3 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy. Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. Congratulates Lincoln on the "glorious termination of our struggles." References Lincoln's letter of 22 February. Agrees with Lincoln on "the efficacy of the funds you mention, but I cannot determine upon the propriety of the Army pressing the particular funds upon Congress." Expects to see him in a few days as Washington will probably want to see Lincoln before the Army is disbanded. Says the magazines and arsenals cannot be erected without a special order from him.

GLC02437.01972

12 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. Knox says he wrote Lincoln on 3 March. Says the officers were unhappy after hearing about the failure of General McDougall's mission. Says "That impatience is almost heightened into dispair; papers have been distributed by unknown persons, calling the body of the officers together in the new building yesterday, accompanied by an address, calculated to cause the officers to redress their own grievances." Reports that Washington wants the meeting postponed until next Saturday. Hopes Congress will make a decision soon. (GLC02437.02001…

GLC02437.02000

16 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy of GLC02437.02009. References his letter from "a few days past." Says that letter mentioned a meeting of officers called for by a paper circulating around camp. Says "The meeting was had yesterday, and the General will forward the proceedings to Congress - which will, I am certain make you perfectly happy." Says the meeting went well and that it "will set the military character of America in a high point of view." Says that if the people have any gratitude in them they will now support the army. Wants to have the proceedings published immediately to affect public opinion on the…

GLC02437.02007

14 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy. Writes that Major Villefrance, who will deliver the letter, hopes to receive a promotion. He has not been promoted since he joined the service in 1777. Writes that he has been very successful as Commanding Engineer and is highly talented. He hopes to secure a promotion in order to help him advance in the French service. Writes, "I am persuaded his claims of long service, unremitting attention to duty, and conspicuous talents will ensure the success of his request, unless it should be barred by some rigid principles independent of his professional character. I take the…

GLC02437.01744

20 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Letter is unsigned; may be a page missing. Text loss on much of the document. Discusses a variety of subjects, including the pleasure Knox takes in his friendship with Lincoln: from the "first moment I have had the happiness of being acquainted you I conceived a high degree of friendship, which has uniformly increased, as I became more intimate." Values Lincoln's friendship "in all events of grief or joy," more than any other man. Also discusses the subject of half-pay for soldiers. GLC02437.01754 is a later copy of the entire letter.

GLC02437.01751

February 21, 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Queries to Lincoln, and answers

Signed at the conclusion by Benjamin Lincoln. Pages divided into two columns. The left column contains sixteen issues about which Knox would like further direction and information from General Benjamin Lincoln. Some of these include questions and concerns about artillery, ordnance, artillery men, and their pay. The right column has Lincoln's reply concerning the respective issues. The entire document is written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide de camp.

GLC02437.01942

8 April 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide de camp. To Secretary of War Lincoln. Says with the confirmation of peace the artillery artificers are worried about disbanding before hearing from Congress about a payment settlement for their past services. Says he wrote to Lincoln about this issue previously and asked him to bring it before Congress. Says "it being but reasonable that their stipulated pay, of twenty dollars a per month to the privates and in proportion for the noncommissioned officers, should be made good to them." Hopes Lincoln will use his influence to…

GLC02437.02074

21 May 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Discusses the establishment of the Society of the Cincinnati and mentions a proposed constitution, which is not included. States that "[t]he intention [for creating the society] is pure, and uncorrupted by any sinister design - The sole objects the union of the states as far as the humble influence of the officers may extend - and to erect some lonly [sic] shelter for the unfortunate, against the storms and tempests of poverty..." Minor text loss on the right hand side of page two.

GLC02437.02131

2 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Gives an account of his advancement in the army and his wages as a way to show the unfair methods of payment of the soldiers and the lack of an organized system to deal with soldiers' wages.

GLC02437.02144

6 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide de camp. Discusses the pay for army artificers about to be furloughed, and their entitlement to arms.

GLC02437.02150

15 July 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. Writes respecting the arsenal and magazines to let Lincoln know that his orders are "impracticable" to execute. Reminds Lincoln that he is the President of the Massachusetts branch of the Society for the Cincinnati and that he is Lincoln's deputy. Wants to know if Lincoln will be giving him his orders. Encloses some additions respecting the Society's medal (not included). References Congress fleeing Philadelphia to Trenton in the face of an angry mob of veterans. Says they all approve of Congress's decision. Informs Lincoln that Lucy…

GLC02437.02291

1 August 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. References Lincoln's letter of 22 July. Says he would like to know why his request for compensation was denied, especially the part that relates to his command of West Point. Says his successors all received the pay of a major general and that his expenses have not been greater than any of them. Reports that Captain Patten of the artillery artificers is anxious to have a decision on his communication with Lincoln and will meet with him for that purpose. Says that Patten and his officers are entitled as much as any who have served in…

GLC02437.02359

8 August 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Mentions that Richard Frothingham, field commissary, is going to Philadelphia to settle the accounts of his department. Remarks upon the inaccuracy of the accounts, "As there have been a considerable number of persons employed and often under circumstances of great hurry and embarrassment, the accounts of receipts & delivery cannot be supposed to be as accurate as a private merchant." Comments that Frothingham's character is "unimpeachable." Relays that Frothingham would like Lincoln's assistance with the matter.

