July 16, 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [John Langdon].

Discusses contracting for guns, military preparations, and the Declaration of Independence. Remarks that independence was proclaimed in the army at New York last Wednesday and a statue of King George III was taken down and cast into bullets, "... for the destruction of this tools of tyranny. May every one of them be properly commissioned." Informs that in a few days 20,000 men will be assembled at New Jersey in addition to the army of York. Writes the Declaration "has had a glorious affect has made these Colonies all alive, all the colonies forming governments. . ."

GLC03186

15 December 1777

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Written by Laurens as President of Continental Congress to Brigadier General Whipple. Whipple was a Declaration of Independence signer. Says Congress is undertaking a full inquiry into the American defeat at Rhode Island under Major General Joseph Spencer. Says that Congress has appointed five commissioners, and that Whipple has been selected as one because of his "continued Zeal in the public service." For more information says to look at the enclosed certified copy of the Act of Congress from 12 December 1777 (the act is not included here). Written from York, Pennsylvania while the British…

GLC03187

2 December 1777

Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul Thillman

Written by Henry as Governor of Virginia to Captain Thillman. Asks Hillman to send captured British naval officers "without Loss of Time" to Williamsburgh, where they are to be exchanged.

GLC03194

20 June 1780

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to William Livingston

States he had already received the intelligence Livingston sent to him. Not aware if the fleet brought with it either troops or Henry Clinton. Notes "The Enemy remain in the same position upon the point." Signed as Commander in Chief of American Forces. Written three days before the Battle of Springfield.

GLC03343

[ 17 December 1781 ]

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Magistrates of Philadelphia re: his respect for civil authority & liberty

Washington writes that he feels pleased by their praise and notes how he has endeavored to avoid violating liberty and civil authority. Written six months before being approached by Lewis Nicola with a plan to make Washington the king of the United States.

GLC03344

22 July 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Stephen Moylan

Written by General Washington to Colonel Moylan as commander of the First Pennsylvania dragoons. References Moylan's letter of 21 July 1777. Encloses a letter he asks Moylan to forward to General David Forman (known by the nickname of " Black David" among the Jersey loyalists, owing to his excessive cruelty toward those who did not favor the Revolution). Wants Forman to tell him if the British fleet has gone out to sea. Wants Forman to send his dispatches to Moylan, who is supposed to forward them to Washington by express. Document has large losses of paper, although not to the text. Later…

GLC03353

7 March 1781

Marion, Francis, 1732-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Saunders

Written by Marion as Brigadier General of militia and a well-known partisan to Saunders as a Royalist Captain in the British Army and commander of the garrison at Georgetown, South Carolina. Marion writes with anger that Captain John Postell was taken prisoner by Saunders. Postell was travelling under a flag of truce to work out details of prisoner exchange. Demands satisfaction and claims he will retaliate against any British prisoners of war. Also expresses dismay that Saunders is treating prisoners harshly. Says Captain Clark was held in circumstances where he could not stand up or stretch…

GLC03332.01

3 March 1781

Ervin, John, fl. 1781

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Saunders

Written by Ervin as a lieutenant colonel in Francis Marion's brigade of partisans to Captain Saunders, a royalist in command of the garrison at Georgetown, South Carolina. Ervin sent this note by Captain James Postell and Lieutenant William Futhey to ask for a prisoner exchange. Postell was subsequently taken prisoner despite the flag of truce because Saunders claimed he was in violation of a parole given him after the American defeat at Charleston in May 1780.

GLC03332.02

27 September 1782

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Franklin

Informs Franklin that Congress has instructed him to try to borrow four million dollars from the French King, and discusses how Franklin might attain it. Says Congress wishes Franklin to assure the King that Americans once shared the "English Prejudice against all things french" but that "by degrees almost every Trace of it has been effaced." Worries the French may reply "the nation which will not help itself does not merit the Aid of others." Tells Franklin to remind them it would be foolish to invest so much in the colonies only to abandon them so close to being successful. Relates how…

GLC03333

January 21, 1781

Deane, Silas, 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Searle

Apprises Searle, then a commissioner to France to negotiate a loan for the State of Pennsylvania, of his upcoming journey to America. Hopes to see Searle in Passy (in Paris) the following day, where Deane indicates he will dine and take leave of Benjamin Franklin. Deane and Franklin were on a diplomatic mission in France during the American Revolution.

