12 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. Knox says he wrote Lincoln on 3 March. Says the officers were unhappy after hearing about the failure of General McDougall's mission. Says "That impatience is almost heightened into dispair; papers have been distributed by unknown persons, calling the body of the officers together in the new building yesterday, accompanied by an address, calculated to cause the officers to redress their own grievances." Reports that Washington wants the meeting postponed until next Saturday. Hopes Congress will make a decision soon. (GLC02437.02001…

GLC02437.02000

16 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy of GLC02437.02009. References his letter from "a few days past." Says that letter mentioned a meeting of officers called for by a paper circulating around camp. Says "The meeting was had yesterday, and the General will forward the proceedings to Congress - which will, I am certain make you perfectly happy." Says the meeting went well and that it "will set the military character of America in a high point of view." Says that if the people have any gratitude in them they will now support the army. Wants to have the proceedings published immediately to affect public opinion on the…

GLC02437.02007

4 July 1782

Loring, Joshua, 1744-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that due to Knox's letter of 12 June, he placed Knox's items at auction. He is not yet sure of the proceeds but estimates them at about 140 pounds. Will write by next post with more information. (See GLC02437.01475 for references to this letter.)

GLC02437.01477

22 August 1782

Loring, Joshua, 1744-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to inform Knox that a "Bill of Exchange for 500 Dollars" from General Benjamin Lincoln came and he paid it. There is now a balance due to Knox of 200 dollars which he can get from Loring whenever he likes.

GLC02437.01533

26 August 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. Marked "Private." References Knox's private letter of last Saturday evening sent by Frothingham. Asked him to reread his public letter of 31 July because "fearing from the warmth of expression that you supposed me more responsible than I really was & that I had omitted a part of my duty -- I am now satisfied -- do not wonder at my noticing every thing which looks like a hint that there has been an omission." Believes the officers should not address the assembly of Massachusetts on half pay at this time, as Congress has not…

GLC02437.01540

4 September 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he will receive "the resolve of Congress relative to the department of Field commissary of military stores - as the officers must be under your particular eye & as you are better acquainted than any other the appointment is left to you - In your instructions you will order proper returns to the war office."

GLC02437.01571

9 September 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "private." Writes that Congress has recently repeated its "solution respecting the additional allowance to the commanding officer at west point." Does not think there is any chance Congress will help them. Suggests Knox talk to his "good friend General [Ezekiel] Cornell" and either apply to Congress directly or through Lincoln. Promises he will "speak to your friends on the subject - though I am convinced that this is not the proper moment to make the application."

GLC02437.01592

30 November 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Signature is clipped, but docket confirms General Benjamin Lincoln, Secretary at War, as the author. Written from "War Office." Writes, "I have been honored with your letter of the 18 ultimo, informing the appointments which have been made in the field commissary's department - it was received but a few days since."

GLC02437.01726

3 December 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 25 November. Says he has suffered anxiety over his long silence and lack of acknowledgement of his letters. Says he told Congress in strong terms of the distress the army suffered for want of pay. Says he told Congress that the information came from the best sources and was not simply grumbling. Says he told Congress that many troops still need pay dating back to 1 January and that some states have helped, but others have not. Reported to the legislature that this caused "uneasiness" among the troops. Also…

GLC02437.01729

14 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy. Writes that Major Villefrance, who will deliver the letter, hopes to receive a promotion. He has not been promoted since he joined the service in 1777. Writes that he has been very successful as Commanding Engineer and is highly talented. He hopes to secure a promotion in order to help him advance in the French service. Writes, "I am persuaded his claims of long service, unremitting attention to duty, and conspicuous talents will ensure the success of his request, unless it should be barred by some rigid principles independent of his professional character. I take the…

GLC02437.01744

20 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Letter is unsigned; may be a page missing. Text loss on much of the document. Discusses a variety of subjects, including the pleasure Knox takes in his friendship with Lincoln: from the "first moment I have had the happiness of being acquainted you I conceived a high degree of friendship, which has uniformly increased, as I became more intimate." Values Lincoln's friendship "in all events of grief or joy," more than any other man. Also discusses the subject of half-pay for soldiers. GLC02437.01754 is a later copy of the entire letter.

GLC02437.01751

22 December 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from "Head Quarters." Writes, "I just now arrived from Philadelphia - I have been detained on [the] road - I wish to see you - I can not have the pleasure of seeing you at West Point - Pray let me see you to morrow morning at this place - My affectionate regards to Mrs. Knox."

