18 July 1781

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Refers to an ensuing campaign and the potential for "disposing of the British fleet." Remarks on the prevalence of British ships in the Boston harbor and adjacent waters. Reports that the House of Lee and Jones lost a ship to the British, consequently losing a total of £15,000. Reports that the merchants of Boston persuaded the Governor (John Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts) to ask the French Admiral (the Comte de Barras) for protection, but he said that American privateers had been engaging his men and tempting them to desert, thus he could not assist the merchants with a fleet. The…

GLC02437.01060

19 July 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Orders for Sergeant Torrey]

Instructs Torrey to take carriages with spare wheels and lumber to West Point via either Kings Ferry (by land), or Peekskill (by water).

GLC02437.01061

20 July 1781

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Colonel Crane reports his arrival at New Windsor the previous evening with ordnance and stores. Discusses cannon, cartridges, powder, and other items.

GLC02437.01062

20 July 1781

Harrison, Charles, 1740-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Colonel Harrison writes to Knox from the "High hills of Santee," near the Santee River in South Carolina. Gives Knox an outline of events in the South "since the memorable battle of Guilford ... " Reports that Lord Cornwallis and Nathanael Greene have been "manouvering with each other, one marching North the other South..." Relates that Cornwallis has destroyed a large amount of tobacco. Encloses a list of posts that have been recently evacuated by the British (GLC02437.01319). Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp.

GLC02437.01063

20 July 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Thanks William for money he recently sent. Reports that Lucy Knox and their children have gone up the Hudson River on a visit. Discusses his hopes for an end to the Revolutionary War, writing "I sincerely pray God that the War may be ended this campaign that public and private felicity may be again restored." Discusses British movement in the South, noting, "Our affairs to the Southward have an agreeable aspect and convince us although the Enemy may establish posts, they cannot conquer the Country." Criticizes what he calls "vile water-gruel governments which have taken place in most of…

GLC02437.01064

20 July 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lieutenant Throop

Directed to Lieutenant Throop, possibly Josiah Throop. Asks Throop to bring carriages to Dobbs Ferry if he has not yet loaded them onto boats. Written at Philipsburgh, New York (present-day Sleepy Hollow).

GLC02437.01065

21 July 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to the Board of War and Ordnance

Reports, "The uncertainty of obtaining a force adeq[uate] to the capital object in contemplation induced His Excellency the Commander in Chief to direct me to write to your honorable board on the 10th instant to suspend the transportat[ion] of the cannon and stores before requested..." Relates that the states expected to furnish large numbers of men have not specified the numbers they will be able to supply. Asks the Board to hold the cannon and stores until the situation can be more surely assessed. Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide. Written at Philipsburgh, New York (present-day…

GLC02437.01067

21 July 1781

Bliss, Luke, 1738-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Bliss, Commissary of Military Stores, reports that Wm. Pitkin, a proprietor of the powdermill at Glastonbury, Connecticut, has agreed to manufacture powder for Bliss. Continues to discusses powder and stores. Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide.

GLC02437.01068

21 July 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Seward

Orders Captain Seward, an artillery officer in charge of ordnance stores forwarded from Springfield, to deliver the stores to Sebastian Bauman, in charge of artillery at West Point. Thanks Seward for his trouble in transporting the stores. Written at Philipsburgh, New York (present-day Sleepy Hollow).

GLC02437.01069

21 July 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sebastian Bauman

Directed to Major Bauman or the officer in charge of artillery at West Point. Instructs the recipient to receive stores from Captain Thomas Seward, an artillery officer in charge of ordnance stores forwarded from Springfield, Massachusetts. Also orders the recipient to issue a receipt. Written at Philipsburgh, New York (present-day Sleepy Hollow).

GLC02437.01070

21 July 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lieutenant [William] Price

Possibly to Lieutenant William Price. Instructs Price that no artillery officer should obtain stores unless by Knox's order. Discusses supplies. Thanks Price for the attention he has given in his work. Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide. Written at Philipsburgh, New York (present-day Sleepy Hollow).

GLC02437.01072

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