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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

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circa 1755-1763

Nourse, James (1731-1784)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horatio Gates

Discusses Major Gates' son, comments on the law requiring giving arms to the militia, and mentions Colonel George Washington twice.

GLC01450.264

9 December 1775

Gates, Horatio (1728-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests Knox's presence at headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts on behalf of George Washington. The letter was addressed to Worcester, Massachusetts, but at the time, Knox was at Fort George, in Lake George, New York.

GLC02437.00217

5 January 1776

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horatio Gates

Colonel Knox writes to General Gates, reflecting on "the successful campaigns of the past season." Hopes to be able to congratulate Gates in a few days on the possession of Quebec. Page three contains a struck draft of Knox's 5 January 1776 letter to George Washington. (See GLC02437.00238 for Knox's retained draft of the final letter.)

GLC02437.09490

1 February 1776

Gates, Horatio (1728-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Concerns a complaint by the quartermaster in the regiment of Colonel Prescott, possibly William Prescott, against a member of the regiment of artillery. Discusses a potential garrison court martial and its legality. Gates was then George Washington's adjutant general.

GLC02437.00246

26 April 1776

Badlam, Stephen (1751-1815)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horatio Gates

Reports information received from Lieutenant Colonel Peter Gansevoort and other officers returning from the siege of Quebec about the ordnance and stores available in American encampments near Quebec. There is none to speak of, with the exception of stores recently sent there from Cambridge, Massachusetts and New York City (see GLC02437.00270). Likewise, General Philip Schuyler's secretary has informed him that the artillery sent to Quebec from Schuyler's department has not been returned.

GLC02437.00278

27 April 1776

Badlam, Stephen (1751-1815)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Return]

Return from Military Stores at Albany, New York. Lists current stock of articles and articles carried forward.

GLC02437.10662

23 May 1776

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Indicates that he received William's letter from his wife Lucy, who just arrived in New York with their newborn child. Anticipates New York as "principal seat of war" and worries about his family being in harms way. Mentions that George Washington has gone to meet with the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to discuss the current campaign. Welcomes the news that General Horatio Gates has been promoted to major general and been placed in charge of the defense of Boston. Mentions a heavy loss inflicted by a schooner from the West Indies two days earlier.

GLC02437.00311

circa August 1776

Gates, Horatio (1728-1806)

Manuscript document

Title: A Journal of a Scout from Crown Point to St. John's Chamblee by Lieut Benjamin Whitcomb and four men

Clerical copy of a report of Whitcomb's spying mission in Canada 14-27 July 1776. Details their progress, the weather, attempts to get prisoners, and sightings of British troops moving supplies, etc. Notes that Whitcomb fired on a British officer [Brigadier General Patrick Gordon], whom he ended up killing though he was not aware of Gordon's identity at the time.

GLC01072

9 October 1776

Stringer, Samuel (b. 1725)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Discusses their correspondence. Comments on General Philip Schuyler's planned resignation. Discusses expectations for an attack on Fort Ticonderoga and the plans of General Horatio Gates in relation to Schuyler's impending resignation. Sends his regards to various people.

GLC02437.00470

10 November 1776

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Discusses how important his correspondence with Lucy is and how much it hurts him to urge her to go farther away from him (first to New Haven then to Boston). Speculates on a possible British strategy to extend their conquest into New Jersey, which will force Knox to follow, and be further from his wife. Notes that the New York campaign might be considered a loss for the Americans. Analyzes the current situation in New York. Comments that General George Washington set out for New Jersey.

GLC02437.00485

10 May 1777

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Letter

Title: to John Adams

Later copy. Knox writes to Adams, the Massachusetts representative to Continental Congress. Mentions obtaining cannon cast from the furnace at Salisbury, Massachusetts. Discusses a failed attempt by Colonel Stewart, aide-de-camp to General [Horatio] Gates, to obtain cannon for Ticonderoga, New York. Notes that Congress disapproved of the cannon price, thus Ticonderoga remains without the cannon.

GLC02437.00590

27 May 1777

Gerry, Elbridge (1744-1814)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Gerry, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a Continental Congressman from Massachusetts to an unknown recipient, but probably an army officer in Massachusetts. Begins letter with financial information. Hopes a vigorous execution of the laws will correct those disaffected with the Revolution. Mentions mistaken information on the raid at Danbury, which took place 23-28 April 1777. Gerry says the British lost between 150-200 men, including Governor William Tryon. While the British stated they lost 154 killed and wounded, Tryon was not amongst them.