GLC02437.01756

February 21, 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Queries to Lincoln, and answers

Signed at the conclusion by Benjamin Lincoln. Pages divided into two columns. The left column contains sixteen issues about which Knox would like further direction and information from General Benjamin Lincoln. Some of these include questions and concerns about artillery, ordnance, artillery men, and their pay. The right column has Lincoln's reply concerning the respective issues. The entire document is written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide de camp.

GLC02437.01942

11 March 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Signature has been clipped. Discusses a purchase of paint and oil. Written in a secretarial hand. Noted as written at the War Office. Creator identified from docket.

GLC02437.01996

31 March 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox of orders given to Captain Hawes and that the "articles for the ordnance department shall be forwarded as soon as possible." Noted as written at the War Office. GLC02437.02046 was enclosed with this letter.

GLC02437.02047

8 April 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide de camp. To Secretary of War Lincoln. Says with the confirmation of peace the artillery artificers are worried about disbanding before hearing from Congress about a payment settlement for their past services. Says he wrote to Lincoln about this issue previously and asked him to bring it before Congress. Says "it being but reasonable that their stipulated pay, of twenty dollars a per month to the privates and in proportion for the noncommissioned officers, should be made good to them." Hopes Lincoln will use his influence to…

GLC02437.02074

21 May 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Discusses the establishment of the Society of the Cincinnati and mentions a proposed constitution, which is not included. States that "[t]he intention [for creating the society] is pure, and uncorrupted by any sinister design - The sole objects the union of the states as far as the humble influence of the officers may extend - and to erect some lonly [sic] shelter for the unfortunate, against the storms and tempests of poverty..." Minor text loss on the right hand side of page two.

GLC02437.02131

2 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Gives an account of his advancement in the army and his wages as a way to show the unfair methods of payment of the soldiers and the lack of an organized system to deal with soldiers' wages.

GLC02437.02144

6 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide de camp. Discusses the pay for army artificers about to be furloughed, and their entitlement to arms.

GLC02437.02150

7 June 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the construction of an ammunitions magazine to house munitions, arms and stores. Gives details concerning the dimensions and the amount of stores and equipment the building should hold as well as building materials. Signature has been cut out, resulting in a large section of text loss. Copy written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, aide-de-camp to General Henry Knox.

GLC02437.02151

14 June 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. Says he will probably go to Virginia on public business in a few days. Says he was so impressed with Captain "Lilly" (Jonathan Lillie, Knox's aide-de-camp) on his trip from West Point, New York to Philadelphia, that he has asked Lilly to join him on the trip south. Notes he would not normally do this without asking for Knox's permission, "but you will, I know, forgive it, as Captn Lilly's happiness is concerned in the measure as well as mine." Informs Knox he wrote to Colonel Stevens about the buildings in Virginia and requested him…

GLC02437.02161

15 July 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. Writes respecting the arsenal and magazines to let Lincoln know that his orders are "impracticable" to execute. Reminds Lincoln that he is the President of the Massachusetts branch of the Society for the Cincinnati and that he is Lincoln's deputy. Wants to know if Lincoln will be giving him his orders. Encloses some additions respecting the Society's medal (not included). References Congress fleeing Philadelphia to Trenton in the face of an angry mob of veterans. Says they all approve of Congress's decision. Informs Lincoln that Lucy…

GLC02437.02291

1 August 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. References Lincoln's letter of 22 July. Says he would like to know why his request for compensation was denied, especially the part that relates to his command of West Point. Says his successors all received the pay of a major general and that his expenses have not been greater than any of them. Reports that Captain Patten of the artillery artificers is anxious to have a decision on his communication with Lincoln and will meet with him for that purpose. Says that Patten and his officers are entitled as much as any who have served in…

GLC02437.02359

8 August 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Mentions that Richard Frothingham, field commissary, is going to Philadelphia to settle the accounts of his department. Remarks upon the inaccuracy of the accounts, "As there have been a considerable number of persons employed and often under circumstances of great hurry and embarrassment, the accounts of receipts & delivery cannot be supposed to be as accurate as a private merchant." Comments that Frothingham's character is "unimpeachable." Relays that Frothingham would like Lincoln's assistance with the matter.

GLC02437.02376

21 March 1787

Longman, Thomas, 1731-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses an inheritance Thomas Flucker left for his daughter, Lucy, Knox's wife, totaling more than 1300 pounds. When this money is received by Longman, he will use it to pay Knox's accounts with Messieurs Wright and Gill.

GLC02437.03496