viscount de Noailles

Written by Knox to the Viscount de Noailles. References two of Noailles's letters -- one from Boston and the other from France -- that needed to be answered. Says he did not know where to send the answer as Noailles was rumored to be anywhere from Gibraltar to Jamaica. Says no matter where he gets this letter, he hopes Noailles will "remember that you have a friend in america who wishes you the most perfect happiness." Goes on to say "The glorious peace, by which the American Liberty is so amply established, will ever be remembered to have been the Work of France - Our gratitude and…

GLC02437.02163

1 July 1783

Malcom, William, fl. 1776-1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Malcom to Major General Knox. Says a Mr. Peacock will be presenting this letter and that he was formerly a subaltern in his regiment, who acquitted himself with courage. He is a refugee from New York, although he was one of the first to declare for independence. Says he served while his property could support himself and his family and that he is now reduced in circumstances. Wants to enter into a partnership with a Mr. Dunlap at the garrison (West Point?). As he will be a stranger there, he has requested a written recommendation to assist him in his new home. Would like…

GLC02437.02217

28 November 1783

Musgrave, Thomas, 1738-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writing as Brigadier General, Musgrave complains that Americans gave passes to British deserters and states that this action is an "infringement (as I conceive) of the agreement entered into between His Excellency Governor Clinton and Sir Guy Carleton, in hopes, that if those Deserters cannot be discovered and secured, that you will be please to give such directions to the different Posts in this Neighbourhood, as will effectually stop the like assistance being given to British Deserters while we remain here."

GLC02437.02804

29 November 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Musgrave

Replies to an earlier letter (GLC02437.02804) from Musgrave concerning deserters from the British Army.

GLC02437.02808

17 January 1790

Newman, Samuel, ?-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox for a position as he and his family are now suffering from the effects of the war and subsequent peace. Wishes to be placed with troops already in the Federal service.

GLC02437.04473

circa 1785-1791

Macpherson, John, ?-1775

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for his kind considerations of all of his inventions and discusses pensions and his own service to the country. Claims he has been cheated by three powerful men, who then prevented him from publishing a pamphlet exposing them. Encloses (not present) the few pages that were printed.

GLC02437.08250

16 October 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Ogden

Has received Ogden's letter from yesterday asking him to meet at General [George] Washington's headquarters at eleven o'clock the next morning. Declares that he had already made his travel plans and he shall certainly be there by that time. He and his wife send their regards to Mrs. Ogden.

GLC02437.01668

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

9 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Written by Major General Knox to Continental Congressman Osgood. Says the letter will be delivered by Major General Baron von Steuben. Says "I am certain you are well acquainted with the reputation of his abilities, and that it is been owing to him that a substantial discipline has been established in the American Army." Says he is "particularly attached" to the American cause and has expended much of his own money to help further it, but that he "can no longer live without pay." Knox says he knows Osgood's "liberal mode of thinking" and hopes he can help von Steuben. (See GLC03646 for the…

GLC02437.01480

17 September 1782

Osgood, Samuel, 1748-1813

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses recent resolutions of Congress which restructured the system of ranks and payments in the military. Considers whether pay grades should be linked directly to ranks, or whether people in each rank should be paid according to the way they perform their tasks, or the amount of tasks associated with each individual position. For example, he can "easily conceive when a Brigadier General has no Brigade, when he can have no command in the Army unless in that Office." Writes that General Edward Hand "will not presume to think that he is the only person that has filled that office - with…

GLC02437.01618

2 November 1782

Ollivier, fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by a Captain Ollivier, first name not mentioned. Asks Knox to give the Commissary an order for victuals to deliver to a soldier in his company named Louis Belange, his "ordinary provisions, being at Fishkill."

GLC02437.01698

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

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