12 September 1781

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Tells Knox that this letter will be delivered by a Lieutenant Ford, who will also deliver ordnance and information about available ships. Describes his activities fulfilling Knox's orders to obtain ordnance and shipping vessels. Mentions using shot and shells as ballast for a ship with French troops. Indicates that General Mordecai Gist was angry that the gun powder, possibly from Frederick, Maryland, had not arrived yet. Citing financial troubles, Bauman reports that "the people here seem Exceedingly slow in forwarding the Services." Discusses problems with and plans for embarking with…

GLC02437.01183

21 September 1781

Jones, Thomas, fl. 1777-1782

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of all Continental spare ordnance and Military Stores in the field, and the Waggons which contain them.

Chart enumerating various types of ordnance held with three units under the charge of the Marquis de Lafayette. The stores listed "are exclusive of those which Complete the pieces annex'd to the Brigades, with the Park, & in the hands of the men of the Light Infantry." The ordnance was needed for the siege of Yorktown, which began later that month. Jones was a Deputy Field Commissary of Military Stores under Colonel Edward Carrington.

GLC02437.01186

23 September 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Board of War & Ordnance

Believes that the provisions of shot and shells will be inadequate for the siege of Yorktown. Requests additional ordnance be sent to Head of Elk, Maryland. Asks that Samuel Hodgdon, the commissary general of military stores, be ordered to superintend the transport. Signed twice, once at close of letter and once after postscript.

GLC02437.01188

26 September 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: Invoice of Ordnance & Stores Shipp'd on board Sundry Vessels at Elk Landing.

The first six pages in Knox's hand enumerate military stores for use in the siege of Yorktown embarked on fifty-three ships at Head of Elk, Maryland. The names of the ships and captains are recorded with marginal annotations, dated 26 September 1781 in the hand of Samuel Shaw, regarding non arrival of some ships. The "Ranger" in noted as presumed lost. The last three pages in the hand of Samuel Shaw are separated from the first six; the two parts are marked with the reference code VII-75 and VII -76, respectively.

GLC02437.01191

29 September 1781

Peters, Richard, fl. 1732-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Orders Knox to send ordnance to General Nathanael Greene, who was "extremely destitute of Musket Ammunition." The Continental Army began to invest the British works for the siege of Yorktown the day before. Peters was the Secretary of the Board of War & Ordnance.

GLC02437.01197

30 September 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Thomas Shild

Orders Shild, captain of the schooner Betsy, to load his vessels with oak planks on the eastern shore of Maryland. Describes the planks as essential supplies for the siege of Yorktown. Authorizes the impressment of materials and procurement of assistance. Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw with a vertical addition in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.01200

30 September 1781

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for Ordnance for the siege of Yorktown].

Colonel Carrington, on behalf of QMG Colonel Thomas Pickering, acknowledges the receipt of four horses from General Henry Knox which were furnished by Governor of Maryland Thomas S. Lee. The Continental Army began invading Yorktown on 28 September 1781. Signed in duplicate.

GLC02437.01201

September 1781

Manuscript document

Title: A list of the Vessels appropriated to the American Army, loaded with Ordnance & Stores.

Enumerates military stores for use in the siege of Yorktown embarked on sixty-four ships at Head of Elk, Maryland. The names of the ships and captains are recorded. - Pages 1-3 list 64 ships, enumerating type (sloop, schooner, etc.), name, captain and tonnage. (The captain of the schooner "Dolphin" is listed as "James. Negro.") Page 4 (entirely in Shaw's hand) lists quantities of ball and shell. (An annotation indicates a quantity of ball "unloaded to give the French the vessel and put on board the others...." Another indicates that a quantity of shell was on a vessel that was "cast…

GLC02437.01202

2 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Board of War & Ordnance

Reports that Colonel Robert Harrison will wait for the Board to send a supply of musket ammunition for the Southern Army commanded by General Nathanael Greene. Explains that the frequent activity has depleted stores and the free navigation of the Chesapeake Bay provides an opportunity for delivery. Asks that stores from Williamsburg, Virginia also be forwarded. Reports that they invested Yorktown on 28 September 1781 and that General Cornwallis' evacuated his outer works the following day. The Continental Army hopes to open its batteries in three days.

GLC02437.01204

2 October 1781

Biddle, Clement, 1740-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Assures Knox that he will not publish his correspondence and asks him to write often about the operation in Virginia. Reports that the British "suffered much more severely in the Action off Cape Henry than you seem to have expected," referring to the Second Battle of the Virginia Capes. Mentions the actions of several naval vessels. Reports that British troops have landed on Staten Island and impressed many wagons. There are rumors of the British coming to burn Philadelphia and the militia is preparing. The remainder of the Pennsylvania line is in Philadelphia and plans to march 600 men…

GLC02437.01205

5 October 1781

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of the Companies of Artillery attached to the Brigade of the Line.

