8 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Written by Brigadier General Henry Knox to his brother William. Mentions sending a letter to him three days earlier. In that letter he says he gave as much of an account of the general circumstances of the army as possible given the chance of mail getting captured. Says they have zeal, but would not be able to overtake the enemy. Has no news other than Lord Cornwallis being named commander in chief in place of General Clinton, who returns to England. Says "This War has [invariably] disgraced every british commander and I hope eventually disgrace the nation who employs them." Requests to draw…

GLC02437.01125

11 September 1782

Villefranche, Jean-Louis-Ambroise de Genton, chevalier de, 1747-1784

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "A Capt. [possibly Jonathan] Lawrence of the Corps of Sappers is so unwell in sick quarters as to make it necessary for his servant (who is now in Camp) to be with him - beg therefore that your permission may be granted to send him off immediately."

GLC02437.01599

16 September 1782

Villefranche, Jean-Louis-Ambroise de Genton, chevalier de, 1747-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "the quarter master general has told me a few days since, that he could not furnish me with any Masons; untill the 20th of the present instant ; it also seems to me that he is not able to supply with lime and other essential articles, to carry on the work with celerity: these reasons induces me to imagine it improper to begin the masonry this fall, for in a little while the front will hinder us from doing any business of this kind - I think it would be much more advantageous to turn all the means we have to the repairing and building accommodations for the troops in the Garrison, for…

GLC02437.01616

21 September 1782

Van Rensselaer, Philip, 1747-1798

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I herewith Transmit your honor a Return - agreeable to your request, hope and Doubt not but Will meet your approbation." Van Rensselaer signs as public storekeeper.

GLC02437.01622

24 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: to George Washington

Account of ordnance "attached to the American Army." Includes two lists: "Field Artillery" and "For a Siege." The siege being prepared for was the Battle of Yorktown, which began the following month. Written at a Park of Artillery. With closing and Knox's signature (written along the margin) in the hand of Samuel Shaw.

GLC02437.01156

1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Discusses the importance of the campaign in New York and feels Washington's efforts in the state are worthwhile. But states that "prospects are dubious," because the enemy has reinforcements arriving. Mentions the arrival of the Comte De Grasse. Feels that New York should be the object but is worried that their forces are not adequate. Unsigned but creator inferred from handwriting. Date and recipient added later in pencil and red ink. See GLC02437.08161 for a related document. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.08176

30 March 1782

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Later copy advising Knox to speak to his colleague about his association and manner of speaking with another person. Writes that "I have every reason short of positive proof to believe the person here meant, is a Traitor to this Country, that he is in the pay of the Enemy..." Noted as written at the York Hutts and as a copy, "Copied and composed with the original Feb 8th 1854."

GLC02437.09324

10 February 1776

Waters, Josiah, fl. 1776-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Congratulates Knox on a safe return from Fort Ticonderoga, where he was retrieving artillery pieces for the Continental Army in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Has had trouble obtaining books on military fortification and asks Knox, who had been a bookseller in Boston, if he could find some. Asks Knox to inform him of what maneuvers are being planned against the British, and promises it will "be most sacredly kept." Mentions that the saltpeter (a compound used in gunpowder) works are proceeding rapidly.

GLC02437.00249

7 June 1782

Waters, Josiah, fl. 1776-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Congratulates Knox on his recent promotion. Informs him that he has "been again prevailed upon to accept the disagreeable task of procuring this Towns Quota of Recruits for the Continental Army," a task which is "all times disagreeable but more particularly so when through long continued scenes of villainy and practices most pernicious to the Community, it seemed to become habitual to do wrong." The town council has given the former Muster Master, a Colonel [Ezra] Badlam, a testimony of approbation, and Colonel Badlam will be sent to deliver the present letter and the testimony letter.…

GLC02437.01443

7 November 1782

Waters, Josiah, fl. 1776-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "This will be delivered to you by Mr. J. Byles who if I mistake not served his time previous to the war with Mr. John Simpkins." After this time, he suffered "many adverse fortunes which has induced him to enter the service of the united States as a private soldier and being to march for camp has requested of me a line to you. Not being acquainted with him I made inquiry concerning his conduct, before I ventured to give him a Letter and finding that he has really been unfortunate though having committed some imprudences, I have told him that he must not expect the attention he…

GLC02437.01703

15 June 1782

Van Rensselaer, Philip, 1747-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I am requested by Col. Reid Commanding Officer of this Department to inform you that great part of the Continental Troops in this Quarter are Distitute of Cartridge Boxes, would therefore desire you to order at least 200 to this place. Recruits are dayly expected as also a supply of Cartridge paper thread Twines & flints and some writting paper as I am intirely out and no money to purchase any." Van Rensselaer signs as public storekeeper.

GLC02437.01453

29 October 1782

Walker, Benjamin, 1753-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Head Quarters. Writes that the Commander in Chief [General George Washington] would like to inform Knox that "immediately on the arrival of the troops at their places of Cantonment much uneasiness arose as hearing their artificers" were not about to join them. They feel that "hutting" cannot commence until "they get their carpenters to direct the work." Therefore General Washington wishes that "neither they nor the Masons; may be detained one moment after the time agreed on" and that if any of them "as can possibly be spared may be sent even before that time."

