6 August 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Resolve of Congress on General Gates's call for militia]

Written in the hand of William Churchill Houston as deputy secretary of the Continental Congress. Signed by Continental Congress President Hancock. It is noted that this is a copy from the Journals of Congress. Resolve issued in the aftermath of the fall of Fort Ticonderoga to the British. On 2 August 1777 Gates was given the permission of Congress to requisition from each state's militia the number of men he felt was necessary to defend against General John Burgoyne's advance. This resolve was sent to help Gates in his recruitment saying it is "impossible, in the present Circumstances of…

GLC02525

18 March 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Platt

Discusses the preliminary drawings of an artillery building at West Point which will include an ordnance store and a crane projecting from the building's pediment. Knox requests another building to serve as a laboratory.

GLC02531

24 November 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Alexander

Laurens, as president of congress, writes to the Earl of Stirling about the distribution of "the Treaties of Amity & Commerce & of Alliance" with France and trade relations with the United Provinces. He also bemoans the loss of virtue and unity which America had in 1775, decrying avarice and profiteering.

GLC02532

15 December 1778

Livingston, Robert, 1708-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his son [possibly his son-in-law, James Duane]

Discusses a snow storm that may work to the American troops' advantage as the roads are impassable. Mentions a food shortage and the rising costs of provisions. Assures the recipient that his family, under Livingston's care, is healthy. Asks about the developments in Congress and whether any news has arrived from France, England, or Spain. Wonders whether the British will allow the war to continue for another year. Encloses a letter for recipient's brother Robert (not included) and wishes him a happy holiday.

GLC02537.01

18 April 1779

Livingston, Robert, 1708-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Duane

Writes to his son-in-law about the state and activities of his iron works, where they were producing pig iron for Colonel Hay, Colonel Lewis, and General Schuyler. Mentions an upcoming meeting with the Governor of New York, in which he will let him know that "in case of no assistance no blame shall fall on me this is doing all what in reason can be Expected of me by my Country, at this critical moment." Also mentions inflation and the price of foodstuffs.

GLC02537.02

13 April 1781

Livingston, Robert, 1708-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Duane

Writes to his son-in-law with family news. Discusses being "greatly pestered with a band of robbers." Requests news from the southern front in the American Revolution, specifically if Nathanael Greene was successful against Lord Cornwallis and accounts of Benedict Arnold's activities. Mentions his hopes for aid from the Dutch and that "English pride may be curbed and brought to reason."

GLC02537.03

3 September 1776

Nelson, Thomas Jr., 1738-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Page

Discusses the American defeat at the Battle of Long Island and their retreat. Thinks the British will quit New York City very shortly. Reports that Brigadier General Lord Sterling and General Sullivan have been taken prisoner along with other valuable field officers. Adds that the Americans' 2400 troops bravely and successfully forced their way through enemy lines and kept the enemy's 10,000 soldiers at bay. Feels that the Americans must give up their islands until they build a marine power strong enough to defend them.

GLC02540

8 July 1779

Cushing, Charles, fl. 1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph North

Written by Brigadier General Cushing to Colonel North. Reports that he received an express letter from General Lovell asking him to have his men ready to march immediately to Townsend, where they will rendevous with the fleet. Wants North to get his quota of men there as soon as possible. Says if he can engage the services of a doctor for the campaign to do it. Place written is included, but it is illegible.

GLC02542.07

10 November 1780-29 November 1780

Manuscript

Title: [Journal of voyage from New York City aboard the Raleigh]

The unsigned manuscript, apparently British in origin, was written while on the Frigate "Raleigh," commanded by Captain James Gambier. Gives list of passengers, who are all officers and says they are bound for the Chesapeake. On 12 November his destination changes to Cape Fear, North Carolina. Sees several ships of the line before leaving New York. Mentions a storm on 17 November. Says they captured several ships during their voyage southward. Heard the British fleet became separated on 17 November because of the "gale."

GLC02542.08

16 September 1782

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of William North as captain of 9th Massachusetts]

Signed by Hanson as President of Congress and countersigned by Benjamin Lincoln as Secretary of War. Document is official notification of William North's appointment as captain in the 9th Massachusetts Regiment. Says he is accorded the rank from the 10 May 1777. Includes embossed paper seal at top corner.

GLC02542.09

21 October 1781

McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817

Printed document signed

Title: [Privateer's license for William Van Duerson]

Partially printed document signed by McKean as President of Congress and countersigned by Charles Thomson as Secretary of the Continental Congress. Identifies Van Duerson as the commander of the brigantine Middletown owned by Chauncey Whittlesey. The verso has a signed statement by Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull providing a physical descriptions of Duerson and his lieutenant, William Spencer, given at Hartford, Connecticut. Includes a paper seal.

GLC02542.18

February 14, 1776

Massachusetts Bay Council

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission of Joseph North as Colonel in 2nd Regiment of Massachusetts militia from Lincoln County]

Partially printed document signed Perez Morton as deputy secretary of the council. Signers from the Massachusetts Bay Council include: W. Severs, W. Spooner, John Winthrop, Thomas Cushing, Moses Gill, John Whitcomb, James Prescott, Eliad Taylor, Michael Farley, Jabez Fisher, B. White, John Taylor, J. Palmero, B. Greenleaf, and Dr. Samuel Holten. A manuscript note on the verso indicates that North took the oath of service required by the appointment, witnessed by Wiliam Howard and [C. Dalteg]. Also signed on verso by Hannah E. North and William H. Bridge. Includes a paper seal.

