Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809 to Henry Knox

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00647 Author/Creator: Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809 Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter Date: 4 September 1777 Pagination: 3 p. : address ; 32.4 x 20.5 cm. Order a Copy

Expresses surprise that the Continental Army has no knowledge of British General William Howe's location. Thinks it's possible, but unlikely, Howe intends to sail for Boston. Comments on the Battle of Bennington and the performance of General John Stark: "Genl Starks Action I think view'g every circumstance stands first in the American War... before this the Enemy were Ravage'g, butcherg and Scalp'g all before them, not a prisoner fell in there Land but was Tomhawk't to Death- now all is quiet with them & we hear nothing of their Scalp'g & c." Relates that [Burgoyne] has possibly retracted back to Ticonderoga, and ponders why Howe would leave Burgoyne isolated. Reports that a naval prize bound for New York from Liverpool, England, was taken at Boston 3 September, and papers on board suggest the British "look upon the affair to be up with us." Saw in one London paper a paragraph he had written to Knox the previous March in a letter. Asks Knox to speak to "the General" (George Washington) regarding his officers' commissions. Reports that he has not recruited many men recently, and his regiment consists of 160 men. Asks Henry to give his regards to "Bill," Henry's brother William Knox.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809
Knox, William, 1756-1795
Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792
Howe, William, 1729-1814
Stark, John, 1728-1822
Washington, George, 1732-1799

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources