1804

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Book

Title: The Miscellaneous Works of David Humphreys

JB00531

26 October 1781

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Communicates request from General George Washington that Knox forward him the return of ordnance and ordnance captured from the British in the siege of Yorktown. Washington intends to send the return with a letter to Congress. Colonel Humphreys was an aide to George Washington. GLC02437.10031 is Knox's copy of the report sent in response to this letter.

GLC02437.01265

29 May 1782

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Colonel David Humphreys, an aide-de-camp of General George Washington, writes that a Captain Moody [likely Captain Andrew Moodie] applied to Head Quarters to encamp his company and proposed temporary annexation of, and encampment with, the 2nd Regiment Artillery. General Washington had no problem with the plan, but wanted to clear these sorts of proposals through department heads, so Moody was referred to Knox. Moody was required to return to his company, so Humphreys offered to speak to Knox on his behalf. Having not had the opportunity to ask him in person the night before, Humphreys…

GLC02437.01433

31 July 1782

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Head Quarters. Humphreys writes, "His Excellency [George Washington] desires you will please to order Ammunition & Flints to be issue to the remainder of Col. Weissenfel's [probably Frederick Weisenfels, Lieutenant-Colonel New York Levies] Regt of Levies of the State of New York, for which order the Quarter Mastr now awaits upon you." Below the note and his signature, Knox notes an order to Mr. [John] Ruddock, Commissary at Fishkill, of four thousand eight hundred musket cartridges.

GLC02437.01508

22 September 1782

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Humphreys, aide-de-camp to General Washington, to Major General Knox. Says the meetings of the commissioners will take place on next Wednesday. Says he has not seen dispatches from Congress, but that Colonel Tilghman informed him that they were of such a nature that both Knox and General Heath need to immediately master their contents. Says Colonel Smith has accepted the office of commissary and has gone to Elizabethtown. Smith will try to meet with Knox on Wednesday in Tappan. Written from Nelson's Ferry. Two Revolutionary War battles took place at Nelson's Ferry, South…

GLC02437.01623

January 14, 1783

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Relays the information that George Washington consents to the absence of Lieutenant Colonel Johnson. Noted as written from Head Quarters.

GLC02437.01834

15 April 1783

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes in response to Knox 's letter about Thomas Coffin (see GLC02437.02087). Humphreys encloses a passport for Coffin (not present), given by Washington, on the stipulation that Governor John Hancock has also given permission for Coffin to travel to Boston.

GLC02437.02091

17 October 1782

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from "Head Quarters." Writes, "The Commander in Chief requests, that lead may be furnished from the Ordnance Store, to make Buttons for the Cloathing on hand, upon the Return of the Commanding Officers of Corps, of the quantity actually Wanting for the abovementioned purpose."

GLC02437.01670

December 1, 1782

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from "Head Quarters." Writes, "The Commander in Chief wishes to see you at Head Quarters, as soon as may be; he has directed me to Send his Barge, to give you this information, & to wait your Orders."

GLC02437.01727

16 April 1783

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests that Knox attend a meeting at Head Quarters with General Washington and that Washington would like Knox's advice as to "at what time & in what manner it is best to announce this Intelligence to the Army - and what measures are necessary to be taken respecting the men who are engaged for the War." Washington's headquarters were at Newburgh, New York at this time.

GLC02437.02094

23 June 1783

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests that Knox and "all the General Officers belonging to the Garrison" attend a meeting with General George Washington the next day and asks Knox to "notify those Gentlemen accordingly." Noted as written at Head Quarters and docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.02177

25 June 1783

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Humphreys as Washington's aide-de-camp to Major General Knox. Says General Washington desires him to have as much of the hard bread, which was delivered into Eldermen's store, issued to the detachment as they can carry. Asks that the bread be served out occasionally so it does not go to waste. "Public" written on address leaf with no signature. Docketed in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.02182

4 July 1783

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Humphreys as an aide-de-camp to General Washington to Major General Knox. Says that Sergeant Barber has applied to headquarters for advice on how to handle the complaints he has made, along with various petitioners, against Lt. Col. Popkin. The peitioners claimed that Popkin improperly handled several pay notes they gave him responsibility to collect in Boston. Says that Washington wants Knox to handle the situation. Says if one or two of the petitioners need to stay in the army to deal with the complaints.

GLC02437.02236

25 September 1786

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Colonel David Humphreys, who has been elected to the Connecticut Legislature, writes to Knox about his opinions about the state militia. Wants to obtain a copy of the report he wrote for Congress on the subject. Would like his opinions in order to prevent anything contradictory to them from being passed. Writes, "In the present tumultuous times, you will readily conceive, my dear General, how much the public safety & even our very existance [sic] as a nation, may depend upon placing our Militia in proper hands & putting it upon an eligible footing." Also describes the nature of…

GLC02437.03302

22 June 1783

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that there "is an Error in the Arrangement of Officers in the Mass.tts. Corps of Artillery ... [and that] the Commander in Chief directs me to refer the matter to you .. in case there has been a mistake, it may be rectified; and that a complete Return may be sent back to Head Quarters as soons as may be." Noted as written at Head Quarters and sent "On Public Service."

