24 August 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Comments that he is pleased that his family has received all of his letters and writes that he is fighting for their rights. Describes his journey to Stevenson, Alabama by train. Reports that during his trip he met an old friend, John Hegeman who fought at Murfreesboro and Perryville. He also writes about riding on the train through the Cumberland Mountain range. Upon arriving at Stevenson his company took up lodging in Rosecrans' headquarters. Writes that Union pickets extend along one side of the Tennessee River and the rebel pickets on the opposite side of the river. Wheeler…

GLC07460.046

28 August 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Wheeler is very pleased with the consistency in which his family writes him and states that he thinks no one else in camp gets as much correspondence from home as he does. Reports that Union forces are in Chattanooga and his entire Brigade in Nashville. Describes the city of Nashville, specifically mentions the Capitol building, James Polk's burial, and Andrew Jackson's home. He wonders if Jackson would be a Union or Rebel if he were still alive. Discusses the orderliness of the large Union hospitals, which Wheeler feels gives him greater assurance that Uncle Sam "is growing more able and…

GLC07460.047

5 September 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Writes that he is encouraged by his mother's message of strength and courage. Mentions that the men are drilling five days out of the week and travel a mile to find suitable ground for drillling. He reports that the 129th Illinois and the 3rd Ohio have joined his brigade. Writes about the dimishing numbers of men in various regiments. He specifically mentions one company of the 75th Illinois in which only six men, two sergeants, and a second lieutenant remain. Wheeler writes that he is glad to hear that "active measures will be used against the copperheads in case they dare resist the…

GLC07460.048

28 February 1815

Crowninshield, Benjamin Williams, 1772-1851

Letter signed

Title: to David Porter

Written in secretarial hand and signed by Secretary of Navy Crowninshield to Captain Porter. Says that Porter was appointed to the board of the Naval Commission (a post he held 1815-1822) by the President and that he is to report to the department at his earliest convenience. Porter was a successful naval commander during the War of 1812 and later led the Mexican Navy from 1826-1829.

GLC03479.04

January 17, 1827

Morris, Charles, 1784-1856

Letter signed

Title: to James Reshan

Written by Morris as a member of the Naval Commission to Reshan as commander of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Marked as a circular letter. Says the commissioners have not contracted for meat and vegetables for the various navy yards and that the commanders of the yards are supposed to make the requisitions through navy agents and to get the best terms within their power.

GLC03479.06

25 November 1834

Parker, Foxhall Alexander, 1788-1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the editors of the Washington Globe

Wants the the Washington Daily Globe sent to him while Congress is in session. Asks him to send the bill to Norfolk where he is stationed.

GLC03479.07

11 August 1845

Crane, W. M., fl. 1845

Letter signed

Title: to C. K. Gardiner

Written in secreterial hand and signed by Crane as a member of the Bureau of Ordinance and Hydrology to Colonel Gardiner as Postmaster of Washington. Asks that Gardiner give the bureau's mail to Mr. McArran, the messenger of the office.

GLC03479.14

8 November 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Certificate regarding Dr. Horton's widow]

Docket reads, "H Knox's copy certificate in the case of Dr Horton's widow." Testifies that Doctor Jonathan Horton died while in the service of his country, in the state of New Jersey, and that for this reason his widow is entitled to an allowance from Congress. See GLC02437.03358 for a related document.

GLC02437.03329

23 November 1786

Snelling, Joseph, fl. 1786

Autograph note signed

Title: [Receipt from Jonathan Burral, Esq.]

Duplicate of GLC02437.03345. Written from Salem, possibly in Massachusetts. Receipt from Jonathan Burral [possibly Burrall], Esq., Commissioner of Accompts [possibly Accounts], for 450 dollars with interest to be given to Henry Knox.

GLC02437.03344

23 November 1786

Snelling, Joseph, fl. 1786

Autograph note signed

Title: [Receipt from Jonathan Burral, Esq.]

Copy of GLC02437.03344.

GLC02437.03345

26 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Almost identical in content to GLC02437.03352, which is a later copy of this letter. Writes that he and Mr. [Samuel] Osgood are investigating any openings in the public offices in New York, but have found none. Writes, "My brother whose resignation I hinted to you was possible, has decided to stay where he is. Indeed in the present state of commerce he can have no other prospects. Mr. Osgood & myself, will keep this object constantly in view, and in case of any vacancies or appointments, we shall use our utmost interest on the occasion. In respect to any vacancy under my direction, I…

GLC02437.03353

2 December 1786

Freeman, Constant, 1757-1824

Manuscript document

Title: [Excerpt from a letter regarding military appointments]

The author writes, "That you are not yet appointed need not surprise you when you have read this- I came here fully of opinion that I should have the second [Company] of [Artillery]; that you and all the other officers recommended by General Knox would be commissioned, but what a reverse! for some reason which I have not been able to learn, the company which I expected was given to Cap. [Henry] Burbeck, and as they could not decently pass by me the Governor has given me a Company of Infantry 'tho I am disappointed, still I had rather have the [Company] of Infantry as far as respects rank, for…

GLC02437.03361

3 December 1786

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Manuscript letter

Title: to Robert Morris

Discusses the contract recently sent by the Board of Treasury to him and to Morris regarding a loan they are planning to give to Congress. Will come to New York to finish signing paperwork with Morris. Writes, "I am very far from wishing to engage in any public business nor have I funds that I can readily apply to the purpose of a Contract but with those offered us & your extensive Credit & influence - I will not refuse to undertake, if it is perfectly agreeable to you." Secretarially written and signed for Wadsworth.

