March 8, 1860

Bates, Edward, 1793-1869

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph Barrett

Letter written before the Republican Party Convention. Responds to a note from Barrett, fielding questions on legal matters and slavery. Argues that the United States should not extend slavery into free territories. Attests that in the Dred Scott case, Scott "being a negro could not be a citizen of Missouri therefore could not bring the actions in the Federal Court." Argues that the Constitution does not carry slavery into the Territories. Regarding a homestead bill, remarks that public lands "ought to be as little as possible, the subject of trade & speculation... I think it would be a…

GLC01567

8 March 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francois Marie, comte de Aboville

Responds to Aboville's last letter (see GLC02437.01350). Discusses the loss of cannon: "Your surprize and astonishment must have been great indeed that Machines so important and essential to the defence of a country would be placed in so negligent a manner as to be destroyed or rendered unserviceable by a single malignant person. But you judged right my dear Sir when you informed [his Excellency] Genl Rochambeau that I had no knowledge of them." Comments on the acquisition of military stores by the state of Virginia, and declares that General Washington will begin to negotiate with Virginia…

GLC02437.01365

10 March 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Refers to a letter he received from Colonel Francois Marie, comte de Aboville (see GLC02437.01365), who commands French artillery in Virginia. Aboville mentions 14 artillery cannon belonging to the State of Virginia which do not have carriages or ammunition and are in poor repair. Argues that these cannons would not be useful to Virginia, since they could not repair or equip them, but that the United States forces are in dire need of cannon for an artillery battery and could make them serviceable. Encourages General Washington to pursue a trade with the State of Virginia and give them…

GLC02437.01369

21 April 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Relates some of his experiences at the commissioner meeting in Elizabeth Town to negotiate a prisoner exchange. Suspects that many of the propositions the patriots made were discussed in New York by a council before any decisions were made by the British. Believes they "never shall obtain justice or equal treatment from the Enemy" unless they are "in a position to demand it." Refers to a report (GL02437.01377), and a "private letter," (GL02437.01395). Also discusses his and Washington's belief that several unnamed persons are providing intelligence to the British. Comments on whether they…

GLC02437.01393

21 April 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to George Washington

Copy in Samuel Shaw's hand and signed by him for both Knox and Morris. Knox and Morris assumed the public would be interested in the POW report they recently submitted to Congress, so they wrote this letter for Washington with information they excluded from that report to avoid its publication. Says they "had no opportunity of bringing forward distinctly the affairs of Mr. Laurens. By pushing it abruptly into notice we might have obstructed but would not have forwarded your views for his release. Had our general propositions been acceded to, his exchange would have followed necessarily. Had…

GLC02437.01395

14 May 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Relates that the artillery artificers are preparing supplies and will be ready to march whenever General Washington thinks it is the right time; Knox imagines it will be after 1 June. Explains that he will be leaving today for Burlington and expects to stay there for three or four days before proceeding to headquarters. Describes Mrs. Knox's travel plans as well.

GLC02437.01416

1 June 1782

Hiwell, John, fl. 1788

Autograph document signed

Title: Inspection return of the music in the army under the immediate command of his excellency General Washington

Chart indicates the amount of supplies (such as fifes, drums, and fife cases) per regiment which they have in good repair, the amount broken, and the amount they need.

GLC02437.01435

8 June 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Ruddock

Written from "Head Quarters." Shaw writes to Ruddock, the Field Commissary of Military Stores for Fishkill, that General Henry Knox wants Ruddock to send Colonel George Reid, commanding officer at Albany, "twenty thousand musket cartridges for the use of the troops under his command." On the verso is an "Extract of a Letter" from Colonel Reid (spelled Ried), addressed to General Washington, and written in a different hand. This letter informs Washington that they are "almost Distitute of Cartriges in this Quarter - the few that are on Hand, are much too small, being made for the Militia…

GLC02437.01445

8 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Impressed with the importance of West Point for "the existence of the United States," says he wanted to make sure the fort was in working order and that its dependencies were well-supplied with cannon and military stores. Says he has made every exertion, but that money and equipment are in short supply. Has included a paper describing the state of ordnance and supplies (not included here). Says if he had all the ammunition he requested he would only have enough for a siege of ten days, but as it is, only half the cannon would be functional. Says many of the 10-inch shells and shot are at…

GLC02437.01479

31 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

In response to a request by General George Washington to consider the best place in West Point to erect a magazine, the "General Officers" would like Knox to report that the "hollow west of Fort Clinton" is "under all circumstances" the best place for it.

