6 August 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Writes that he has mentioned to General George Washington his and Crane's opinion that the west redoubt is the best place to deposit the powder now at Fishkill, and Washington agrees completely. Declares that Washington has asked Knox to direct the preparations, so he asks Crane to examine the west redoubt with a Captain Lieutenant Sears. If they find it an acceptable place, Crane should order Sears to prepare the redoubt to "render it proper for the safety of the powder that may be placed there." Also asks Crane to provide Crane's regiment and Captain Moody's company [likely Captain…

GLC02437.01516

19 October 1781

Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis, 1738-1805

Manuscript document

Title: [Articles of capitulation settled at Yorktown]

List of articles dictating the surrender of Cornwallis (Lieutenant General of Britain) to George Washington, the Count de Rochambeau (Lieutenant General of the French army), and the Comte de Grasse (Lieutenant General of the naval armies of France). Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Henry Knox's aide de camp. Shaw has penned the signature "Thomas Symonds." Shaw apparently also attempted to create with the same pen a look-alike signature of Cornwallis. Symonds was the commander of British naval forces in the York River. Article one indicates that the garrisons of York and Gloucester,…

GLC02437.09555

14 August 1781

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Crane to Brigadier General Knox. Writes in response to officers who have accused him of withholding money from soldiers under his command. Asks for a court of inquiry to investigate the matter. Hopes everyone "who have made free with my Character behind my back will appear at this Court."

GLC02437.01133

12 October 1781

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses a return of ordnance and stores. Reports that nothing will be done in the fall toward building the magazine at Fort Clinton or Fort Putnam because of all the work needed to prepare for winter. The artificers have been building a workshop at West Point to work in over the winter. Indicates that a Mr. Gray has been appointed a commissary of military stores for General William Heath. Colonel Crane commanded the 3rd Battalion of Artillery.

GLC02437.01221

17 October 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: Shots & Shells expended by the Allied Army at the Siege of York in Virginia, from the 9th to the 17th of October inclusive.

Lists quantities of shot and shell used by the French and Americans during the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01235

19 December 1781

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to inform Knox of his "wishes that the detachment from the Regiment may joine us" if consistent with Knox's plans. They are acquiring clothing for the regiment and he wants the men to anticipate the new clothes and feel satisfaction from attaining them. Mentions that all but three companies of the Regiment are quartered at the Joint. They are collecting the materials for the ordnance as fast as possible but the men are not well fed so he does not want to rush them. Has the men in good winter quarters, is trying to build a guard house for the artillery, and declares the ammunition…

GLC02437.01307

January 13, 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Discusses Colonel John Crane's regiment, which is on its way to West Point to obtain clothing. Mentions that he will have to keep the regiment there to work in the laboratory repairing the ordnance. Describes various repairs that need to be made, and says he will likely need to remain in Philadelphia through the spring.

GLC02437.01333

20 February 1782

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Received last letter from Knox and is waiting for General William Heath's arrival with an unnamed Sergeant to convene a party of men. Will respond to Knox as soon as they return.

GLC02437.01357

21 April 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Written from Baskenridge, likely present-day Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Comments that he expected to be at West Point by now, but was delayed at Elizabeth Town. Plans to be in West Point by 15 May at the latest. Asks that Crane save as much timber and iron as possible for their military stores, "as upon these two articles depend our most important work." Requests that he send to Knox in Philadelphia a list of articles needed for the laboratory at West Point, and Knox will order them.

GLC02437.01392

20 June 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Writes, "The General desires you will find him an exact return of the firearms and accoutrements at West Point, under the care of the Comy Mil. Stores [Commissary of Military Stores], specifying particularly the number which have bayonets, and distinguishing the good from the bad. The General will be glad to receive this return as early tomorrow as possible."

GLC02437.01461

22 August 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Directs Crane to send a specified amount and kind of arms and troops to the light infantry [at an unspecified location]. Declares that Crane may choose which men to send, but no more than twelve men may be attached to each piece of artillery. Will contact Colonel Timothy Pickering, the Quartermaster General, to make further arrangements. Also asks for his assistance in erecting buildings for ordnance stores at West Point, and asks that he direct Captain Sears and Captain Moody [Andrew Moodie].