Chart enumerating numbers of men in various companies. Created during the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01208

6 October 1781

Peters, Richard, fl. 1732-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Responds to Knox's request for armaments with assurances that the Board of War & Ordnance is working expeditiously to fulfill his request. Explains recent activities of Samuel Hodgdon, the commissary general of military stores appointed by the Board. Knox needed the ordnance for the siege of Yorktown. Peters was the Secretary of the Board of War & Ordnance.

GLC02437.01209

6 October 1781

Peters, Richard, fl. 1732-1828

Manuscript letter

Title: to Samuel Hodgdon

Orders Hodgdon to proceed immediately with fulfilling General Henry Knox's request for ordnance (see GLC02437.01189). Emphasizes the need for swift action and mentions that the Board of War & Ordnance will be held responsible for any failure. Peters was the Secretary of the Board of War & Ordnance. Samuel Hodgdon was the commissary general of military stores appointed by the Board. Knox needed the ordnance for the siege of Yorktown. Written in a clerical hand. This was enclosed with GLC02437.01209.

GLC02437.01210

8 August 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Return of the Tents & Camp Equipment, horses in General Knox's family.]

Lists items of camp equipment and horses and their quantities on 15 August 1781 and 8 October 1781. Signed twice by Shaw. The Continental Army was then engaged in the campaign against Yorktown.

GLC02437.01211

11 October 1781

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of the Ammunition expended at the grand Battery October 10th & 11th 1781.

Lists quantities of ammunition used at the Continental Army's grand Battery, redoubt, and left battery under Colonel Edward Carrington's command during the siege of Yorktown on 10 October 1781 and 11 October 1781. Directed to Samuel Shaw, aide de camp of General Henry Knox.

GLC02437.01218

10 October 1781

Lamb, John, 1735-1800

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of stores expended at the Grand Battery on the 9th and 10th Instant.

Lists quantities of ammunition used at the Continental Army's battery under Colonel John Lamb's command during the siege of Yorktown on 9 and 10 October 1781. Reported to Henry Knox. Labeled "9 & 10" on page two in a different hand.

GLC02437.01219

August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Plan of encampment at Philipsburg, in Westchester County, New York]

Hand drawn map in Knox's hand, bearing his corrections and additions, of picket lines from Tuckahoe west to the Hudson River at Dobbs Ferry, New York. The Hudson River is referred to as the North River. In 1781, the Dobbs Ferry shoreline was fortified to prevent the British fleet from interdicting American and French supply lines. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.10024

July 1781

Frothingham, Richard, 1748-1819

Document signed

Title: Return of ordnance and military stores received, delivered, and on hand in the month of June and July 1781.

Lists brass ordnance, case shot, fuzes, and other ordnance items. Indicates the amount of items last return, the amount received since last return, the total, the amount delivered since last return, and the number on hand. Signed by Frothingham as field commissary of military stores.

GLC02437.10492

1 August 1781

Frothingham, Richard, 1748-1819

Manuscript

Title: Return of ordnance and military stores on hand the 1st Augt 1781.

Creator from docket (Frothingham was field commissary of military stores). Lists case shot, can shot, fuzes, gunners implements, and damaged stores, among other items.

GLC02437.10493

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

30 June 1781

Ruddock, John, fl. 1779-1796

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Return]

Return for ordnance and military stores available, received and delivered at Fishkill, New York for the month of June 1781. Items listed by type, weight and current condition.

GLC02437.10682

3 October 1781

Frothingham, Thomas, 1755-1827

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Return]

Return for ordnance and military stores available, received and delivered for the month of September 1781. Items listed by type, weight and current condition.

GLC02437.10684

30 September 1781

Manuscript document

Title: [Return]

Return for ordnance and stores at Fishkill, New York for the months of August and September 1781. Items listed by type, and date issued. Noted as under the orders of John Ruddock.

GLC02437.10685

26 June 1862

Tate, Jeremiah M., fl. 1829-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Written in pencil from camp near Seven Pines in Virginia. Provides reports on the Seven Days battles.

GLC02082.18

29 September 1862

Tate, Jeremiah M., fl. 1829-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Written in pencil. Gives battle reports (he was away), and discusses Stonewall Jackson and stragglers at Antietam.

GLC02082.19