GLC02437.02173

10 November 1786

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that since his last letter, has had an idea that he thought best directed to Knox privately. Suggests that "Congress, in all their Corps, to promote by Brevet the Lt Colonels Commandant to be Brigadiers, and the first Majors to be Lieutenant Colonels." Can see no negatives to this plan, as it would not cost them anything, and allow them all to retain command of their regiments. It would, perhaps, grant these officers recognition and therefore motivate them. Also, if they were called on to enter the militia, their rank would give them command over the militia colonels and "it might…

GLC02437.03334

25 June 1787

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes in full, "It appears by the Resolution of Congress, authorizing the Board of Treasury to enter into a Contract for a Copper Coinage, that a person is to be appointed to superintend the business on the part of the Public. Captn Throop, whose character & services you are fully acquainted with, and who is lately entirely thrown out of all employment by the dissolution of my Regiment, is desirous of obtaining the appointment, if it shall be deemed within his reach of the sphere of his ability to accomplish the duties of it. I beg leave, therefore, to recommend him very earnestly to…

GLC02437.03590

27 July 1787

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to Knox about his last trip to Portsmouth and Boston. Says he was present and "highly delighted" with most of the "Academic Excercises" held at the University of Cambridge [Harvard], including one by a young Mr. [John Quincy] Adams, who "distinguished himself by a manly & dignified oration on public Credit." Also discusses the government, saying "We are gladdened with Reports that the federal Convention is likely to adopt almost unanimously some energetic form of Government, & that it is made so palatable, there are hopes entertained, that it will be swallowed by the People…

GLC02437.03624

7 August 1789

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes in full, "The President commands me to inform you, that he proposes to lay the Communications relative to the Indian affairs in the Southern District and the establishment of a national Militia before both Houses of Congress, as soon as they shall have convened to-day; for which purpose he desires that you will call upon him at a proportionally early hour. - In the mean time, if you have in readiness the additional clause respecting the Troops now in service he wishes you to forward it by the bearer, that he may have time to give it consideration previous to its insertion in his…

GLC02437.04321

21 May 1791

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Humphreys as the American Minister to Portugal to Knox as Secretary of War. Humphreys writes a letter of introduction for the Chevalier de Freire, who will be a Portuguese diplomat to America. Describes the minister as a man "of infinite worth," and asks that Knox "do him all the good in your power, more as an honest tribute of veneration for his merit, than in simple compliance with the recommendation of" Humphreys.

GLC02437.04954

27 June 1794

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Introduces a Captain Heysell to Knox. Informs Knox that Haysell is a commander of a Danish ship and is interested in purchasing American ships for the Danish merchant service. Comments, "I shall be happy to learn that he shall have been instrumental in promoting the commercial intercourse between the two Countries."

GLC02437.06126

August 5, 1780

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

David Humphreys encloses a paper (not included) that explains the reasons for the recent movements of both the British and Continental armies during the Revolutionary War. He also encloses a sketch of the order of battle (not included) for the Continental troops. He mentions that Major General Benedict Arnold has been appointed to the command of West Point. Lord Stirling succeeds to the left wing. He has heard that the militia of North Carolina has taken down 60 of the enemy's horses but he does not know if this is true or not. He mentions his personal financial affairs and asks Wadsworth to…

GLC00250

circa 1 May 1789

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph document

Title: Foundation of some paragraphs published in Fennos paper 2nd May 1789

Writes, "We learn, from good authority, that the President of the United States will see no Company on Sundays. We are also informed that the President, after his inauguration, will assign one or two days in every week for receiving such Foreigners & Citizens of the Union as may have occasion to wait upon him…The former to be presented through the medium of the ministers or other official Characters of their own Nation resident in America…We have not yet heard by whom Citizens are to be introduced. It seems to be a point of conceded on all parts, that the Chief Magistrate of…

GLC02437.04312

27 August 1783

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph document signed

Title: [Request for goods]

Request for one gallon of rum for George Washington's barge crew. Noted as written at head quarters (Newburgh, New York). Docket signed by Seth Capron.

GLC02437.02423

25 June 1783

Humphreys, David, 1752-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General Washington's aide-de-camp Colonel Humphreys to Major General Knox. Says Washington is pleased with the arrangements Knox has made. Asks that the party from the lines follow in the manner he proposed. Tells him General Howe (Robert Howe?) will meet the detachment in the "Clove" tomorrow. Says no express or information has arrived from Philadelphia since he left headquarters last evening.

GLC02437.02183