GLC02542.25

9 May 1776

Massachusetts Bay Council

Document signed

Title: [Commission of William North as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Massachusetts artillery]

Partially printed document signed by John Avery as deputy secretary of the council. Also signed by members of the Massachusetts Bay Council, including: Jer. Powell, Artemas Ward, B. Greenleaf, Richard Derby, John Whitcomb, Moses Gill, John Taylor, B. White, Ben Austin, H. Gardner, E. Thayersir, D. Hopkins, Jabez Fisher, and Dr. Samuel Holten. North was appointed a lieutenant in the 6th company, 1st regiment under Captain John Gill in the Regiment Train of Artillery commanded by Colonel Thomas Crafts. Features paper seal of the state of Massachusetts.

GLC02542.26

February 21, 1781

Painter, L., fl. 1781

Document signed

Title: [Enlistment document for volunteers in company of William Van Dueser]

Signed by 23 men to show they have voluntarily enlisted in the company of artillery under the command of William Van Dueser to serve as a guard for the town of New Haven, Connecticut until the first day of 1782. Several people signed their name, but were scratched off the list later. It appears that the document was created by Lieutenant Painter since his signature is below a note that states "those Inlisted the First of January together with myself Jany 1 1781." Related to GLC02542.30.

GLC02542.28

1 June 1781

Hunt, John, fl. 1782

Document signed

Title: [Enlistment document for volunteers in company of William Van Dueser]

Signed by 8 men to show they have voluntarily enlisted in the company of artillery under the command of William Van Dueser to serve as a guard for the town of New Haven, Connecticut until the first day of 1782. Related to GLC02542.28.

GLC02542.30

4 April 1779

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Major General Schuyler to an unknown recipient, but seller's description says it is probably to Continental Congressman James Duane. References recipients letter of 20 March and another undated letter. Says the president, probably Continental Congress President John Jay, sent him the resolution rejecting his resignation. Schuyler had put in his resignation after an October 1778 court martial, which he requested, acquitted him of incompetence over the loss of Fort Ticonderoga in 1777. Says he wants to resign because Congress deprived him of the command of his army when they selected…

GLC02545

12 July 1781

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Major General Wayne discusses the campaign that led up to the Battle of Yorktown. Discusses forcing Lord Cornwallis to retreat, justifies his unorthodox tactics, and describes an amazing escape at the battle of Green Spring.

GLC02620

8 August 1780

Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Conclusion of letter to Brigadier General Henry Knox ] [incomplete]

Concluding portion of the letter including only the close and signature, stating, "Please to present my best respects to Mrs. Knox ... " With initialed postscript by Arnold, "A line from you at any time when you are at leisure will be very acceptable." Date from docket.

GLC02633

1775

Haring, John, 1739-1809

Document signed

Title: Printed form for appointment of New York militia officer [blank]

[Continental Congress members]

GLC02471.18

16 July 1778

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Document signed

Title: A list of provisions to be furnished by the commisary for the use of the French squadron under the command of Vice Admiral d'Estaing

List of provisions to be provided by the "Marine Committee" to the "French Squadron" commanded by Admiral d'Estaing. Lists amount needed. Items include bread, salt pork, hog heads & feet, salt fish, cheese, peas, beans, rice, beer, and vinegar. States one third of these provisions must be received immediately, and the rest whenever d'Estaing desires. If any particular articles cannot be obtained, they should be replaced by equal amounts of similar articles, except vinegar which "is indispensable." If the French find they need some items more than others, they can change the…

GLC02471.26

20 May 1779

Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Harrison

Written by Henry as Governor of Virginia to Harrison, a Declaration of Independence signer, as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. Says he has enclosed a letter he received by express from Charlestown, South Carolina (not included). Wants Harrison to report it to the state assembly. Says he has held the messenger until the assembly has heard the letter's contents. Wants to be able to send him back with news of any measures the assembly passes relative to South Carolina. This letter is in reference to the raid of Charlestown by British General Augustine Prevost 11-13 May 1779. General…

GLC02477

28 November 1776

Hogun, James, ?-1781

Document signed

Title: [Bill for moving and provisioning troops in North Carolina]

Receipt accounted for by Colonel Hogun that billed North Carolina for captured American prisoners. Hogun was promoted to Colonel two days previously. Hogun was later captured at Charleston, South Carolina, in May 1780. He refused parole to stay with his men who were being pressured to serve in Jamaica as royal militia. He died in captivity in January 1781.

GLC02478

circa 1780

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [Notes from the Pennsylvania Executive Council regarding pardons, appointments, and appropriations of funds].

Wayne notes that on 6 January 1780, the Executive Council pardoned William Cassidy and Peter Swope, both of whom were "convicted of high treason--on condition that he serve as a soldier during the present war in one of the regiments of this State..." Wayne terms the declaration of the Council "A dangerous president [sic--precedent]...of fatal consequences." Also notes the appointment of a judge who took office while failing to resign as a member of the House of Representatives. Mentions disparagingly the appropriations of scalping rewards and other questionable payments. Concludes with entry…

GLC08497

21 March 1780

Dunlap, John, 1747-1812

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania packet or the general advertiser. [March 21, 1780]

Contains dispatches of General George Washington and Congress. Includes reports on various ships, and war news from Georgia. Contains a report from the House of Commons pertaining to a bill for the encouragement of Irish trade. Includes a report on Continental troops taking a British officer (Captain Ogden) hostage near Tarrytown, New York. Refers to an investigation conducted by General Philip Schuyler related to events in Canada. Contains an extract of minutes of the General Assembly, authorized by Assembly Clerk Thomas Paine, related to "An Act for striking the sum of One hundred…

GLC08748.05

8 April 1776

Edes, Benjamin, 1732-1803

Newspaper

Title: Boston gazette and country journal. [No. 1090, (April 8, 1776)]

Prints resolution of Congress dated March 23, 1776. Also reports on news regarding the evacuation of Boston by the British. Contains fugitive slave ads.

GLC08748.02