GLC02437.01685

10 February 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Later copy of original. Asks Knox to gather materials and help prepare scientific experiments for military purposes planned by Mr. De Granger. With Washington's name at the bottom, signed in another hand. On blue paper. Original Washington signed letter is GLC02437.09371.

GLC02437.09322

22 March 1782

United States. Continental Congress.

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Resolve of Congress respecting the promotion of Knox to major general]

Signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary of Congress. Congress resolved to promote Henry Knox from brigadier general to major general. States that the promotion was granted on the recommendation of George Washington's letter of 31 October 1781 for merit during the siege of Yorktown. The promotion was dated from 15 November 1781. Knox was the youngest major general in the Continental Army.

GLC02437.01371

March 1777

Manuscript document

Title: [Army expenses]

General Henry Knox's army expenses. $66,937 was brought forward. Includes a $600 and $400 payment for recruiting. Also notes "To cash recd. of Govr. Trumbull of Connect[icu]t. agreeable to a Dra[f]t. on him by His Excellency General Washington for the recruiting - and ordnance service Feb. 26 1777 20,000." The total expense was $87,937.

GLC02437.08399

16 September 1777-16 October 1777

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph document

Title: Knox's army diary [incomplete]

Mostly deals with movements of the army around Philadelphia in September and October 1777, around the time of the Battle of Germantown. On September 19 says "Intelligence recd. of the enemys pushing for Philadelphia the army cross'd the Schylkill." On 20 September, makes reference to General Anthony Wayne being attacked at night and states that General William Smallwood joined Wayne. Makes reference to George Washington riding reconnaissance with a group of officers on 30 September. Makes reference to moving toward Germantown on 3 and 4 October and describes the battle there. Makes…

GLC02437.08417

circa September 1776

Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820

Autograph document signed

Title: [Officers' petition to Henry Knox regarding inadequate wages]

Signed by Sargent, William Treadwell, Benjamin Frothingham, Jotham Horton, David Allen, John Johnston, Thomas Seward, and Benajah Carpenter. All sign as Captain Lieutenant, and present a moving request for livable wages. "...We the subscribers, your Honour's Petitioners, finding our present Wages inadequate to our necessary Expenses, wou'd beg your Honour to report the Affair to his Excellency... we are not mercenary- we desire not to hoard up, but had we Millions would with Pleasure spend them in our Country's Cause...we've nothing to offer our Country but our lives, which we'll hazard or…

GLC02437.10008

19 October 1781

Hunter, James, fl. 1781

Autograph document

Title: [Bill to Henry Knox for military supplies needed for the siege of Yorktown].

Bill for iron and waggonage from the Rappahannock Forge in Falmouth, Virginia. Knox's instructions to Hunter to send iron and ordnance to the James River and Hunter's report on fulfilling that request appear in GLC02437.01194 and GLC02437.01217, respectively.

GLC02437.01246

1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: [Rations for Henry Knox and his family, 1777-1781]

In the handwriting of Samuel Shaw, Henry Knox's aide-de-camp. Lists the rations to which Henry Knox and his military "family" are entitled from 1777-1781, broken down yearly. Also mentions Colonel John Crane and General Nathanael Greene and their families.

GLC02437.01299

10 March 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: Gen. Knox in account with S. Shaw

Lists Henry Knox's accounts with Shaw, beginning 8 June 1781 and ending 12 December, 1781. Contains several memoranda and instructions for what Knox owes to Shaw and what the United States government owes Knox. Expenses range from: groceries and house wares to a payment to Frederick "for dressing the Generals hat," to "Jacob's wife (Peggy) for washing," to "Cato Freeman on account of his wages" (probably an African-American servant), travel and board expenses "From Camp to Philadelphia" [August], from "Philadelphia to Williamsburg in Virginia" [September], and from "York to Mount Vernon" […

GLC02437.01368

18 July 1782

Vose, Thomas, 1753-1810

Manuscript document signed

Title: Return of two pieces of brass ordnance attached to Genl Hows Division, with the ammunition impliments be on hand, & the number of rounds expended at Tarry Town on the 16th & 17th instant

A chart describing the brass ordnance of General Robert Howe's division, including ammunition.

GLC02437.01493

December 31, 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: to Henry Knox

Page of accounts for horse pasturage and rations.

GLC02437.01766

6 July 1776-27 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Memorandum of cash paid]

Cash paid for board as well as tailoring and cloth.

GLC02437.08388

29 November 1776-5 December 1776

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: Expence of travelling from Fishkill to Trentown

Written in Shaw's hand. Travelling expenses for Knox, his adjutant Monsieur Colreuse, and his man John. The total cost came to £7.7.11. Note at bottom says that Shaw borrowed 30 dollars from Knox, part of which was used to pay Knox's account at the Widow Sills Tavern in Trenton. Page 2 says the amount is to be charged to the Quartermaster General.

GLC02437.08392

1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Henry Knox's asking price for land]

Initialled twice by Knox. This document was sent to James Swan. Will accept a payment of $12,000 and $18,000 loan at 6 percent interest, payable annually, in return for 100,000 acres of land. The land is probably in Maine. Guarantees the land will not cost more than 30 cents per acre.

GLC02437.08404