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

30 August 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: Stores with the army coming from Hudson's River.

Long list of Artillery supplies and their quantities on their way to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania en route to support the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.10023

9 May 1795

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [General Orders No. 5].

Notifies non-commissioned officers and privates that they may reenlist, and informs paymasters to pay them at the full bounty enacted by Congress on 3 March 1795. Wayne was the general in command of the United States Army in Greeneville, Ohio.

GLC04864.01

13 June 1795

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [General Orders].

Orders the selection of a group of officers and ax men to build two block houses. William Thash will continue building the other two with his men. Construction will commence the following day. Whiskey is offered as an incentive to work. Wayne was the general in command of the United States Army in Greeneville, Ohio.

GLC04864.02

26 June 1795

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [General Orders].

Order to provide soldiers with summer clothing who are entitled to it, so "that the whole of the troops will appear in the most soldierly condition on the 4th of July." Wayne was the general in command of the United States Army in Greeneville, Ohio.

GLC04864.03

29 June 1795

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [General Orders].

Order one drum and fife added to each of the Captains' Guards. A general court martial will convene the following morning to try as many "prisoners as may be brought before" the seven member court. A Captain Lyman is indicated as President. Wayne was the general in command of the United States Army in Greeneville, Ohio.

GLC04864.04

24 June 1795

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [General Orders].

Designates composition of the daily picket guards. Order's that the Artillery's bastions and block houses must be "defended by the officers and matrosses of that Corps." The "dismounted Dragoons" must also defend the bastion where they are housed. The Quarter Guard of the 4th Sub Legion is to be enlarged, and the additional members are to defend their guard house. Dictates length of guard duty. Wayne was the general in command of the United States Army in Greeneville, Ohio.

GLC04864.05

25 June 1795

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [General Orders].

Captain Joseph Brooks was tried at a general court martial for not paying his debts, falsifying his word, and for claiming a Virginian named Robert Cunningham was of good repute. The court, presided over by David Strong, acquitted Brooks of the charges. Wayne was the general in command of the United States Army in Greeneville, Ohio.

GLC04864.06

28 July 1795

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [General Orders].

A general court martial of Cornet Paul W. Dermott will commence the following morning, and be presided over by Major Burbeck. A Lieutenant Blue has brought charges against Dermott, but Blue is also under court martial for charges by a Captain Webb. News of Lieutenant Jonathan Taylor's resignation. Notice of an election for a pay mastership of the 4th Sub Legion. Wayne was the general in command of the United States Army in Greeneville, Ohio.

GLC04864.07

1 August 1795

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [General Orders].

Lieutenant Sterrit's recently arrived detachment will be mustered tomorrow. Cornet W. Dermott was court martialled on charges disobeying orders, contempt for superiors, mutinous and seditious conduct. He was acquitted of the charges and ordered to be released immediately. Wayne was the general in command of the United States Army in Greeneville, Ohio.

GLC04864.08

1 August 1795

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [General Orders].

Pardon of Robert Newman and Henry Miller in compliance with a request made by the Delaware Nation and other Indian tribes. Orders Miller to return to the company he abandoned the previous February, and to remain there until he compensates for his period of dereliction and pays for loss of arms and clothing resulting from his desertion. Also pardons Thomas Weldon and James Smith, currently under sentence of death, with "hopes that their future good conduct will justify the mercy now extended." Weldon and Smith must also remain enlisted to make up for the service lost by their desertion and…

GLC04864.09

3 September 1795

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [General Orders].

Specifies duties in regard to Clothier General R.J. Meigs. Each Sub Legions pay master is to account for Meigs all clothing received and distributed to troops. The Quarter Master General will deliver all public clothing in his possession to Meigs. The Adjutant General will countersign returns. Commanding officers must also make notes of when terms of enlistment for commissioned officers and soldiers will expire. Wayne was the general in command of the United States Army in Greeneville, Ohio.

GLC04864.10