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.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 to Lucy Knox

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01244 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: Yorktown, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 October 1781 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; Order a Copy

Announces that "a glorious moment for America" has arrived, Lord Cornwallis has surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown. Discusses how General Washington refused Cornwallis' request that Britons and Germans be sent back to their countries prior to his surrender, instead giving the British Army the same terms that the Americans received upon their surrender at Charleston in 1780. Washington has ordered Knox to headquarters immediately. Clement Biddle has written Knox to tell him his daughter Lucy is well. Tells his wife he will send her his most recent letter from his brother William Knox, who is tending their financial affairs. Looks forward to seeing her in November. Communicates message from William regarding Lucy's connections in England. Knox has informed George Washington and John Parke Custis of William's trip to Europe. Reports that Martha Washington and Eleanor Calvert Custis are in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824
Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis, 1738-1805
Knox, William, 1756-1795
Washington, George, 1732-1799

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources