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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

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21 July 1781

Bryant, John, 1742-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Bryant, Deputy Commissary of Military Stores at the Springfield Armory, discusses fuzes being made at the armory. Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide.

GLC02437.01073

21 July 1781

Manuscript document

Title: Invoice of ordnance and military stores on board the Schooner Swallow

Lists shot, muskets, flints, boxes, barrels, and other items aboard the Swallow. Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide, who indicates this is "Frothingham's return." Contains various numerical figures on page two.

GLC02437.01074

23 July 1781

Price, William, ?-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Lieutenant Price reports on items he has repaired and made since Knox's last letter. Discusses harnesses, mortars, and other items. Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide.

GLC02437.01075

23 July 1781

Patten, Thomas, fl. 1777-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Captain Patten reports that he took silver away from a man making [cups?] for Knox because the man could not finish, and "made such bad work." Mentions the numbers of mortar carriages, wagons, and other large artillery and transports pieces at his location (possibly New Windsor, New York). Admits that the work he has been assigned may take up to seven weeks to complete. Complains that he has received only four days rum since the artillery park left his location. Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide.

GLC02437.01076

24 July 1781

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Autograph note signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a traveling forge with Knox, noting that he suggested the forge remain in the care of the commanding officer of artillery at Verplanck's Point. Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide.

GLC02437.01077

25 July 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ebenezer Stevens

Directed to Lieutenant Colonel Stevens at "Kings Ferry, Westpoint, or New Windsor." Informs Stevens to suspend his movement to Kings Ferry if he is not already there, reporting that "Two twenty Gun ships, two sloops, and a galley belonging to the Enemy" have just passed up the river. Orders Stevens to get all stores on shore if he is at Kings Ferry, as Knox fears losing the stores to the British. Adds, "His Excellency the General has given me orders to risque no peices [sic] or stores..." Written at Philipsburgh, New York (present-day Sleepy Hollow).

GLC02437.01078

25 July 1781

Neufville, John de, fl. 1779-1789

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William Knox

John de Neufville and Son, a merchant firm in Amsterdam, reports that war with England has effected trade. Comments extensively on the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. Discusses business.

GLC02437.01079

25 July 1781

Neufville, John de, fl. 1779-1789

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Marked as a duplicate (of GLC02437.01079).

GLC02437.01080

25 July 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to John Ruddock

Written by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide. Initialized for Knox by Shaw. Contains two notes, the first informs Ruddock that Freeman Lincoln brought eight teams and military stores from Providence, Rhode Island. In the second note, Knox instructs Ruddock, deputy commissary of military stores at Fishkill, to inspect the stores, which have been sent to Philipsburgh by mistake. Written at Philipsburgh, New York (present-day Sleepy Hollow).

GLC02437.01081

25 July 1781

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox he recently forwarded Lucy Knox a letter from her brother, Thomas. Reports on ships that have arrived in Boston carrying news from Antigua, England, and Martinique. Comments on currency: "The New Money has experienced the fate of the Old in this Quarter, having entirely stop'd circulation, which causes nearly a total stagnation of all Business, at present I do nothing, people will not part with Specie but for the necessaries of Life of wch I have none... " Complains that he has not heard from Henry, his brother, in a long time.

GLC02437.01082

25 July 1781

Manuscript document

Title: [Articles received shipped from Providence, Rhode Island to the State of Connecticut]

Lists items received by Ralph Pomeroy, Quartermaster for Connecticut, including harnesses, ropes, shot, and others. Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide.

GLC02437.01083

July 25, 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Has not recently received any letters from William, his brother. Reports that Continental troops in the vicinity reconnoitered at Kings Bridge to estimate where the British are most vulnerable: "The result of our discoveries was a full conviction that the place was reducible with a proper number of men, a number however far exceeding those now here. Whether we shall be able to obtain a sufficient force depends upon our Country, if they will furnish the men..." Describes a skirmish between the Marquis de Lafayette and Lord Cornwallis on July 6 in Virginia near Green Spring plantation, in which…

GLC02437.01084

25 July 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Freeman Lincoln

Shaw, Knox's aide, informs Lincoln, a commissary, he is to proceed bringing the military stores from Providence, Rhode Island to Fishkill, New York, and to deliver them to John Ruddock, Deputy Commissary of Stores at Fishkill. Excessive bleed-through on page two. Written at Philipsburgh, New York (present-day Sleepy Hollow).

GLC02437.01085

25 July 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Discusses the transport and repair of cannons with Colonel Crane. Regrets the cannon were not proofed at Boston as it will cause "a clamor" if any prove bad. Reported on a recent reconnaissance mission to Kings Bridge to assess the weak points of the British army in the vicinity. Written at Philipsburgh, New York (present-day Sleepy Hollow).

GLC02437.01086

26 July 1781

Cornell, Ezekiel, 1733-1800

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Cornell, on the Congressional Board of War, writes, "It is with regret that we receive the information of the uncertain doubtfull and perplexd situation of the Army in point of force to undertake any capital Object. At the same time we assure you it- shall not draw our Attention from causing the necessary preparations to be made." Asks him to make "proper Allowance for our want of Money..." Plans to keep stores ready to be forwarded if requested by Knox.

GLC02437.01087

26 July 1781

Cornell, Ezekiel, 1733-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signed "E." Cornell, on the Congressional Board of War, discusses General Nathanael Greene: "Notwithstanding fortune sometimes frowns on our friend Greene I am happy to see by a late resolution of Congress that his conduct meets the approbation of that Honl Body..." (Greene was Commander of the Southern Department). Agrees with Knox, that the present force is insufficient to take on a large military operation. Jokes with Knox about the Board's failure to respond to letters. Also notes that three armed men robbed a mail carrier near Wilmington, Delaware: "I have good reason to believe they…

GLC02437.01088

26 July 1781

Hodgdon, Samuel, 1745-1824

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Invoice of military stores forwarded to Richard Frothingham]

Hodgdon signs as Deputy Commissary General. Pertains to Frothingham, field commissary of military stores.

GLC02437.01090

26 July 1781

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Dines with Colonel P. R. [possibly Peter R.] Livingston. Chastises Henry for not writing to her "by every possible opportunity." Remarks on Henry's birthday the previous day, and her birthday the following Thursday. Plans to depart 27 July for Albany.

GLC02437.01091

circa 1830-1910

Ward, John Quincy Adams, 1830-1910

Sketch

Title: [Sculpture design sketch of Native American on horse hunting a buffalo]

With smaller sketch of man on horse in upper right corner. Graphite on tracing paper.

GLC06343.001

circa 1830-1910

Ward, John Quincy Adams, 1830-1910

Sketch

Title: [Sculpture design sketch of a woman kneeling over man]

Two different sketches on the same page of a sculpture design of a woman kneeling over man [soldier] to give him a drink. Graphite on tracing paper.

GLC06343.002

circa 1830-1910

Ward, John Quincy Adams, 1830-1910

Sketch

Title: [Measurements on "Office of Cyrus L. W. Eidlitz, Architect" stationary]

Hand-drawn black ink, printed black ink, graphite, on wove paper.

GLC06343.003

circa 1830-1910

Ward, John Quincy Adams, 1830-1910

Sketch

Title: [Sketches of an angel offering peace between two warriors and two seated figures]

Grid sketch of an angel standing between two warriors, one about to smote the other, offering them peace. Grid on one side of paper. Reverse side has two seated women back to back. Graphite on wove paper. Sculpture design sketch.

GLC06343.004

29 June 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Mentions doubts George Washington expressed in a previous letter regarding the upcoming campaign (initially the campaign was to be against the British in New York, but Washington revised these plans to launch the Siege of Yorktown). Discusses arrangements [Knox] made with General [Ezekiel] Cornell, a Continental Congressman, to obtain supplies.

GLC02437.00994