May 25, 1779

Wharton, James, 1732-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Taylor

Wharton sends copies of letters he wrote Taylor on April 9, 1779 and May 17, 1779, to which Taylor has not responded. Wharton urgently requested ammunition for frigates. Taylor worked with Hugh Hughes' ironworks in New Jersey.

GLC01450.620

October 15, 1776

Duset, Philemon, fl. 1776

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Allyn

Duset informs Allyn that he is sick, and asks for that his coat be sent to him. Letter written at "Camp near Kingsbridge" in Bronx, New York.

GLC01450.621

1781, 1862

Header Record

Title: Appointment of Stephen Griffin and print of George Clinton [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC01450.623

1778

Goodwin, Nathaniel, 1748-1819

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Diary kept in "Bickerstaff's New-England Almanack"]

Goodwin, a Major in Colonel Jacob Gerrish's regiment, writes "while at Boston" across the title page of the almanac. Includes entries from other locations. Contains 22 pages of printed text, 7 pages of handwritten text. Relates traveling to Bedford and Salem. Mentions the Lucy, possibly a ship. Discusses the weather and a French naval fleet. Writes that Major General Horatio Gates assumed command of the Eastern Department (November 1778). In December, states that his entire detachment was discharged from duty based on Gates's orders. Bickerstaff's New England Almanack was published in…

GLC01450.629

circa 1783

Header Record

Title: Certificate of discharge for Jonathan Mury and anchor button [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC01450.655

June 20, 1779

Beckman, Ijerich, fl. 1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

The letter discusses marching to attack Iroquois Indians and burning villages.

GLC01450.801

July 14, 1777

Bachellor, William, 1749-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Captain Hudson

Discusses the chemistry Dr. Boerhaav and determines there is "No process in which the purging Salts are made that is practicable at this Time." Transcribes a long passage from a book explaining how to make salt cartharticum.

GLC01450.802

1779

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Book

Title: Observations on the American Revolution

Morris' notes on the conduct of Biritish and American forces, and on the revolution. Published by Styner & Cist.

GLC01450.805.01

February 24, 1779

Manuscript document

Title: [Payments made by Congress]

Short list of debits and credits of the Continental Congress from 31 October 1778 to 24 February 1779, relating to the printing of "Observations on the American Revolution," written by Gouverneur Morris. Two debits are to the printers Styner & Cist. The first payment of 680 pounds on 31 October 1778 was for the printing of 1300 copies of the book. The second payment of 450 pounds on 24 February 1779 was an advance for wages and bookbinders work. Credit on 16 November 1778, says 210 pound balance from a former account was delivered to William Drayton. The credit on 31 December 1778…

GLC01450.805.02

20 July 1780

Pottwatomi Indian Nation, fl. 1780

Manuscript document signed

Title: Land grant to Maj. Arent Schuyler De Peyster (Detroit area)

Land grant to Arent Schuyler De Peyster, Major in the King's 8th Regiment at Detroit. De Peyster has signed on the back where he turns-over his ownership to a nephew. Signed with pictographs by the representatives of the following Indian tribes, all part of the Pottawatomi Nation: 1. Nesowagie (deer), 2. Nowense (horse?), 3. Eskebee (rabbit?), 4. Mesowashquat (right-pointing arrow), 5. Oswanaghquat (horse? on its back), 6. Waweyaghlin (3-finned fish), 7. Mutekeseepie (colored fish), 8. Windego (3-finned fish), 9. Left-pointing arrow), 10. Mesaikssangie (eagle), 11. Cameach (eagle). The…

GLC01450.808

17 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Peters

Knox writes to Peters, a member of the Congressional Board of War and Ordnance. Discusses gathering ordnance and stores for George Washington's proposed "Southern Operation." Written at Phillipsburg (present-day Sleepy Hollow, New York).

GLC02437.01137

February 12, 1782

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

On George Washington's instructions, Pickering writes to ask for estimates regarding field artillery pieces and transportation like tumbrils and wagons. Also asks whether horses or oxen are best to use to pull these carts, and how many of each they will need for the next campaign.

GLC02437.01351

1 May 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Peirce

Apologizes for not writing sooner but explains that he was held on "public business" in Elizabeth Town, New Jersey. Mentions a petition he gave to General Benjamin Lincoln. Focuses on matters of personal finance, such as his possible purchase of an estate in Cumberland and land featuring a lime rock farm, which strikes him as a good investment due to the possibility of renting the land and selling the limestone. Discusses taxes, and also mentions items left by his brother, William Knox, to be sold, with the proceeds to be sent to Henry Knox. See GLC02437.01404 and GLC02437.01380 for…

GLC02437.01406

12 June 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joshua Loring and Joseph Peirce

Consists of Knox's working drafts of two retained letters, one to Joshua Loring and one to Joseph Peirce. In the letter to Loring, Knox asks that he forward him any money that he owes him as well as the proceeds for any sales of items belong to his brother, William Knox. Declares that he must pay 500 dollars over the next two months, and asks that the payments be made in "Morris Notes," if possible (perhaps a reference to financier Robert Morris). In the letter to Peirce, he also discusses the collection of money from Mr. Morris and others, and mentions General Benjamin Lincoln.

