5 September 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Cornelius Vandenburgh

Communicates order from General Henry Knox for Vandenburgh to guard listed pieces of ordnance on the way to Christiana. If he is not relieved then, he is to take the ordnance to an officer at Head of Elk. Artificers will accompany the pieces in case there is a need for repair. The supplies were going down the Washington-Rochambeau route southward toward Yorktown. Shaw was aide-de-camp to Knox. Vandenburgh was a captain in the 14th Regiment of the Albany County Militia.

GLC02437.01166

21 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to John Jay

Indicates that French ships are about to dispatch with official accounts of the Battle of Yorktown. Knox feels he should tell Jay what has occurred because an official account from Congress may not be immediately forthcoming. Although the British had less forces in America than in 1776 or 1777, the Continental Army was compelled to attack Yorktown or consider the southern states lost. The Comte de Grasse was of similar opinion, and plans to attack New York were abandoned in favor of a siege of Yorktown. A detailed, chronological explanation of the Allied forces' actions between 27…

GLC02437.01253

4 November 1781

St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818

Manuscript document

Title: Extracts from the Queries laid before a Board of General Officers by General S Clair for His Excellency Genl Washington.

Discusses the case of Captain Gerlach, deputy quartermaster of the Brunswick troops. Suggests that [Heinrich] Gerlach be required to provide an inventory for stores that were supposed to be shipped to the Convention Troops, and that he complete the transport. Continues that if it is revealed that British Commissary Hoakerly disposed of the goods at Yorktown, as alleged, the vessel and remaining goods should be forfeited. Clerical copy in the hand of St. Clair's aide de camp.

GLC02437.01283

circa 1832-1852

Ryall, Henry Thomas, 1811-1867

Engraving

Title: [Engraving of Sir Walter Scott]

Engraving with death date. Handwritten note states "a M.S. from the Fortunes of Nigel by."

GLC00496.083.02

circa 2 October 1866

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Parsons address]

Refers to the "sepulchre of Human Rights" and Andrew Johnson's "whiteing." Discusses states rights in regard to the rebellion. Refers to the legislation of former enslavers. Draft copy, with excerpts and pages pasted in. Pages are misnumbered. Unknown date assigned. Transcript available.

GLC00496.088.02

1864-1865

Tucker, John S., fl. 1862-1865

Diary

Title: [Diary of John S. Tucker, D company, 5th regiment, Alabama, infantry]

Tucker's 1864-1865 autograph manuscript diary signed includes his account of the famous mine explosion at the Siege of Petersburg as well as other daily events. Also mentions the death of General William E. Jones at the Battle of Piedmont.

GLC00653.19.02

1858-1861

Beach, Elias William, 1841-1921

Diary

Title: [Diary 1858-1861]

Contains various personal content. Covers 1858 and 1861, but skips most of the time in between.

GLC00919.23.01

circa 1863

Lieber, Francis, 1800-1872

Pamphlet

Title: Slavery, plantations, and the yeomanry

Pamphlet No. 29 in a series published by the Loyal Publication Society of New York. Basing his argument on Joseph Kay's work "Social Condition and Education of the people of England," Francis Lieber compares the downfall of the English yeomanry class to the downfall of the small farmer in the southern states. Argues that slavery is only useful for the cultivation of simple staple crops on a large scale and therefore has caused the decline of the small farmer.

GLC01265.02

circa 1863

Butler, George Bernard, 1809-1886

Pamphlet

Title: The Conscription Act: a Series of Articles Communicated to the Journal of Commerce

Pamphlet No. 40 in a series published by the Loyal Publication Society of New York. Printed by W. C. Bryant & Co. The essays, numbered 1, 2, and 3, were published on November 18th, 21st, and 24th respectively. Written in response to the decision made by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania declaring the Conscription Act unconstitutional. Butler argues against the decision. He states that contrary to popular belief, the framers of the Constitution were well aware of the historical use of conscription. Butler supports this claim by providing a brief history of the use of conscription in…

GLC01265.03

circa 1863

Pamphlet

Title: The Future of the Country

Proposes solutions for the reconstruction of the Union. Criticizes the idea of a national convention where rebel Southerners and Union victors can meet on equal terms. Concludes by stating that it is important for citizens to organize nation-wide and discuss the future of the country. To select a candidate who is a "recognized champion of those principles of liberty and progress."

GLC01265.04

31 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Stores requested for the Southern expedition].

List of supplies requested from the Board of War and Ordnance for the siege of Yorktown. Accompanied letter (GLC02437.01160). The Board of War and Ordnance was responsible for supplying troops in the field. In Samuel Shaw's hand and signed by him for Knox.

GLC02437.01161

31 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Ordnance and Stores requested from the Board of War & Ordnance.

Lists supplies and their quantities requested on several days in August 1781. The supplies were needed for the upcoming siege of Yorktown. In Samuel Shaw's hand.