GLC02437.03365

9 December 1786

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Asks Wadsworth to deliver to the bearer, Corporal Nichols, equipment such as bowls and kettles that "may be necessary for the Recruits in Town." Asks also for some boards for making bunks and provides some procedures for distributing the materials to commissioned officers.

GLC02437.03370

1786-1787

Manuscript document

Title: [Supplies given to Colonel David Humphreys's regiment]

Date added later in pencil. Lists supplies provided to Colonel David Humphreys, such as hospital stores, rations, wood and clothing. Addressed to General Henry Knox.

GLC02437.03401

1786

Manuscript document

Title: [Henry Knox's account with Jeremiah Wadsworth]

Account between General Henry Knox and Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth for the year 1786. Docket reveals a balance due to Knox. Additional calculations on verso.

GLC02437.03402

7 January 1787

De Jean, fl. 1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks him for his letter. Writes, "By the contents of Mr. Macomb's, friendly letter, I am convinced, how wrong and presumptuous I was, in my former letter to you, to desire you to write to so many gentlemen, and to take so much trouble for a man entire [a] stranger to you." Begs his forgiveness and his "good patronage and protection." See GLC02437.03396 for a related document.

GLC02437.03410

January 28, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to James Sullivan [incomplete]

Body of the letter and signature in the hand of Robert Pemberton, Knox's aide. Previous research determined the addressee to be James Sullivan, but the document does not indicate that explicitly. Knox discusses the settlement of the estate of Thomas and Hannah Flucker, the parents of his wife, Lucy, stating that he will "formally authenticate" a bond verifying monies owed to Mr. [likely Isaac] Winslow. He also comments on the insurgents in Massachusetts, and discusses in some detail the upcoming [federal] convention in Philadelphia, wondering whether its proceedings could be the basis of a…

GLC02437.03428

January 30, 1787-February 1, 1787

Haskell, Elnathan, 1755-1825

Manuscript document

Title: to Lieutenant Colonel Platt

Body of the letter and signatures in the hand of Robert Pemberton, Knox's aide. Document titled, "Extract of a letter from a gentleman of character in General Lincoln's army, to his friend at New York." Addressee may be Richard Platt; identified only as "Lieutenant Colonel Platt." Document contains extracts from Colonel Haskell's letter, as well as portions of two letters from Daniel Shays, and the reply of General Benjamin Lincoln. Haskell's portions contain information as to the strength of Pelham as a position to station the government troops. Shays's letters offer terms of surrender,…

GLC02437.03433

January 31, 1787

Shays, Daniel, 1747-1825

Manuscript document

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Contains two letters. The first, written from Pelham, Massachusetts on 31 January 1787 to General Benjamin Lincoln, is signed by (though not in the hand of) Daniel Shays, along with Francis Stone and Adam Wheeler. The second is Lincoln's reply, written on the same date, from Hadley, Massachusetts. The Shays letter mentions that he and his men have sent a petition with terms of surrender to the General Court, and he feels that all hostilities should cease until they receive a reply. Lincoln responds that the "request is totally inadmissible, as no powers are deligated [sic] to me which…

GLC02437.03434

February 1, 1787

Eustis, William, 1753-1825

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Henry Jackson

Dr. William Eustis writes that it "amounts almost to a presumption in Major [Elnathan] Haskell & myself" to provide information by letter to Jackson, as "Colo. [William] Hull will carry more in his head than we can possibly crowd into his pocket." Has enclosed the correspondence "between the two Generals" (not present). Reports that the latest news is that Mr. Fowle has been taken by Shays, but he does not know if this is true. Adds that they are stationed at Hadley, and that Shays is twelve miles away in Pelham Hills. Relates that Parsons, Stone and Billings came with the flag;…

GLC02437.03438

February 1, 1787

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript document

Title: [Letter of address to the town of Granby]

Honored with their application from the day before. Writes that he sympathizes too much with "the distresses of those unhappy men" who have risen against the government not to try to avoid reclaiming them without bloodshed. Has tried to avoid firing, and has warned Shays of the danger he and his men are in. Hopes they heed his advice. Says that towns which want to put a swift end to the rebellion should aid the government, and provides ways they might help. Marked as a copy. See GLC02437.03435 for a copy of the letter to which he replies.

GLC02437.03439

February 3, 1787

Valiniere, Pierre Huet de la, 1732-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: [Translation of a French letter from Pierre Huet de la Valiniere, Vicar General to Charles Thomson]

Body of the letter in the hand of Robert Pemberton, Knox's aide. Original letter written from "Kaskaskias in the Illinois." Writes that he left New York to go west in May 1786 and has received very few provisions from Congress. Has enclosed a written piece (not included) regarding the fertility of the lands in this region and hopes the addressee will have it printed in the gazettes. Provides extensive information on the quality of the land, the crops that grow there, and the cultivation techniques necessary. Relates that the land "produces naturally and without labor excellent wine, sugar…

GLC02437.03440

February 4, 1787

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript document

Title: [General Benjamin Lincoln's orders]

General orders which congratulate troops on the successful capture of a large number of insurgents. This document is probably one of the enclosures that accompanied Lincoln's 5 February 1787 letter to Knox (GLC02437.03444).

GLC02437.03442

February 5, 1787

Harwood, Hannah, F.U., fl. 1774-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Discusses financial arrangements regarding the settlement of the Flucker estate. Is happy Mrs. Knox now seems to believe she acted for the best. Discusses Mr. [James] Webber and Mr. [Thomas] Longman, agents who are working with them to settle debts. Mentions frequent correspondence with Mr. Jephson, but is sad to note her lack of friends and relatives in London. Wishes to be near her sister and is almost tempted to take the voyage to America. Asks whether Mrs. Knox will send her one of her daughters for companionship; promises to treat her with "a mother's fondness" and feels she is "…

GLC02437.03443