circa October 1782

Darby, Samuel, 1737-1807

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Date added later in pencil. Signed by Major Samuel Darby of the 7th Massachusetts Regiment and 28 other officers. Asks Henry Knox to consider the plight of a Mr. G. Smith, who had been a Sergeant in the 7th Massachusetts as well as the Quarter Master Sergeant for two years. He was discharged last spring, having found an able-bodied man to replace him, as he was not in good enough health to continue in the service. Since that time, he has opened a Public House in the West Point area to provide lodging, liquor, victuals, and entertainment to travelers. Major General [John] Paterson granted…

GLC02437.01687

31 October 1782

Pray, John, 1753-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Shaw

Captain John Pray, of the 1st Massachusetts Regiment, asks Shaw to provide an order to the bearer for supplies, including three powder horns, for the use of the armed guard boats. Also relates that the fleet sailed from New York the previous day.

GLC02437.01688

31 October 1782-1 November 1782

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Two letters, one from Lewis Nicola to Moses McFarland and a response from Samuel Shaw]

Addressed to Captain Moses McFarland of the Invalid Regiment. Writes, "I am sorry the distress of your family are such as to render your presence absolutely necessary, as far as in me lies I have no objection to your spending the winter with them, but Genl Knoxes's consent is the most essential point, therefore your application must be made to him & probably he will think two captains sufficient for the number of men we have." On the second page is an autograph note signed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. He writes, "Capt. McFarland of the Corps of Invalids has leave of absence…

GLC02437.01691

2 November 1782

Vose, Joseph, 1738-1816

Manuscript document signed

Title: Present state of ammunition in the first regiment Massachusetts commanded by Colonel Joseph Vose

Return describing number and kind of ammunition. Created and also signed by Lt. Nathaniel Nason. Countersigned by Colonel Joseph Vose.

GLC02437.01694

2 November 1782

Darby, Samuel, 1737-1807

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of the number, and state of the cartridges in the 7th regiment Massachusetts, commanded by Lieut. Colonel Comdt John Brooks

Return of the cartridges in the 7th Massachusetts. Created and signed by Lieutenant Luther Trowbridge; countersigned by Major Sam Darby.

GLC02437.01695

2 November 1782

Cogswell, Amos, 1752-1826

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of the state of the cartridges in the 8th M. Regt.

A return of cartridges, broken down by functionality and location. Created and signed by J. Clark, quartermaster; countersigned by Amos Cogswell, Captain Commanding of the 8th Massachusetts Regiment.

GLC02437.01696

2 November 1782

Newhall, Ezra, 1733-1798

Manuscript document signed

Title: Report of the ammunition on hand in the 5th Massachusetts Regiment

Return of ammunition, sorted by type.

GLC02437.01697

12 November 1782

Campbell, John, fl. 1782-1783

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of plank & boards on hand

A chart of planks and boards. A note reads, "Major [Samuel] Shaw has had a number, for which no order has been given, & are to be deducted from the above Quantity."

GLC02437.01708

16 November 1782

Greaton, John, 1741-1783

Manuscript document

Title: [Vote and proceedings at Newburgh regarding the grievances of the Massachusetts Line]

Marked "copy" and signed by the transcriber, Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Writes, "The grievances of the Massachusetts Line having involved them to desire a general conference, to consult and determine on the measures to be pursued for obtaining redress in a proper way - the several regiments composing that Line, together with such of the Hospital Department as belong to the State," chose three officers from each regiment (except for the 2nd Regiment; however, for their response, see GLC02437.01718), as well as three from the Light Infantry, one from the Hospital, and two from the…

GLC02437.01714

17 November 1782

Eustis, William, 1753-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Shaw

Written from "Hospital." Writes to Shaw on behalf of the bearer, Thomas Parkman, a servant of Captain [Thomas] Patten whose brother recently died at the hospital. After Dr. Eustis had been treating the brother for a "very long and dangerous illness," he had seemed to be recovering, "but a sudden alteration took place and he expired in a moment very unexpected." Respects Mr. Parkman greatly because had been at his brother's side throughout his illness, denying himself rest in order to attend his brother. Parkman has a furlough due him this winter, and would like Shaw to intercede on his…

GLC02437.01715

19 November 1782

Whiting, John, 1760-1810

Manuscript letter signed

Title: [To the honorable the committee from the Grievances of the Second Massachusetts line of the army]

Captain Ja. Alden, Lieutenant Whiting, and Lieutenant Joshua Danforth, writing as the Committee in behalf of the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, list several grievances suffered by their regiment. These include "want of pay," to which they add "The old soldiers to have preference, because an act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at the commencement of the present year, deprives their families of the relief which they before received from their respective Towns"; and "A delay of the liquidation of all accounts previous to the fifth of this year. The risk of loosing papers in the Army, and a…

GLC02437.01718

21 November 1782-22 November 1782

Nicolas, Lewis, 1717-1807

Autograph document signed

Title: to Samuel Shaw

Document contains two letters: one, written at Fishkill, New York, to Shaw from Nicola, dated 21 November 1782, and Shaw's autograph signed reply to Nicola, written at West Point, New York, dated 22 November, 1782. In Nicola's letter, he writes that he expects that after the stores are moved, beginning next Saturday, the garrison will be removed from the Fishkill area. Writes that there is an "old log provost [perhaps a prison] surrounded with a decayed stockade" among the public buildings which has not been used in awhile. Writes that he would like permission to pull the building down…

GLC02437.01721

circa 8 December 1782

Van Cortlandt, Philip, 1749-1831

Autograph document signed

Title: [Report of committee altering petition to Congress]

Report of committee work to alter a petition being sent to Congress in relation to half-pay pensions for officers. The first committee meeting took place on 5 December 1782 at Horton's Tavern. The committee of 3 was made up of General McDougall and Colonels Ogden and Brooks. They offered 3 changes to the petition. A General Committee meeting was held 7-8 December 1782, also at Horton's Tavern, with Major General Knox presiding as chairman. The final copy was signed then. The document was signed "P. Cortlandt," which seems to the signature of Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt, but it might be…

GLC02437.01731

9 December 1782

Monson, Theophilus, 1747-1795

Document signed

Title: Return of number of men in the South Redoubt

Return of the number of men at the South Redoubt (at West Point?) compiled by Captain Monson of the 8th Connecticut Regiment and sent to Major James Doughty, the fort major of West Point. The docket is in Major General Knox's hand. The totals include: 1 Captain, 1 Subaltern, 4 Sergeants, 2 Drum & fife, and 44 Rank & file.

GLC02437.01732

12 December 1782

Stevens, William, 1750-1801

Autograph document

Title: List of the stores deposited at Mount Hope and Hibernia

Unsigned, but authorship inferred from docket. List of shot and shells at Hibernia and Mount Hope. At the bottom of the first page, and on verso, is a note in a different hand (possibly Henry Knox's) disclosing the shells are stored in a locked area with Mr. [John Jacob] Faesch in possession of the key. See GLC02437.01738 for a related document.

GLC02437.01739

12 December 1782-13 December 1782

Duffield, John, 1755-1798

Autograph document signed

Title: Certification that John Granger cannot perform his duties as a soldier due to a pulmonic complaint

This document contains notes written and signed by three people. The first, written and signed by Surgeon John Duffield at West Point on 12 December 1782, advises that John Granger, of the 10th Massachusetts Regiment, is suffering from a pulmonary complaint and is "unable to do the duties of a soldier; and that, the most probable method to restore his health is also be living on a vegetable and milk diet, which he can best obtain with his friends in the country, could he be indulged with a furlough or leave of absence for that purpose." Below Duffield's note is one written and signed by…

GLC02437.01742

15 December 1782

Noailles, Louis Marie, vicomte de, 1756-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to tell Knox he is sailing for France in a few days. Writes, "the last sentiments of a person near to death are sometimes precious nothing looks more like it than the imense separation of the sea." Comments that though he "will be soon forgotten in America" he would like to leave Knox with "esteems and friendship" which he permitted Noailles to speak so often in the Army. References Knox's appointment to Major General, and declares that while he will not pay him a compliment, if he were in Congress he would tell them they had done their duty in giving Knox the promotion. Hopes to…

GLC02437.01745

17 December 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Miles

Written to Captain Lieutenant [likely John] Miles of the Office of Police. At the top of the page, Shaw writes a note to Miles granting a license to a Mr. Reynolds to be a sutler at the West Point garrison. Asks Miles to keep a register of the licenses he grants, and that the licenses take the following standard format: "Mr. [blank space] is hereby licensed to suttle on West Point till further orders - he conforming himself to and strictly obeying all orders and regulations which are or may hereafter be given for the government of sutlers. Given at West Point by order of Gen. Knox."

GLC02437.01749

19 December 1782

Nevin, Daniel, 1749-1802

Manuscript document

Title: Estimate of boards wanted for repairs in the long & old barracks

Unsigned, but a Captain Niven is mentioned in the docket; this may refer to Daniel Niven, Captain of Engineers. Estimate is broken into boards for long barracks and old barracks.

GLC02437.01750

20 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

There is a small note at the top which says "(Copied from the Original) K's rough draft being faded out in parts." Knox writes that he is sorry General Lincoln seems so upset with him for not replying to his letters and emphasizes how much he prizes his friendship with Lincoln. Declares that he received two letters from Lincoln that did not seem to require a reply. Adds that right at the time that he received them, death "had with a strong and an unrelenting hand seized up the youngest of my little flock. My utmost attention and philosophy were necessarily exerted to calm the agitated…

GLC02437.01754

28 December 1782

Reed, John, fl. 1782

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of shingles in the woods

Lists the number of shingles and their locations.

GLC02437.01765

December 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: Specification of the number of feet in each work, number of men necessary for each, and the quantitiy of provision for twenty days - obtained from General McDougall

Chart of measurements and supplies, broken down by location; all West Point vicinity fortifications.

GLC02437.01767

January 1783

Miles, John, fl. 1782-1783

Autograph document signed

Title: Provision return for one captain lieut and police officer for the garrison of West Point at three rations pr day for the month of January 1783

Return signed by John Miles, Officer of Police, and countersigned "By order of the Comdt S. [Samuel] Shaw ADC [Aide-de-Camp]." Note on verso signed by Charles Tryer.

GLC02437.01771

circa January-September 1783

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: to unknown

Date added later in blue pencil. "Please to issue the allowance of Rum for five servants without arms in General Knox's family (or if you have no rum an equivalent in spirit) for the present month of January 1783. and charge the same to the General's account." Note on verso signed by Jacob Hespe.

GLC02437.01774

January 1783

Niven, Daniel, 1742-1809

Autograph document signed

Title: Provision return for one Sergt & six masons employ'd in the Engineers Department at West Point, commencing the first & ending the eight day of January 1783 both days included

Return signed by D. [likely Daniel] Niven [some sources say Nevin], Commanding Engineer, and countersigned "By order of Gen [Henry] Knox", S. [Samuel] Shaw, Aide-de-Camp. Note on verso signed by John Green.

GLC02437.01776