1862

Moore, George Henry, 1823-1892

Pamphlet

Title: Historical notes on the employment of Negroes in the American army of the Revolution.

Published by Charles T. Evans. Discusses the involvement of African Americans in the American Revolution. Includes a return of African American soldiers on page 17 (lists numbers of African Americans by state for 1778). Discusses the opinions of American statesmen on the topic of African Americans serving in the military. Assesses the service of African Americans in different states. Includes quotes from George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, among others.

GLC08405

12 June1783

Washington, George (1732-1799)

Letter signed

Title: To: William Livingston.

Washington's farewell address ("Circular to the States") as Commander-in-Chief,spelling out principles esssential to new nation's future existence, now that the United States are "proposed of absolute freedom and independency." With printed copy of address (1783).

GLC08079

circa 1780

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph document

Title: [Notes from the Pennsylvania Executive Council regarding pardons, appointments, and appropriations of funds].

Wayne notes that on 6 January 1780, the Executive Council pardoned William Cassidy and Peter Swope, both of whom were "convicted of high treason--on condition that he serve as a soldier during the present war in one of the regiments of this State..." Wayne terms the declaration of the Council "A dangerous president [sic--precedent]...of fatal consequences." Also notes the appointment of a judge who took office while failing to resign as a member of the House of Representatives. Mentions disparagingly the appropriations of scalping rewards and other questionable payments. Concludes with entry…

GLC08497

3 December 1777

Parker, W., fl. 1777

Newspaper

Title: General advertiser and morning intelligencer. [No. 337 (December 3, 1777)]

Reprints the "whole of the London Gazette Extraordinary," of 2 December 1777 which includes a letter of British General William Howe to Lord George Germain dated 10 October 1777 at Germantown concerning events in the Revolutionary War. Includes a list of wounded and killed at the Battle of Brandywine, 11 September 1777 and Germantown, 4 October 1777. Also prints extracts of letters from Sir Henry Clinton to William Howe. Stamped with half-penny tax on first page lower right corner.

GLC08717

1790/06/23

Fenno, John, 1751-1798

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [Vol. II, no. 21 (June 23, 1790)]

Includes an article "On the Means of Preserving the Union of the American States," opining that the "present constitution of the United States appears to be excellent in contemplation; and if the harmony of the States should not be disturbed by groundless jealousies, it bids fair to be durable and efficient in practice." Reports on activities in the House of Representatives. Also: an article on the national debt, a bill to establish the Post Office, a eulogy of General Israel Putnam, news from around the country and Europe (including the French Revolution), literary pieces and advertisements.

GLC08720.02

14 December 1775

Towne, Benjamin, ?-1793

Newspaper

Title: The Pennsylvania evening post. [Vol. 1, no. 14 (December 14, 1775)]

Includes several letters from mid-October 1775 by Brook Watson in Montreal. As a British officer who owned land in Nova Scotia, Watson pretended to support the American cause in 1774. Intercepted letters to General Thomas Gage proved he was a spy. The letters in this issue were published at the request of Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress. The letters contain several embarrassing comments, including his prediction that Gage will have to leave Boston soon and that "the kingdom of Great-Britain cannot much longer be governed by such weak councils and feeble efforts." Watson…

GLC08748.06

16 July 1779

Donaldson, James, 1751-1830

Newspaper

Title: Edinburgh advertiser. [Vol. 32, no. 1622 (July 13- July 16, 1779)]

Discusses local meetings of noblemen regarding the raising of sailors. Includes a proclamation of George III discussing Britain's possible invasion by unspecified British enemies. Includes a letter from British General Henry Clinton discussing the capture "of the ports of Stony Point and Verplanks, the most direct and convenient communication between the province on either side of the Hudson's river." Contains correspondence discussing Revolutionary War activity in Georgia and South Carolina. Includes an assurance that as long as Britain maintains a strong presence on the sea, enemy…

GLC08756

2 November 1778

Edes, Benjamin, 1732-1803

Newspaper

Title: Boston gazette and country journal. [No. 1262 (November 2, 1778)]

Discusses a book on government, liberty, and tyranny by pastor Isaac Backus. Contains Articles of Capitulation concerning Francois Claude Amour (the Marquis de Bouille). Mentions General Horatio Gates's arrival in Hartford, Connecticut. Refers to a large issue of counterfeit bills circulating in New York, describing specific characteristics of the counterfeits. Includes various advertisements. Contains several references to the lottery.

GLC08790

21 August 1781

Claypoole, David C., fl. 1757-1849

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania packet or the general advertiser. [Vol. 10, no. 771 (August 21, 1781)]

Contains reports of activities of the British army near Camden, South Carolina. Refers to the actions of American General Nathanael Greene, British General Charles Cornwallis, and Lord Francis Hastings-Rawdon. Includes a petition of the West India Planters and Merchants to King George III. Contains reports on the activities of various privateers, notices of sale, and advertisements.

GLC08802

1783/10

Magazine

Title: The Political Magazine [Treaty of peace ending Revolution]

Printed for J. Brew. Disbound. Prints the treaties with France, Spain and the United States. Also includes the letter of Sir Guy Carleton to the American Congress regarding the evacuation of New York. Contains several plated depicting European scenes.