GLC02437.02376

8 April 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Thomas Longman

Document is unsigned, but handwriting suggests its author is Henry Knox. No addressee is listed, but previous research determined it to be Thomas Longman (which is corroborated by the content of GLC02437.04169). Discusses an arrangement for Longman to pay money on his account to "my sister in London" (likely Mrs. H. Harwood). Mentions several firms Longman should also pay out of his account. Explains that Mrs. Harwood was formerly Mrs. [Hannah Flucker] Urquhart and provides her address. Knox's working draft.

GLC02437.04170

2 June 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Thomas Longman

Expresses his displeasure on hearing that Longman has yet to receive the money he sent him. Also discusses financial business of the Flucker estate. Some text loss on the third page due to a large portion, including the signature, being clipped.

GLC02437.04623

24 November 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Longman

Discusses business arrangements, such as recovering a sum from Mr. [Richard] Harwood (Knox's brother-in-law), and making a payment to the firm of Wright & Gill (see GLC02437.05245).

GLC02437.05246

15 December 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to Thomas Longman

Later copy. References Longman's letter of 1 August. Is sorry to hear Longman is having so much trouble with the Flucker estate. Says "I have it the most speedy way to terminate the affair to assign to Mrs Harwood the legacy left to Mrs Knox by her uncle, in condition of her relinquishing certain lands. this business accordingly is put into a train of execution." Is sending Longman the first of 11 bills of exchange, each for 1,000 guilders. Believes each bill should be about 1,000 pounds sterling. Thanks Longman for his patience. Says "it is with extreme inconvenience that I pay so…

GLC02437.05994

8 August 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Longman

Discusses the balance owing on his account. Notes he will pay interest on the account until it is paid in full. Thanks Longman for his indulgence.

GLC02437.06160

4 September 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Tells his brother that "an object is now developed and known to be Lord Cornwallis," and alludes to the forthcoming siege of Yorktown: "our measures are such that if the respective parts harmonize, we hope to do something handsome..." The military maneuver will disrupt General Knox's family life because he has to leave for Virginia. Discusses a personal financial issue.

GLC02437.01165

8 September 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Reports to his brother that the army has gathered with all its stores in Head of Elk, Maryland and will proceed to the Chesapeake in three days. He is optimistic about the upcoming siege of Yorktown: "I shall hope to inform you in 15 days that we have had Cornwallis completely invested." He is also confident in the assistance of the French Admiral de Grasse, whose job it was to secure the mouth of the York River. Mentions that his wife Lucy Knox is in Philadelphia with their daughter.

GLC02437.01174

5 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Written at camp near Dobbs Ferry by Brigadier General Knox to his brother William Knox. References William's letter of 25 July 1781. Says he wrote last week and hopes he has received the letter as the post office has been unreliable. It seems that someone in Lucy Knox's family is dying, but Henry says he will not tell her because she "will be afflicted by it beyond moderation." Says her family in England will want to know of this information, and wants to be informed when a Mrs. Winslow will sail for Plymouth, so he can write to Lucy's sisters and mother. Says the "destruction" of paper money…

GLC02437.01120

8 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Written by Brigadier General Henry Knox to his brother William. Mentions sending a letter to him three days earlier. In that letter he says he gave as much of an account of the general circumstances of the army as possible given the chance of mail getting captured. Says they have zeal, but would not be able to overtake the enemy. Has no news other than Lord Cornwallis being named commander in chief in place of General Clinton, who returns to England. Says "This War has [invariably] disgraced every british commander and I hope eventually disgrace the nation who employs them." Requests to draw…

GLC02437.01125

31 May 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Lewis

A draft copy of GLC02437.05484.

GLC02437.05485

22 July 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: to William Lewis

Asks four questions about issues surrounding the Waldo Patent. The questions deal the legal paperwork of the late [Francis] Waldo, the uncle of Samuel and Isaac Winslow. Wants to take possession of the lands owned by Waldo. Also asks about the power of attorney of John and Hannah Wall. Expresses concern that Lucy Winslow, the mother of Isaac Winslow, did not assign her real estate to her husband.

GLC02437.05907

30 April 1795

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Le Fevre

Writes a letter of recommendation for Le Fevre on the goodness of his character. States that he was in Knox's employ for four years and is discharged at his own request.

GLC02437.06403