Search | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Start New Search

5286 search results

Filter:

Only return results with full-sized images

Sort by

Advanced search

Keyword

Author

Subjects

Place written

Year

Sub-era

2 January 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Nathanael Greene

Informs Greene of the size of a British expeditionary force of 1600 men under the command of traitor Benedict Arnold. Also mentions conflicting reports of the battle at Blackstock Plantation in South Carolina between Continental General Thomas Sumter and British Colonel Banastre Tarleton, 20 November 1780. He states, "The printers on both sides make it a victory." Wishes him a happy New Year. Postscript in Washington's hand comments that he heard word that Mrs. Greene and the children were well.

GLC07675

14 August 1780

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Daniel Brodhead

General Washington discusses Colonel Bowman's apprehension regarding British progress with General Brodhead, stationed at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania. States "what men can be spared from the Garrison of the upper Country- St. Johns- Montreal and Quebec are now acting in conjunction with the Indians upon the Mowhawk River, where they have lately done considerable mischief." Discusses the strain on supplies, stating "you will be very happy if you can adopt any expedient to supply yourself without depending wholly upon the Commissary in a regular way." Mentions the praiseworthy conduct of…

GLC07702

20 October 1780

Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801

Broadside

Title: [Proclamation to officers and soldiers of the Continental Army]

Full title as follows, "A Proclamation to the Officers and Soldiers of the Continental Army who have the real Interest of their Country at Heart, and who are determined to be no longer the Tools and Dupes of Congress, or of France." An appeal to American soldiers to join the British Army and advance the cause of "Union with Britain, and true American Liberty." "Friends, fellow soldiers, and citizens, arouse, and judge for yourselves - reflect on what you have lost - consider to what you are reduced, and by your courage repel the ruin the still threatens you." With various monetary…

GLC07701

January 25, 1782

Clinton, Henry, Sir, 1730-1795

Letter signed

Title: to Lord Germain

Despite the fact that "the Commander in Chief...shall not oppose the reviving Civil Government" for the purpose of meeting "the Rebels on the Ground taken up by General Washington in...the Capitulation of York Town," General Clinton, writing on behalf of "His Majesty's Commissioners," advises against declaring New York at peace. He claims that "a Revival of the Act of Trade would immediately set aside the restraints at this port." Docket identifies this as a "Sketch of a letter from the King's Commissioners to Lord Geo. Germain."

GLC07534

5 August 1778

George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Commission authorizing Henry Clinton's additional powers as General and Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in North America]

Countersigned by George Germain. Contains a note indicating the commission was recorded with the Secretary of War. Paper seal intact. Accompanied by an engraving of George III from a later date (see GLC07536.02).

GLC07536.01

22 September 1778

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to George Baylor

Advises Baylor to "use every means in your power" to ascertain as much information as possible about the British troops embarking from New York. Also instructs him to keep an eye on the North River and to notify West Point if he sees any British transports go by. Written just prior to British General Charles Grey's attack at Old Tappan on 28 September 1778. Water damaged ink.

GLC07486

14 November 1776

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Charles Lee

Anticipates a prisoner exchange. Worries the British will try to exchange men who are not really continental soldiers, therefore requests Lee to order all officers to make lists of those in their units who are missing or dead. Encloses "a recommendation of the officers for the State of Rhode Island." Postscript states British forces suspected to be moving to South Carolina. Saw small number of British troops near Mount Washington, and speculates as to their possible movements. Written from "General Green's Quarters." Two days later the British would drive Washington and his forces from…

GLC07491

13 March 1776

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander McDougall

Encloses articles (not present) in reply to McDougall's questions about Seamans wages. Informs that a model of a pike will be sent to him. Hopes that he has received word of the resolution of Congress restraining military officers from offering oaths to inhabitants as a test. Remarks, " ... to impose a Test is a sovereign Act of Legislation - and when the Army becomes our Legislators, the People that moment become Slaves."

