18 May 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to John Adams

Apologizes for responding so late to Adams' letter of 11 November 1775 (see GLC002437.00208). Discusses military books and the difficulty of obtaining them in America, and recommends books useful to different departments in the army. Comments on the importance of the war and the cause of American freedom with vehement support: "Such Opportunities as the present do no[t] turn up often in the course of human events--the happiness or misery of a great proportion of the human race is at stake." Knox's retained working draft. The sent copy (now in the Adams Papers at the Massachusetts…

GLC02437.00293

13 May 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Invoice for soldier payment and clothing purchases for men in Henry Knox's artillery regiment]

Records money distributed to officers to pay members of the regiment and to purchase clothing.

GLC02437.00294

13 May 1776

Foster, Thomas Waite, fl. 1769-1776

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Henry Knox in account with Captain Thomas Waite Foster]

Records cash received from Major John Crane in February and March 1776 and mentions the purchase of clothing. Paper has a large watermark with crown and coat of arms. Foster was a captain in Knox's artillery regiment.

GLC02437.00295

13 May 1776

Newell, Eliphalet, 1735-?

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Henry Knox in account with Captain Eliphalet Newell]

Records cash received for pay and clothing in February and March 1776. Paper has crown watermark with "GR" underneath it. Newell was a captain in Knox's artillery regiment.

GLC02437.00296

13 May 1776

Drury, Jotham, 1741-1831

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Henry Knox in account with Captain Jotham Drury]

Records cash received from Major John Crane in February and March 1776 and mentions the purchase of clothing. Paper has a large watermark with crown and coat of arms. Drury was a captain in Knox's artillery regiment.

GLC02437.00297

April 1776

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses her love for Henry and attempts to make him feel guilty for being away from home and family, particularly his infant daughter. Thanks him for his three recent letters (see GLC02437.00273, GLC02437.00275, GLC02437.00276) but wonders why the letter he promised from New York has not arrived. Mentions that their daughter Lucy was christened at Trinity Church. Comments on her alarm at hearing that the British have taken George's Island in Boston Harbor. Knox was then moving southward toward New York, planning coastal defenses against the British navy for Rhode Island and Connecticut…

GLC02437.00282

2 May 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Mentions having a difficult journey to New York. Discusses the strong military defenses in the city and New York's strategic importance to the war effort. Instructs her to prepare for her journey from Boston to New York, advising her to travel in "coates coach with four horses," "sell Romeo," make sure William Knox comes along as her guard, bring linens, and be economical. Comments on availability of houses but expresses uncertainty about where to obtain furniture. Docket is in Lucy Knox's hand.

GLC02437.00283

1 May 1776

Manuscript document

Title: An abstract of Capt. Dimond Morton Company in Corl. Henry Knox Regiment of Artillery from [their] inlistment to the first of May 1776.

Lists names and pay of captains, sergeants, corporals, bombardiers, gunners, and a fifer.

GLC02437.10003

1 May 1776

Burbeck, Henry, 1754-1848

Manuscript document

Title: An abstract of officers and soldiers, under the command of Lieut Henry Burbeck, in the regt. of artillery, commanded by Henry Knox Esqr. from the first of [February] to the first of May.

Includes names and pay of officers and soldiers.

GLC02437.10461

20 February 1776

Fisher, George H., fl. 1776

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Since his first query received no response (for an unknown reason), writes again to request to serve "in any Station" under Knox.

GLC02437.00253

February 25, 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Burbeck

Asks Colonel Burbeck to procure horses and carts, and move some artillery pieces from Prospect Hill in Somerville, Massachusetts, after assessing the road in the daytime. Notes that he would have done this himself if his wife, Lucy Knox, was not currently ill.

GLC02437.00254

February 24, 1776

Stevens, Ebenezer, 1751-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that Samuel Hodgdon seeks his determination in regard to a commission for military uniforms. In a post script, asks if he may obtain clothes for his company immediately. In 1776, Hodgdon was a lieutenant in the Marines, and he later became the commissary general of military stores. Stevens had recently been appointed a captain in Knox's regiment of artillery.

GLC02437.00255

3 March 1776

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Autograph document signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Indicates changes made to the organization of artillery at Roxbury, Massachusetts, per Knox's request. The artillery was for the siege of Boston. Crane was a major under Knox's command.