GLC02437.01535

23 August 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Crane

Informs Crane that the "horses, geers [gears?] and drivers, for the pieces of artillery to be annexed to the light infantry, are to be at the ferry opposite West Point this evening." Explains that the gears are part of an order of 100 sets placed by the Quartermaster General and obtained in Springfield; they are now in the possession of Major [Thomas] Cogswell, the Wagon Master General. Since the gears are meant to be used with the artillery, Shaw has enclosed an order from Knox to Cogswell, as well as a warrant and a letter to the Deputy Paymaster General so that Crane can obtain the gears…

GLC02437.01537

30 August 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Crane

Written and initialed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Writes that he has been informed that regiments encamped on the point have taken boards and other items from the tents and intend to take them away or sell them. Asks that he work with Colonel [Benjamin] Tupper to try to prohibit this from happening by placing sentries at the places of embarkation and issuing a garrison order which forbids any resident of the point [possibly West Point] from purchasing boards or any other public property "on the penalty of severe punishment." Also writes that he has been unable…

GLC02437.01550

January 18, 1779

Yancey, James, fl. 1779

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Account with William Knox]

William's account with Yancey includes sealing wax, shoes, tax, thread, various types of cloth, stockings, sugar, playing cards, etc. The total for this bill came to £837.11.3. Signed by Yancey stating he received payment.

GLC02437.08460

January 22, 1779

Yancey, James, fl. 1779

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Account with William Knox]

Account between William Knox and James Yancey. Includes women's shoes and credit for sugar. Signed by Yancey.

GLC02437.08463

9 March 1779

Yancey, James, fl. 1779

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Bill for William Knox]

Bill for 2 yards of ribbon and a pair of gloves. Total comes to £1.16. Signed by Yancey stating payment was made.

GLC02437.08475

11 June 1779

Yancey, James, fl. 1779

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Bill for William Knox]

Bill for sugar. Knox paid £56.5. Yancey signed the document stating he received payment.

GLC02437.08489

10 December 1782

Carleton, Osgood, 1742-1816

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Recommendation for a leave of absence for James Wheland]

Carleton, Lieutenant Commander of the Invalid Regiment, recommends Wheland for a thirty day furlough so he may spend time with his wife, who is sick. Directs his recommendation to Major Doughty (possibly John Doughty).

GLC02437.09558

19 October 1781

Manuscript document

Title: [Return of prisoners taken at the surrender of the British garrisons of Yorktown and Gloucester, Virginia]

Lists numbers of prisoners taken 19 October 1781 in the British surrender of Yorktown (excluding marine prisoners). Docketed by Knox's aide-de-camp, Samuel Shaw: "Prisoners of War under [Earl] Cornwallis."

GLC02437.10665

31 March 1782-21 April 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Minutes of the proceedings of the commissioners

Copy written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Henry Knox's aide-de-camp, at Elizabethtown, present-day Elizabeth, New Jersey. Appoints Knox and Gouverneur Morris to meet with British commissioners to discuss prisoners of war and civilians in custody. Empowers them to negotiate release, exchange and better treatment of prisoners of war, and to take measures to liberate citizens not captured under arms (emphasized in original). Also authorizes them to settle accounts for prisoner maintenance; mentions Convention of Saratoga, an agreement about handling of British prisoners after the Battle of…

GLC02437.01377

10 August 1782

Cogswell, Thomas, 1746-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "This day I ordered off three hundred and fifty oxen for to move the Park, I expect they will be this night thirty miles on their way. Col. Pickering Quarter Master General has also assured me that he will furnish eighty seven horses, that number with the oxen I think will move it; I also sent on three hundred and fifty canteens for the troops - considering the state of our affairs, I hope they will arrive agreeable to your expectations."

GLC02437.01523

22 November 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Recommendation of Andrew Coldclugh]

Certifies that Andrew Coldclugh has performed with ability and integrity in his positions in the Quarter Master's and Commissary General's department, working for the forage department at the park of artillery. Recommends him for a new position.

GLC02437.01724

25 November 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Cochran

Knox writes to Doctor Cochran, Director General of the Medical Department of the Continental Army. Reports that in the absence of Doctor Burnet (on leave), West Point is in need of medical personnel. Writes, "The men begin to be taken sick, especially those in tents I shall have places warm and comfortable to put the sick into, but there is not the least article of hospital stores." Asks for Cochran to send medical stores under a person of his own appointment (who would presumably remain at West Point after delivering the stores).

GLC02437.10063

December 1782

Manuscript document

Title: [Officers' grievances, to be presented to Congress]

"The Officers of the Army, in Behalf of themselves and the Soldiery, beg leave, in plain & respectful language, to lay a State of their Circumstances and Grievances before Congress." The writer claims that the Government has not upheld its end of the bargain in supplying officers with adequate pay and rations. Argues that Continental money at nominal value was "palmed upon the Army," that the quantity of rations doled out to troops was frequently altered (to the disadvantage of soldiers), and that the account for rations has been unsettled for several years. Includes other grievances…

GLC02437.10073

2 August 1781

Winslow, Samuel, fl. 1781-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Introduces Knox to Joseph Whiting, relating that he and Whiting have a "mercantile connection." Recommends that George Washington grant Whiting permission to travel to New York to conduct business.

GLC02437.01109