GLC07489

18 November 1780

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Jay agrees to attend to Mr. Warren (the son of the late General Joseph Warren, killed at Bunker Hill), should he visit Madrid. He also refers to passage of the Massachusetts Constitution and asks Gerry to send him a copy. Jay states that he has been "led to entertain high Expectations of your form of Government." Docketed by Gerry. Gerry's draft autograph letter response is penned in the left margin to Jay. Gerry writes back from Marblehead, Massachusetts on 20 September 1781, enclosing a copy of Massachusetts' new constitution and some newspapers [not present]. He concludes by predicting…

GLC07490

11 October 1780

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Timothy Pickering

Writes to Pickering, who was his successor as Quartermaster of the Continental Army when Greene took command of West Point just after Benedict Arnold's treason. Expresses his dismay at the state of the garrison at West Point and requests supplies. "On my arrival at this place I found every thing in so disagreeable strain, so much to do, so little time to do it in ... " Advises that he has stopped Captain Seizer's artillery company from marching until they can get more manpower. Informs that more artificers are needed, that many boats need repair, and that winter barracks need to be built.

GLC07667

[20 July 1781]

Harrison, Charles, 1740-1796

Autograph document signed

Title: [Chain of posts in South Carolina captured from British]

Signed with initials. Lists several posts established by Lord Cornwallis in South Carolina which had been reduced and evacuated by American forces. Notes that there are about 1200 prisoners in the reduced works. Adds that these posts secured Britain to South Carolina and the destruction of these forts would break Britain's tie to South and North Carolina. Originally enclosed with GLC02437.01063.

GLC02437.01319

30 June 1782

Craig, Isaac, 1742-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses an ordnance return and a return of his detachment. Writes that since his arrival, "the whole Garrison have been Employed in puting the Fort in a better State of defence - my Detachment are Engaged in making new Platforms, Reparing Gun Carrages and removing Some of them that were too much Decayed to be Reparid. The Guns that I was under the necesity of dismounting in Coming up the Ohio Last Fall I have Remounted on New Cariges, and these together with all the other Field, in good Order and Compleatly Painted - I Expected agreeable to my Request, and if I Recollected Right, Your…

GLC02437.01470

3 September 1782

Corne, Peter, fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Shaw

Writes, "I am much oblig'd to you for the agreeable lines you sent communicating the good intentions of the Commander in Chief I thank him & shall [bean?] respect I shall strictly obey the order of staying in my quarters & joyfully wait the happy Period of Liberation."

GLC02437.01567

14 September 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Order to the Commissary for the arrearage of provisions due to Mrs. Corbin of the Invalids]

Includes a note at the top of the page, in Shaw's hand, from Jonathan Pugh, Lieutenant of Invalids, which reads, "This is to certify that Mrs. Margaret Corbin (wife of John Corbin a soldier in the corps of Invalids) has not drawn any liquor with the ration allowed her since the 1st Jany 1782." Below, Shaw relates that Mrs. Corbin has two Congressional resolves in her favor, "she having had a husband and son killed and was herself wounded at Brandywine in 1777. She is allowed a full ration per day, half pay for life and a suit of clothes annually. " Orders the Commissary to give her the…

GLC02437.01611

16 October 1782

Cornell, Ezekiel, 1733-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Camp Verplank's Point, present-day Verplanck, New York. Encloses a copy of the contract from the day's General Orders. Would have liked to send a copy of the new contract but it is not yet finished; will send it when it is complete. Outlines the quantities of beef or salt pork, bread or flour, whiskey, salt, soap, and candles that are included in the ration specified in the new contract. Adds that officers are entitled to a quantity of "good West India rum" instead of the whiskey, if they prefer. Officers can take as much as they are entitled to, and accounts will be…

GLC02437.01664

22 December 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: [Certificate to Asa Copeland]

Certifies that Asa Copeland has been serving as a Conductor of Military Stores since 21 April 1779 and that he is still serving as such. He is therefore entitled to his pay and the depreciations of his pay during this period, deducting whatever money might already have been received from the public.

GLC02437.01759