January 12, 1788

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Carrington reports, "I have as yet passed through no more of this state than what is called the Northern Neck- there I find the opponents of the Constitution pretty numerous and vociferous." Mentions that [Richard Henry] Lee "has in great measure declined to act in the opposition, finding that even his own family have separated from him." Declares that in the southern part of Virginia, many influential figures have united on the "wrong side." Mentions that Governor [Edmund] Randolph has "committed to the public view his opinions as to the conduct which it will be wise now to pursue with…

GLC02437.03758

January 20, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Egbert Benson

Knox reports on the proceedings of the Massachusetts Constitutional ratification convention. Notes that there are "150 decidedly for the constitution, about 120 decidedly against it- and about 50 or 60 who appear to determine to hear all that can be said on both sides and then vote as they shall think right, Mr S Adams is in this class.- on the whole it is highly probable that the Constitution will be adopted." Expects the decision to be made about the Constitution in less than a fortnight. Location inferred.

GLC02437.03766

3 July 1786

Nourse, Joseph, 1754-1841

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Register of sums received]

Certifies that "the Honorable Major General Knox Secretary at War is debited in the Treasury books of the United States with the following Sums of Money" which totals $6,893.60. States in a note that "[t]he General stands indebted for the following sums; the Persons to whom they were advanced being to account for the same with him, conformable to the report of the Clerks of Accounts" including an armorer at West Point and people in charge of goods and stores. Goods and stores amount to $1,026 and some odd cents. Noted as coming from the Register's Office, which most likely travelled with…

GLC02437.10207

22 November 1786

Bankson, Jacob, fl. 1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports to Knox about the state of a case concerning Captain James Lee "formerly of the Artillery [who] has made application to the...Court in Consequence of an Injury he received in the Service of his Country..." Mentions General Varnum and a Colonel [Thaire ?] as witnesses to prove that Lee had a furlough and a doctor's certificate. Address leaf marked with a postage stamp "25 NO" and has a reddish stain where the letter was sealed. Watermarked with hunting horn in a crest and "J. De Busscher." "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.10208

18 May 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Adams

Knox writes a letter of introduction for Colonel David Humphreys, George Washington's former aide-de-camp.

GLC02437.03000

24 May 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Expresses his mortification at arriving in Annapolis the day Washington left. Reports that "...all the necessary business will not be finished before Congress adjourns." Discusses a matter pertaining to the recommendation "of the Gentlemen of Family" to Congress. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.03004

3 July 1784

Estaing, Charles Henri, comte d', 1729-1794

Manuscript document

Title: Ideas upon the association of the Cincinnati

Written in Knox's hand. Docketed 13 July 1784. Contains reforms and resolutions in response to public reaction against the Society of the Cincinnati.

GLC02437.03027

26 July 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Responds to a 2 June 1784 letter from Washington. Discusses a recent Congressional order requiring Frederick Haldimand, Governor of the Province of Quebec, to give the United States information as to when British troops will completely evacuate Western forts, and how cannon and stores from the forts can be exchanged. Knox is incensed, writing "I cannot say but that I am well satisfied to be excluded from any responsibility in arrangements that cannot be executed. The attempt to employ militia for twelve months in an arduous operation of conveying the stores and making permanent…

GLC02437.03031

January 21, 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington [incomplete]

Comments on a recent trip Washington took to his western lands. Expresses relief that Washington did not travel as far west as he originally planned due to "the indians being in a bad temper." Referring to settlers on Washington's lands, writes "You must have been chagrined to have found your Lands possessed by a... people who hold in contempt equity- the first principle of Society." Discusses disunity among the states, writing, "We are entirely destitute of those traits which should Stamp us one nation- and the Constitution of Congress does not seem to promise any capital alteration for…

GLC02437.03087

24 March 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Requests a certificate from Washington for Winthrop Sargent, who Knox describes as "really clever and... an excellent artillery officer." Promises to procure limestone when the weather improves. Discusses Washington's refusal of a gift from the Legislature of Virginia. States, "My jealousy for your fame is so high, that I should prefer seeing you cincinnatus like, following your plow rather than accepting the least pecuniary reward for services, which fairly challenge the approbation of posterity, but thank the supreme God, you are happily placed above the necessity of receiving any…

GLC02437.03118

29 March 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Knox introduces Catharine Macaulay Graham and her husband, James Graham, to Washington. Writes, "a glorious enthusiasm for the cause of general liberty and human happiness, has impelled this lady and her husband, to cross the atlantic to visit that country whose inhabitants have had the hardihood to encounter unknown dangers, rather than submit to a principle of taxation, which though not grievous in the first instance, would probably have terminated in a most flagitious abuse of power-" Notes that the Grahams hope to visit Washington at Mount Vernon. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.03122

22 November 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to George Washington

Later copy. Duplicate of a portion of GLC02437.03220, a letter by Knox. Discusses the troops at Forts Pitt and McIntosh, as well as treaty negotiations with the Indians. Calculations in blue pencil on verso.

