19 March 1791

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox [Fragment]

Placing Knox in charge of certain affairs of govenrment, because he is going on "a journey to the Southern States." Gives Knox orders regarding various military actions, including troop recruitment, hostilities "against the indians." and treaty issues with the Creeks. The last one or two pages of the letter are missing.

GLC02437.09312

16 October 1778

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document

Title: At a council of war held at Frederickburgh Octr 16th 1778

Knox's handwritten copy of Washington's queries to his Council of War. Washington informs the Council that the British force consists of two divisions (one at New York and one at Rhode Island). A detachment from New York were recently "employed in a Forage" in New Jersey. Notes that the New York fleet was still in the harbor on 9 October, and was rumored to be planning to sail for Boston. A Continental officer, recently a prisoner of the enemy, reported that a large body of British troops embarked "destin'd for the Southward." Notes that General John Sullivan has command of troops…

GLC02437.00731

19 March 1779

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: Accepting resignation of Col. Edward Wigglesworth

Accepting resignation of Col. Edward Wigglesworth: "I hope your success in the line of life which you are about to pursue will fully compensate you for the losses you have sustained in the service of your country..." with Charles Thompson MD, 3-10-1779, extract of resolves of Congress accepting the resignation.

GLC08134

6 October 1794

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Clark

Declines to take Major Clark on as an aide during the Whiskey Rebellion. Comments: "Nothing short of imperious necessity can justify my being absent from the seat of government while Congress is in session."

GLC08075

4 April 1794

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Responds to a letter from Secretary of War Knox relating to the security of the Old Northwest. Comments on a speech by Lord Dorchester [Sir Guy Carleton], the commander in chief in British North America, and states his belief that the British intend "to keep this Country in a state of disquietude with the Indian nations; and also to alter the boundary between them and us, if, by any means, they can effect it." As a consequence of that belief, Washington reiterates his instructions to maintain good relations with the Six Nations and to "Buy Captn. [Joseph] B_t [Brant] off at almost any price…

GLC08076

08 November 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: To: John Mckinley

Appealing for provisions, including shoes . For troops soon to be at Valley Forge. (To the president of Delaware).

GLC08078

June 12, 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: To: William Livingston.

Washington's farewell address ("Circular to the States") as Commander-in-Chief,spelling out principles esssential to new nation's future existence, now that the United States are "proposed of absolute freedom and independency." With printed copy of address (1783).

GLC08079.01

28 April 1779

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to William Maxwell

Confirming death sentence against Major Daniel Platt, commuting another, [in reaction court martial 12 soldiers who deserted and planned to join the British].

GLC08135

December 11, 1796

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sir John Sinclair

Written by President Washington to Sinclair the Scottish politician and writer on finance and agriculture. Describes the natural characteristics of various sections of the country, their chief resources, climates, interests and activities, relative land values, and the planned federal city. Says land in Pennsylvania is more valuable than that in Virginia or Maryland because of immigration and naturalization laws, and because of slavery regulations: "there are laws here for the gradual abolition of slavery, which neither of the two states above mentioned have, at present, but which nothing is…

GLC08095

21 April 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Captain Caleb Gibbs

Headquartered at Morristown after a brutal winter, reorganizes his personal, offical and family possessions for residence in Philadelphia as he re-builds the Army to answer Cornwallis's New Jersey campaign: "Bring...my sword, my gun etc.. can had also better be brought unless they could be put into the hands of some gentleman in Philadelphia that would take particular care of them...My papers at New Town, take with you to Philadelphia, and have them well recieved in a good trunk or strong box and lodged with the Publick Papers of Congress." Also requested were "table linens and "mattress" and…

GLC08341

January 12, 1785

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Document

Title: [Mount Vernon account page].

Account page from Mount Vernon listing monies paid to George Washington by Lewis Lamart, one of his rent collectors.

GLC08228

January 10, 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Franklin

Acknowledgement of Franklin's acceptance of the agency of British prisoners and his intention to contact Sir Henry Clinton to make sure that he makes no objection to Franklin's returning to New York.

GLC08229

05 August 1786

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Receipt for slave-catching services].

Receipt made out to James Rumsey for payment received by Daniel Neale for pursuit of "Runaway Servants" (most likely slaves). Endorsed by George Washington and George Rumsey on verso.