GLC02437.01447

22 August 1782

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the transportation of supplies from a building at Fishkill being taken down. Writes to inform Pickering that he asked "the officer commanding the fatigue party to see that the lumber was put under the care of a sentry," in case Pickering needed to issue further instructions.

GLC02437.01534

27 August 1782

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks that he deliver the damaged shells at West Point to Mr. Daniel Carthy, Quarter Master at West Point.

GLC02437.01541

30 August 1782

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I sent to Mr. [Daniel] Carthy a note this morning directing him to apply to you for a crew for a boat which Carthy was to have ready for me. The movement of the army to-morrow, which I must attend, will require that I be able to move with expedition whenever duty may call me. I should therefore be furnished with good oarsmen. If they are taken from the garrison intended to remain at the Point, I will return them as soon as their movement is finished. I beg you to give directions accordingly." Also discusses obtaining horses for moving the artillery.

GLC02437.01549

12 September 1782

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Camp Verplank's Point, present-day Verplanck, New York. Writes, "The French army is at hand, and the fifth waggon will be ready to cross the river on Saturday. Among other things we want strong ropes to drag the carriages in and out of the boats. I am not certain that we have suitable cordage, I beg you therefore to cause Mr. [probably Daniel] Carthy to be furnished with four sets of drag ropes suitable for 18 pounders - six sets will be better, for dispatch & to bar accidents."

GLC02437.01598

14 September 1782

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written at Camp Verplank's Point, present-day Verplanck, New York. Mentions that the Brigade of Light Infantry and the Corps of Light Dragoons need traveling forges and that it is not in his power to supply them. Writes, "The park being arrived I imagine that two may be spared from thence without inconvenience, seeing it will remain at West Point. I must therefore request you to furnish Mr. [Daniel] Carthy with two travelling forges with the necessary tools: he can send them down in the large scow [a type of boat], which he expected to have ready by to-night." Asks him to furnish Mr.…

GLC02437.01609

16 September 1782

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Camp Verplank's Point, present-day Verplanck, New York. Thinks "it will be practicable to support the number of horses you mention as requisite for the duty at West Point. At present the number of horses actually there is twenty two, some of them clearly not necessary at the post." Asks Knox to remove the unnecessary horses from the post. Also discusses the difficulty in procuring forage in the area of West Point, especially for the coming winter, and has made arrangements to obtain some. "Public service" written on address leaf.

GLC02437.01614

5 October 1782

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Colonel Pickering as Quartermaster General to Major General Knox. Reports that Major Cogswell will have 2 good teams sent today to haul the frame for the barrack at Constitution Island. Says 4 more teams will be added as soon as they arrive from the country with their forage. Says if the timber is hewed in the woods to sizes, Major Cogswell believes the 6 teams can haul the frames to the landings in 6 or 8 days. Hopes the enemy's movements will not interrupt the construction of accommodations for the troops. Says the "artificers" of Parsell's Company were to arrive yesterday at…

GLC02437.01645

22 October 1782

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Verplank's Point, present-day Verplanck, New York. In response to recent letters from Knox (see GLC02437.01640 and GLC02437.01648), Colonel Pickering, the Quartermaster General, writes, "When the mind is eager in the pursuit of any object, it is apt to decide hastily, without fully inquiring into facts. I have often fallen into this error myself, and as often resolved to be more cautious in future. I can therefore easily account for and excuse the censure implied in your letter." Explains that he is aware of the health of the ox teams hauling materials for the Constitution…

GLC02437.01675

4 November 1782

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Signature has been clipped, but author Colonel Timothy Pickering is mentioned in the docket. Writes, "Agreeably to our mutual determination when last I had the pleasure of seeing you, I am content to receive Mr. Moses Dean again into my department, and to be responsible for his pay, which is to be equal to the monthly pay of a lieutenant in Capt. Patton's [perhaps Thomas Patten's] company of artificers. If you please this pay may commence the fifth day of the present month. I will thank you for a certificate that he will from that day be omitted in the pay-rolls of Capt. Patton's company."

GLC02437.01699

7 June 1783

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks on behalf of other quarter masters what they should do with spare ammunition as the "brigades in this vicinity are dissolved and dissolving." "On public service" written on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.02152

17 December 1781

Sears, Isaac, 1730-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Declares "we are very happy in this part of the Country at the glorious campaign our army has had this last summer," and says the people in his region are hoping for a peace. Comments that he is sorry to hear of General George Washington's loss of his stepson, Mr. John Parke Custis. Mentions several vessels that have been captured by the enemy: Captains Magge and Grenwell were both taken. Informs Knox that he lost money through the loss of cargo on these ships; Sears has about 230 pounds of Knox's money. Encourages Knox to invest this money in a small vessel Captain Magge will command.…

GLC02437.01306