GLC02437.00256

February 26, 1776

Read, Joseph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Artemas Ward

Gives a military report provided by Thomas Mayfield. Describes ship activities in Boston Harbor, mentioning workers and loading occurring at "the Castle," in reference to the military garrison on Castle Island in the harbor. Written in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.00257

December 11, 1775-April 19, 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Account of officer pay under Colonel Henry Knox]

Knox's record of officer's pay. Signed by Knox more than 25 times (all but once in the text); also signed by more than 23 other officers, including Henry Burbeck, William Eustis, Eliphalet Newell, Ebenezer Stevens, William Dana, Dimond Morton, Edward Burbeck, William Perkins, Jeremiah Niles, John Popkin, Edward Crafts, Jotham Drury, Isaac Coren, and Timothy Stow. Unbound military ledger accounting for pay issued to officers (and some other cash outlays) under Knox's command in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.00258

December 20, 1775- February 1, 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Account of cash paid to named Captains for the new Inlisted men & for Blanket money 1776]

Lists captains, the amount of cash allotted to them, and the date allotted. Written from Knox's headquarters. Addressed to Lieutenant Colonel of the Artillery William Burbeck, and signed by him.

GLC02437.00226

1 January 1776

Newell, Eliphalet, 1735-?

Document

Title: [A Return of Goods drawn out of the Continental Store for Capt. Eliphalet Newell's Company in Col. Henry Knox's Regiment]

Invoice of goods, listing only when goods were drawn by Colonel William Burbeck's orders in December 1774 ("1774" likely written in error for "1775").

GLC02437.00227

13 December 1775

Livingston, Walter, 1740-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Recommends distributing the horses over more sleighs in order to transport the artillery. Knox was then on a mission to bring British artillery pieces captured from the British earlier that year at Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Livingston was then serving on the commissary of stores and provisions for the department of New York.

GLC02437.00228

1775

Waldo, Jonathon, fl. 1721-1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Brief note pertaining to items Waldo had obtained or attempted to obtain for Knox. Closes with "As I was in the Beginning so I now am and ever shall be."

GLC02437.00229

1775

Waldo, Jonathon, fl. 1721-1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Thanks Knox for so often obliging him. Reports that Mr. Oliver, possibly Andrew Oliver, will pay Knox for the gun he got for Waldo (see GLC02437.00190 and GLC02437.00194). Assures him that Knox's requests are foremost on his mind. Expresses his desire to get married, placed in the context of a discussion on human nature. Reports that tories in Salem are "scar'd to Death" and leaving the area. Has heard that British soldiers will soon come to attempt to "intercept our Grand muster" but doubts that General Gage could ever "hinder their mutiny." Expresses that he would not like to see…

GLC02437.00230

circa 1775-1776

Autograph document

Title: [Plan for setting fire to British ships in Boston Harbor]

Affirms the practicability of laying siege to Boston Harbor, landing soldiers in the town of Boston, and setting fire to British shipping. Provides a lengthy list of military preparations and plans for the siege, For a map of the plans see GLC02437.00232.

GLC02437.00231

circa 1775-1776

Map

Title: [Battle plan for the siege of Boston Harbor]

Mapped battle plan for an American siege of Boston Harbor. Shows boats and some major geographic markers. For written plans see GLC02437.00231.

GLC02437.00232

1 January 1776

Newell, Eliphalet, 1735-?

Manuscript document signed

Title: [A Return of Goods drawn out of the Continental Store for Capt. Eliphalet Newell's Company in Col. Henry Knox's Regiment]

Invoice of goods, listing quantities drawn by various officers in December 1775.

GLC02437.00235

4 January 1776

Document

Title: [Resolution on the election of military officers by Congress]

Resolution pertaining to when more than one person is elected to the same rank on the same day. Notes that the Congress then went on to elect field officers for the battalion ordered to be raised in Pennsylvania. Another note indicates that this resolution was virtually repealed by a later resolution made on 24 November 1778.

GLC02437.00236

26 July 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Gershom Mott

Written for Knox by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide. Encloses an order from Timothy Pickering, Quartermaster General (order not included). Discusses a wagon which is to be sent to Kings Ferry, New York. Is glad to hear Mott has regained his health. Written at Philipsburgh, New York (present-day Sleepy Hollow).

GLC02437.01089