GLC08254

February 1, 1793

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Johnson

Regretfully accepting resignation of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. ". . .besides the difficulty of finding characters to fill the dignified and important station of Judge, in whom are combined the necessary professional, local and other requisites, the resignation of persons holding that high office conveys to the public mind a want of stability in that Department, where it is perhaps more essential than in any other."

GLC08367

circa July - August 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document

Title: [Indian treaties]

Discusses treaties with the Indians, particularly the Creeks. Mentions a land dispute between the natives and settlers in Georgia, which has been a major roadblock to obtaining a treaty. Date previously inferred, written in pencil.

GLC02437.09985

1 December 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to the Emperor of Morocco

Thanks the Emperor for sending letters to the rulers of Tunis and Tripoli re: Barbary pirates, explaining that America cannot pay the desired tribute, having "no Mines, either of Gold, or Silver, and ... just recovering from the Waste and Desolation of a long War." However, he predicts that the United States "shall gradually become useful to our friends." Writing as the new head of state, "the United States, having unanimously appointed me to the supreme executive Authority, in this Nation..."

GLC09033

August 24, 1782

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: [Later copy of a letter August 24, 1782 letter to Lord Stirling]

"My Lord: I thank you for naming a gentleman for the officer of Commissary of Prisoners...I thank you, also for the loan of the History of Jno. Sobeiski...If your Lordship is done with the map of Staten Island, I should be glad to have it returned as I am about packing up my papers..."

GLC09069

circa 11 August 1790

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document

Title: [Draft of address to the U.S. Senate]

A complete draft, in the hand of Henry Knox, and with the addition of the word "Senate" in the hand of Alexander Hamilton, of Washington's August 11, 1790 address to the Senate regarding the Treaty with the Creeks.

GLC02437.08080

29 April 1793

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Lewis

Gives to his nephew "The Land which was given to me by my Mother, or as Heir at law I am entitled I do," as a present. Describes the tract in Virginia. Also asks if "Major Harrison went to Mount Vernon as you expected" and about Harrison's intentions regarding his adjoining land. Signed "GWn." Lewis served as his uncle's private secretary.

GLC08930

1754 circa

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Map

Title: Map of the western parts of the colony of Virginia, as far as the Mississip[p]i

Rare folding map of Eastern part of what is today the United States to the Mississippi River. With orange color supplied on the borders of Virginia. Shows Washington's route from Williamsburg to French Fort. Removed from book due to condition 1997.

GLC00419.02

1785 after

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Print

Title: G. Washington. Alexandre Tardieu, after Houdon [collateral]

Accompanied letter, GLC 1588. A print by Alexander Tardieu, designed and engraved after Houdon, with poem in French by J. Castera: "Pour saver sou pays du pouvoir arbitraire, / Washington combattit en guerrier valeureux...." Presumably the Houdon piece is the 1785 bust of Washington. It depicts Washington in profile with long hair and the words "G. Washington" on left inside a coin-shape.

GLC01588coll

1780/06/18

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox re: sending Knox to stop NJ from forming its own Army

Sending Knox in an attempt to keep New Jersey from forming a separate army.

GLC02147

1774/01/25

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document signed

Title: Bill for surveying and patenting land grant French & Indian War

Document signed for claim against James Ludlow with another Washington document, cosigned by William Crawford 2/25/1774, assigning the debt to Crawford.

GLC01963

February 9, 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to James Clinton

Ordering Clinton to go to Albany to "assist in the command of the Northern department" under General Schuyler. Warns Clinton that there is not time for delay. "General McDougal will take the direction of matters in the Highlands when you are gone."

GLC02366

1783/03 ca.

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript

Title: Address to officers with General orders 3/11/1783 & Newburgh address

A contemporary transcript written by an unknown soldier on the leaves of a stitched pamphlet. Contains the anonymous "Address to the Officers of the Army" calling the army's general officers to a meeting (a mutinous situation) (pp. 1-12), Washington's orders of 11 March 1783 calling officers to a meeting of his own (15-24; including Washington's letter to the president of Congress after the meeting), the officer's meeting on 15 March, with Washington's address (25-41), and concluding with the officers' resolves (41-47). Another manuscript relating to the incidents at Newburgh is in the Henry…

GLC02624