GLC08820

9 August 1781

Willis, Nathaniel, 1755-1831

Newspaper

Title: Independent chronicle and the universal advertiser. [Vol. 13, no. 903 (August 9, 1781)]

Signed by [William?] Dame. Discusses the war against Great Britain. Contains a report on the progress of the Continental Army near Williamsburg, Virginia written as a letter by the Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette describes events of the Battle of Green Spring, mentioning the actions of American General Anthony Wayne and British General Charles Cornwallis. Includes reports on a meeting between "the Ambassadors from the several belligerent powers, and of the armed neutrality" in May 1781 at Vienna, Austria. Includes reports on the activities of various privateers. Contains advertisements…

GLC08823

25 September 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Adams

Later copy. Responds to a request from Adams' (see GLC02437.00) and comments on the character and abilities of several officers, although he directs Adams to a list of officers rather than composing one himself. Discusses the difficulties of inducing good men to serve. Suggest the establishment of military academies. Discusses the problems of the Continental Army with reference to the activities in New York. Praises Gerge Washington and Nathanael Greene. Believes the Battle of Long Island was their one chance to win in New York. Discusses the fortification of Harlem Heights.

GLC02437.00454

1 January 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission for William Burbeck as First Lieutenant Colonel]

Partially-printed document signed. Countersigned by Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress. Burbeck is commissioned to serve in the artillery regiment commanded by Henry Knox.

GLC02437.10001

May 1776-September 1776

Manuscript document

Title: Account between Doctor [William?] Pollard and Henry Knox

Includes figures related to Pollard's account. Autograph notation in Samuel Shaw's hand.

GLC02437.10007

2 April 1776-28 September 1776

Manuscript document

Title: [Army expenses of various regiments]

Includes clothing expenses of named officers and companies belonging to the regiment of artillery commanded by Henry Knox. Knox's expenses include "1 Regt. Coat for Boy Tom" (possibly an African-American servant).

GLC02437.10009

18 January 1781

Craig, Isaac, 1742-1826

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Return of Ordnance Stores at Fort Pitt and Fort McIntosh]

Signed by I. Craig, Captain of Artillery to Henry Knox, Brigadier General of Artillery. Lists stores of shells, powder, cartridges, muskets, rifles, swords, etc. Fort Pitt was the site of present day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Fort McIntosh became the town of Beaver, Pennsylvania. Document is one long narrow sheet folded six times.

GLC02437.10018

18 February 1781

Craig, Isaac, 1742-1826

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Return of ordnance stores at Fort Pitt and Fort McIntosh]

Signed by I. Craig, Captain of Artillery to Henry Knox, Brigadier General of Artillery. Lists stores of shells, powder, cartridges, muskets, rifles, swords, etc. Note on verso of last fold states the return differs from the last due to a fire that broke out in the barracks making it necessary to remove the ordnance stores. States that "in the confusion some small loss was sustained." Fort McIntosh became the town of Beaver, Pennsylvania. Fort McIntosh was in Ohio. Document is one long narrow sheet folded six times.

GLC02437.10019

September 1776- December 1777

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: General Knox in account with [Samuel] Shaw

Lists account information regarding the purchase of a variety of goods: gloves, ducks, potatoes, oats, handkerchiefs, postage for letters, housekeeping, and various other items.

GLC02437.10456

28 January 1776

Manuscript document

Title: Return of the officers names in the artillery regiment in the service of the United Colonies

Lists Colonel Henry Knox, First Lieutenant William Burbeck, Second Lieutenant Colonel David Mason, and First Major John Crane. Lists the names of captains, captain lieutenants, first lieutenants, second lieutenants, and third lieutenants. Date from docket.

GLC02437.10459

1776

Bradlee, David, 1742-1811

Manuscript document

Title: David Bradlee's accounts

Includes account information between Henry Knox and the artillery officers serving under him. Covers February through April. Includes Ebenezer Stevens, Jotham Horton, Henry Burbeck, and Samuel Shaw, among others. Captains pay Knox for breeches, shalloon (a lightweight fabric), and other items (mostly cloth). Bradlee is sometimes spelled "Bradley" in other records from the era.

GLC02437.10460

17 June 1776

Wheckley, J., fl. 1776

Manuscript document

Title: [Account information for an artillery regiment pertaining to Henry Knox and Thomas Mifflin, Quartermaster General]

Includes payments made in 1775 and 1776 to officers. [Wheckley?] signs for Mifflin.

GLC02437.10462

8 March 1788

Knowles, Charles, ?-1796

Manuscript document

Title: Honble Brig Gen. Henry Knox... his account of cash with Charles Knowles

Knowles signs as paymaster. Includes account information from March-November 1777. Lists expenses and charges, including many charges made to Samuel Shaw.

GLC02437.10476

16 April 1780

Manuscript document

Title: Arrangement of the corps of artillery (regimental & relative rank)

Lists the names, rank, and date of commission of officers in the first, second, third, and fourth battalion in the corps of artillery commanded by Henry Knox. Includes dates of appointment ranging from 1777-1779. Also includes a paragraph noting that these Maryland companies listed in this document were not included in a prior battalion arrangement. Reports that an unspecified legislature (possibly the Maryland Legislature) has not given their consent to incorporation of the Maryland companies in the First Battalion. Relates that the officers can be commissioned according to their present…

GLC02437.10480

6 September 1780

Collins, John, 1717-1795

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Return of ordnance stores]

Full title: "A Return of Ordnance Stores remaining in the Ordnance Store at Springfield August first and of all Stores Received from the first to the 31st 1780 Made to the Honourable Brigadier General Knox." Lists pieces of brass ordnance, case shot, paper cartridges filled, and other items.

GLC02437.10670

8 March 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francois Marie, comte de Aboville

Responds to Aboville's last letter (see GLC02437.01350). Discusses the loss of cannon: "Your surprize and astonishment must have been great indeed that Machines so important and essential to the defence of a country would be placed in so negligent a manner as to be destroyed or rendered unserviceable by a single malignant person. But you judged right my dear Sir when you informed [his Excellency] Genl Rochambeau that I had no knowledge of them." Comments on the acquisition of military stores by the state of Virginia, and declares that General Washington will begin to negotiate with Virginia…

GLC02437.01365