GLC02437.01512

31 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sir Guy Carleton

First two pages are from an unsigned letter written by Major General Knox to General Carleton, the commander of the British Army. The third page is a signed note to Washington on 31 July 1782. References Carleton's previous letter which contained a request for a passport to be forwarded to Chief Justice Smyth so he could bring the trial transcript and his explanatory comments to the Americans. This is probably a reference to the court martial proceedings against Lippincott, who the Americans claimed was responsible for the killing of Captain Joshua Huddy. Hopes that Carleton will punish the…

GLC02437.01513

3 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Has received his recent letter directed to himself and General [Andrew] McDougall. Declares that for his own part, he is perfectly ready to do what General Washington would like him to do, including meeting the "Gentlemen from the enemy" on the 16th or 18th of September. Mentions that they will need to prepare accommodations and provisions for the meeting. Says that General McDougall "seems to decline the commission for reasons which Major [likely Hodjiah] Baylies will give" to General Washington.

GLC02437.01564

7 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Mentions that he has received General Washington's letter of 5 September, regarding repairs of arms. Declares that each brigade's own armorers have been performing the repairs to the best of their ability, and that that is the only option, since "there is not one hired armorer in the Army of the United States. Your Excellncy must have been misinformed with respect to any armorers at this post, as there are none here." Explains that brigades have traveling forges consisting of borax and salt, and that they can be sent to Verplanks Point. Has sent someone to Philadelphia to purchase borax on…

GLC02437.01589

10 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Informs Washington of the death of his infant son, Washington's godson. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.10042

11 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Discusses problems with the issuance of provisions at West Point. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.10043

January 10, 1782

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses problems related to the transportation of military stores from Yorktown to Westham or Richmond, Virginia. Comments that he and his associates are bound in their ability to carry out orders because the state government of Virginia refuses to help. Mentions the resignation of Thomas Nelson as governor and the election of Benjamin Harrison. Has managed to set up the stores near Westham, close to the river so as to be able to ship them by boat in case of danger, but fears that in an invasion or attack they still may not be able to protect them. Mentions the arrival of an independent…

GLC02437.01330

circa 1782

Manuscript document

Title: No. 10: articles issued in the year 1782

List of military articles issued, sorted by date.

GLC02437.01335

January 29, 1782

Patten, Thomas, fl. 1777-1785

Manuscript document signed

Title: Account of timber wanted for the use of the brigade of artillery for building carriages, waggons and tumbrils

Written from Burlington, likely in New Jersey. Calculations for the amount of wood necessary to build carriages, wagons, and tumbrils (a type of cart).

GLC02437.01343

January 29, 1782

Patten, Thomas, fl. 1777-1785

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of materials wanted for the use of the brigade of artillery

List of necessary materials for the brigade of artillery. Countersigned by Henry Knox, with the words: "Copy given to the War Office this 29 January 1782." Written in Burlington, likely in New Jersey.

GLC02437.01345

February 2, 1782

Burnet, Ichabod, fl. 1778-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I arrived at this place on my way to West Point but the ice has prevented me from proceeding any further and I am obligated to return to Carolina immediately which makes it necessary for me to go to Newark immediately. The brave I have entrusted with a letter to my Father and take the liberty of requesting your aid to assist him in passing the river, which request your goodness will pardon me for." Sends his regards to Mrs. Knox.

GLC02437.01347

February 4, 1782

Boyer, James, fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to tell Knox that "application has been made to the Quarter Master for Teams to transport the Iron selected" by Captain [Thomas] Patton to Burlington, New Jersey. The Quartermaster replied that as navigation will soon be opened, it might make sense not to transport it right away by land unless it is absolutely necessary. Boyer informs Knox that he told the Quarter Master that it was necessary to send it right way, and he "doubt[s] not of Capt. Patten's receiving a speedy Supply."

GLC02437.01348

10 February 1782

Aboville, Francois Marie, comte de, 1730-1817

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox [in French]

Discusses abandoned cannon in Virginia. Writes at the urging of the Comte de Rochambeau, who is sure Knox was unaware of them. (See GLC02437.01365, Knox's response, written in English.)

GLC02437.01350

9 March 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francois Jean, marquis de Chastellux

Writes that it would ill suit "the gratitude of my heart were I to omit writing a line to you by so good an opportunity as his Excellency the Minister of France." Hopes that he is happy with how the campaigns are proceeding and hopes the next campaign will be the last one. Wishes they might see each other in the next campaign, and sends his regards to General Rochambeau.

GLC02437.01366

1 April 1782

Barber, Nathaniel, Jr., 1728-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to Knox to ask for help in settling his pay with the state assembly of Massachusetts. Relates that the assembly has recently settled with Ezekiel Cheever, a Deputy Commissary General of Military Stores, and is willing to settle with him, except they will only agree to pay him 40 dollars per month for the amount of time he worked as a Commissary, beginning in February 1777. According to documents he has from Knox, who appointed him, he is owed 50 dollars per month (paid in specie) for the first year as Commissary and then 60 dollars per month thereafter. The assembly argues that Knox…

GLC02437.01379

7 April 1782

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Congratulates Knox on his promotion to Major General of the United States Army. Fears his own promotion may fall through. Explains that his appointment is determined by the state of Virginia, and he will only receive a promotion "as a compliment from the state with the approbation of a majority of the officers." Must remain in his current circumstances until he finds out, but is suspicious about the principles on which promotions are determined.

GLC02437.01381