GLC02437.01162

31 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Deficiencies of the Ordnance and Stores requested from the Board of War & Ordnance.

Lists supplies and their quantities requested on several days in August 1781, but not obtained. The supplies were needed for the upcoming siege of Yorktown. In Samuel Shaw's hand.

GLC02437.01163

7 September 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: Ordnance & Stores Sent from Philadelphia by Mr. Hodgdon.

Lists supplies and quantities sent. The ordnance was for the siege of Yorktown, which began later that month. Mr. Hodgdon was Samuel Hodgdon, the commissary general of military stores. List accompanied letter (GLC02437.01173).

GLC02437.01172

9 September 1781

Frothingham, Richard, 1748-1819

Autograph document signed

Title: Account of Military stores receiv'd from Philadelphia & forwarded to the Head of Elk.

Directed to Henry Knox. Lists quantities of ordnance. Supplies were being embarked at Elk Head, Maryland to support the upcoming siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01177

20 September 1781

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Response to 4 September 1781 letter (GLC02437.01165). Discusses their financial situation, "which undoubtedly are in such a train as to require the strictest attention to Oeconomy." William has sold some goods to prepare for his business trip to Europe. Comments that "It would have been particularly agreeable if you could have received part of what the public are indebted to you." Mentions that the allocation of the cash from the loan John Laurens obtained from France has not been negotiated yet. Discusses the arrival of a shipment of tea, the arrival of the Amsterdam, and one of Knox's…

GLC02437.01185

22 September 1781

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Autograph document signed

Title: A General Return of the American Artillery & Stores Appropriated thereto with the Army in Virginia.

Chart enumerating various types of ordnance held with units under the charge of Captain Coleman, Captain Savage, Lieutenant Ingersal, Captain Duffey, and Captain Ferguson. Carrington commanded the 4th Artillery Regiment and was one of the chief assistants to Henry Knox at the Battle of Yorktown. The ordnance listed was needed for the siege of Yorktown, which began later that month.

GLC02437.01187

26 September 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: Ordnance & Stores from Head of Elk & Baltimore arrived in James River.

Lists quantities of artillery supplies that had arrived and ships with supplies that had not yet arrived. The ordnance was for the siege of Yorktown. The last page is separated from the first two; the two parts are marked with the reference code VII-77 and VII -78, respectively. Henry Knox's copy.

GLC02437.01192

27 September 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: [Order for Captain Pryor]

Orders Pryor to collect and bring ordnance belonging to the state of Virginia to the "point of operation" for the siege of Yorktown. Pryor is to request assistance from the Governor of Virginia Thomas Nelson, Jr. Written in Samuel Shaw's hand and signed for Knox by Shaw.

GLC02437.01195

7 October 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Discharge of David Day].

David Day, an artillery officer from Connecticut, who served from 7 October 1778 to 8 October 1781, is discharged from service of the Continental Army in accordance with the terms of his enlistment. Ordered by General Henry Knox. A certification of Day's service is written and signed on the verso by Captain T[homas] Patten at Yorktown on 7 October 1781. This discharge occurred during the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01212

8 October 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: [Request for gunner quadrant]

Note requesting a gunner's quadrant for Captain Joseph Savage's 2nd artillery regiment. Another note on the bottom dated 15 October indicates that Savage received one. Savage's regiment was then involved in the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01215

12 October 1781

Wigglesworth, Edward, 1732-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: At a meeting of the Corporation of Harvard College.

Copy of Harvard Corporation's vote of thanks to Granville Sharp of London for a donation of a six volume Polyglot Bible and seven copies of Sharp's "The Law of Retribution" to Harvard's library. The copy was sent by Wigglesworth to William Knox along with a letter asking Knox to forward the document to Sharp (see GLC02437.01236). The donation was conveyed to Harvard by Knox. Wigglesworth was president of Harvard College.

GLC02437.01220

13 October 1781

Pryor, J., fl. 1781

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that the ordnance expected from Richmond (see GLC02437.01195) have arrived at Trebell's Landing, but the vessels have orders (communicated through Pryor's Deputy) not to land more stores there. Asks Knox to whom the stores should be delivered. The ordnance was needed for the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01223

13 October 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. Pryor

Responds to Captain Pryor's 12 October 1781 letter (see GLC02437.01223) and insists that the ordnance from Richmond be unloaded at Trebell's Landing. Writes, "The General desires you will immediately send him" a return of the number of shot and shells. The ordnance was needed for the siege of Yorktown. Written from "Trenches."

GLC02437.01225

13 October 1781

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Autograph document signed

Title: Report of What ordnance Stores Expended, and On hand at the Batteries during my Command from the 12 to the 13 of Oct. Inst.

Lists quantities of stores used and on hand at the Grand Battery, Mortar Battery, and Left Battery under Major Bauman during the siege of Yorktown. Bauman commanded an artillery corps that was a part of Colonel John Lamb's Second Regiment of Continental Artillery.

GLC02437.01226