GLC03359

1775

Book

Title: The Gentleman's magazine and historical chronicle

GLC03364.01

1776

Book

Title: The Gentleman's magazine and historical chronicle

GLC03364.02

1777

Book

Title: The Gentleman's magazine and historical chronicle

GLC03364.03

1778

Book

Title: The Gentleman's magazine and historical chronicle

GLC03364.04

1779

Book

Title: The Gentleman's magazine and historical chronicle

GLC03364.05

1780

Book

Title: The Gentleman's magazine and historical chronicle

GLC03364.06

22 December 1779

Lane, Joseph, fl. 1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Major Lane, having offered to carry General Benjamin Lincoln's dispatches to Congress, says he is ready to depart. Says it is his intention to return to Charlestown as soon as possible. Says he has no business in the north and will return quickly. Appears there was an issue with Lane's servants. Says the ship "Betsy" was captured by American privateers and brought to Philadelphia. Since his servant papers were on that ship he hopes to clear up this situation. Says he was thankful that Lincoln brought it up privately. Written one week before the fall of Savannah, Georgia.

GLC03369

8 April 1779

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Heath as Major General in Continental Army from his hometown of Roxbury to an unknown council. Heath was in charge of the Convention Army, which consisted of the British prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign. After surrendering in October 1777, they were marched through Albany to Boston, where they remained until February 1779, when they were marched to Virginia. This letter deals with barracks for those prisoners of war at Rutland, Massachusetts. Says Colonel Joshua Davis is now ready to settle his accounts for the expenditures that were used to build the barracks to…

GLC03376

01 March 1777

Faden, William, fl. 1750-1836

Map

Title: A topographical map of the North[er]n part of New York Island, Exhibiting the Plan of Fort Washington, now Fort Knyphausen, With the Rebels Lines to the Southward, which were Forced by the Troops under the Command of the Rt. Hon[ora]ble Earl Percy...

Title continues: "on the 16th Nov[embe]r 1776, and Survey'd immediately after by order of his Lordship by Claude Joseph Sauthier. To which is added the Attack made to the North by the Hessians. Survey'd by Order of Lieut[enan]t Gen[era]l Knyphansen." Shows Fort Washington in northern Manhattan. Published "as the Act directs" in London on March 1, 1777, by permission of the Comissioners of Trade and Plantations. Hudson River and troop movements are hand colored. Kenneth Nebenzahl's "Battle Plans of the American Revolution" page 116 notes two later states.

GLC03237

23 March 1778

Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792

Letter signed

Title: to William Heath

Written by General Burgoyne while an American prisoner after his defeat at the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777 to Major General William Heath as commander of the Convention Army (prisoners of war from the battle of Saratoga) around Boston. Apologizes for sending another dispatch so quickly after his previous one, but asks him to send along the enclosed letters (not included here) without any loss of time. Also asks Heath to send him along a good sailing boat to go to Cape Cod and that he will pay any expenses associated with the trip. Burgoyne left Boston for Britain on 5 April 1778. He…

GLC03231

23 August 1778

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sullivan

Expresses surprise at the news that "Count D'Estaing has abandoned us in the present Enterprise." At Sullivan's request gives his opinion on the situation, saying he feels the siege of Newport is not worth continuing without the French fleet, since he expects British reinforcements soon. Instead suggests an immediate attack, for which he details his strategy. Opposes a retreat but in case "the General Council be of a different opinion" he lays out a plan for retreat as well. General Sullivan posed this question to a number of officers. In GLC04845 he writes William Whipple and asks his…

GLC03232

August 29, 1778

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Reports that his son left the recipient's horse at Daggets instead of at Sanfords in Bristol, where William Ellery had promised to deliver it in his last letter as his part in the "Newport Expedition." Comments on General John Sullivan and the withdrawal of Charles, Count d'Estaing, from the siege of Newport. Tells him he has heard from Philadelphia that the French Ambassador has met with an audience of Congress. Asks for any news he can be given and indicates that he has heard New York is to be evacuated by the British. A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, William…

GLC03236

13 November 1777

Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Warren

Written by Gerry as delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress to Warren as a member of the Continental Navy Board. References Warren's letter of 23 October 1777, in which he found news of General John Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga earlier that month. In that letter Warren expressed misgivings about the terms of surrender that General Horatio Gates gave to Burgoyne, known as the Articles of Convention. Gerry says he had the same misgivings, but says Gates was justified in giving generous terms because Sir Henry Clinton was making moves to reinforce Burgoyne. Says that they…

GLC03239

January 3, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: Commission of Thomas W. Forster, Capt. in Artillery Regt. commanded by Knox

Printed sheet countersigned by Charles Thomson.

GLC03242

21 May 1782

Livingston, Robert L., 1746-1813

Letter signed

Title: to Richard Harrison

Livingston, writing as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, discusses the capture and parole of Henry Brockholst Livingston and the general lack of faith of the populace in Britain's professed good will, as communicated by Sir Guy Carleton.

GLC03253