GLC02437.03219

24 March 1780

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Responds to a letter from Knox regarding a disagreement between Bauman, an artillery officer, and William Hull, commandant at West Point. Pertains to an order Hull gave that created a conflict in command between infantry and artillery.

GLC02437.02981

24 March 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Joseph Carleton

Discusses the engineers still in service. Asks Carleton, acting Secretary at War, about Congress' intentions regarding renewal of the contract with Daniel Parker & Co. to provide troops with supplies. Expresses concern that Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance, has renewed the contract only until 5 May 1784.

GLC02437.02982

3 April 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Carleton

Encloses a copy of a return of clothing wanted by troops. Asks Carleton, acting Secretary at War, if Congress has made progress toward approving the application: "If you can have the clothing obtained, and forwarded to the troops you will render them an essential service as they must be exceedingly destitute of the Articles requested..."

GLC02437.02989

15 April 1784

United States. Continental Congress.

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Congressional resolution approving the appointment of Major William North as inspector to the troops]

Signed by Joseph Carleton 23 April 1784. Carleton authorizes this as a true copy from the original remaining in the war office. Location inferred by based on the site of Congress.

GLC02437.02993

13 June 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Carleton

Informs Carleton, acting Secretary at War, of the arrangements he has made in response to the Congressional resolve of 2 June 1784 ordering the reduction of Continental troops.

GLC02437.03017

2 July 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francois Marie, comte de Aboville

Reflects on his friendship with Aboville and relations between France and America: "... I wish those connections may be strongly cemented and that the two nations may remain in a perpetual alliance strengthened by all possible good offices." Discusses how public opinion has forced alterations in the Society of the Cincinnati. Introduces and recommends Mr. Tracy, the bearer of this letter. Knox addresses Aboville as "General."

GLC02437.03024

28 July 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Certificate of the service of Lieutenant Colonel Carrington]

Knox certifies that [Edward] Carrington sold cannon to defray expenses of transporting arms and stores to establish a magazine near Richmond, Virginia, for the Southern states. Written in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.03032

31 July 1784

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Autograph document signed

Title: Monthly return of the corps of artillery

Lists numbers of officers present and fit for duty. Signed by Major Doughty.

GLC02437.03033

4 August 1784

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to James Byers

Morris, Superintendent of Finance, discusses Byers's relinquishment of a contract with Congress to cast brass and ordnance (refer to GLC02437.03044). Writes, "I am sorry that your services have not been better rewarded, and lamented at the time that precipitancy with which you Relinquished your Contract and with it your Claims on the justice of the United States." Copied in the hand of James Byers (originally enclosed with GLC02437.03044). Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

GLC02437.03037

5 August 1784

Lillie, John, 1755-1801

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt of money paid to John Lillie]

Major Lillie signs on both pages, noting receipt of money from Henry Knox and Timothy Pickering.

GLC02437.03038

16 August 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Carleton

Informs Carleton, acting Secretary at War, of the details of Major Job Sumner's difficulty in obtaining pay for his military service. Also discusses a letter from Frederick Haldimand, Governor of the Province of Quebec, recently transmitted to Congress by William Hull. Haldimand refused to inform Congress when British troops will be withdrawn from American posts on the northwestern frontier.

GLC02437.03040

25 August 1784

Byers, James, fl. 1767-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Byers, who had a contract with Congress to cast brass ordnance during the Revolutionary War, complains of difficulty receiving pay for his services. Asks Knox to intervene on his behalf, requesting a certificate from Knox attesting to his service. Plans to send the certificate with a petition to Congress. Encloses a copy of the last letter he received from Robert Morris on the subject (GLC02437.03037).

GLC02437.03044

25 August 1784

Carleton, Joseph, 1754-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Carleton, Secretary at War, writes from the War Office, possibly located in Annapolis, Maryland with Congress. Reports on the settlement of Major Job Sumner's case. Relates that troops from Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania will be equipped as a result of the continued presence of British troops at forts on the northern frontier of the United States. Notes that New York will most likely raise its quota of troops "as soon as the Harvest is completed." "Free" stamped and "on public service" written on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.03045