GLC07273

23 August 1777

Knox, Lucy Flucker (ca. 1756-1824)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Notes that she is recovering from a four day illness. Describes her daily life in detail as requested by Henry. Rises at eight a.m., has breakfast for an hour, then reads, writes, or works until her "solitary dinner" at 2 p.m. Misses Henry intensely, noting that even the company of their daughter, Lucy, reminds her of his absence. Describes her afternoon rides in her chaise, and her visits to several friends. Mentions the loss of her immediate family, who as Loyalists fled from Boston. Expresses her wish to be with Henry.

GLC02437.00638

28 August 1777

Gates, Horatio (1728-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Reports to Continental General Lincoln about receiving a letter from George Washington concerning his (untrue) opinion that British Commander William Howe had gone to South Carolina, and adds his own hopes that New York will soon be in American possession. Mentions British General John Burgoyne (not named) is losing Canadians and Indians. Expects that Benedict Arnold will join with his division and " ...

GLC05564

16 September 1777 - 16 October 1777

Knox, William (1756-1795)

Manuscript document

Title: [Account of the campaign of September and October 1777]

Later copy. Possibly created by William Knox, General Henry Knox's brother. Contains a report of the 20 September Battle of Paoli. Mentions Generals Knox, Green (possibly Nathanael Greene), and Alexander McDougall. In an entry for 28 September, records the receipt of favorable news from the north (referring to the Battle of Freeman's Farm). Mentions Generals John Burgoyne (British), Horatio Gates, and Benedict Arnold.

GLC02437.00654

18 September 1777

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Jackson declares, "...I am sure if we exert ourselves to the Southward & Northward as we ought to do that this Campaign will nearly bring the War to a Close, and establish our Independence." Reports he has heard news that Generals Horatio Gates, Benjamin Lincoln, and Benedict Arnold intend to attack British General John Burgoyne's army (near Saratoga, New York).

GLC02437.00650

1777/09/21

Schuyler, Philip

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Varick re: victory at Freeman's Farm

Discusses discord between Gates and Benedict Arnold.

GLC07498

25 September 1777

Schuyler, Philip John (1733-1804)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Varick

Writes that he is pleased that General Benedict Arnold will remain and believes Arnold was ill treated by Continental General Horatio Gates at first Battle of Saratoga, 19 September 1777. Gates and Arnold clashed over strategy and Gates removed Arnold from second-in-command. " ... my gallant friend, General Arnold, has determined to remain until a battle shall have happened or Gen. Burgoyne retreats ...

GLC06332

12 October 1777

Stewart, Walter (1756-1796)

Letter

Title: to Horatio Gates

Later copy. Copied 23 May 1860 for Joseph Willard, Esq., by George [H.?] Moore. Stewart, aide-de-camp to General Gates, offers an account of the Battle of Germantown. Mentions Generals Anthony Wayne, John Sullivan, Nathanael Greene, Edward Stevens, and Alexander McDougall.

GLC02437.00657

16 October 1777

Gates, Horatio (1728-1806)

Manuscript document

Title: Articles of Convention between Lt. Gen. Burgoyne & Majr. Gen. Gates

Two clerical signatures for Gates, once to affirm the document and again to confirm that Burgoyne's name is understood to be used throughout. Treaty documents the terms of surrender of Burgoyne's army after its defeat at the Battle of Saratoga by Gates. Negotiations started on 13 October 1777 and Burgoyne attempted to draw them out as long as possible to see if Sir Henry Clinton's expedition from New York would be able to save him. On 16 October 1777 Burgoyne again tried to stall by claiming militia leaving Gates's army made the initial conditions of his surrender void.

GLC04782

13 November 1777

Gerry, Elbridge (1744-1814)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Warren

Written by Gerry as delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress to Warren as a member of the Continental Navy Board. References Warren's letter of 23 October 1777, in which he found news of General John Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga earlier that month. In that letter Warren expressed misgivings about the terms of surrender that General Horatio Gates gave to Burgoyne, known as the Articles of Convention. Gerry says he had the same misgivings, but says Gates was justified in giving generous terms because Sir Henry Clinton was making moves to reinforce Burgoyne.

GLC03239

circa 1778

Gates, Horatio (1728-1806)

Letter

Title: to Lord Thanet

Copy of a letter to Thanet in which Gates appeals to Britain to recognize American independence. Cites the American victory at Saratoga and foretells "Calamities which England will sustain" if the war is continued. A version of this letter was printed in the 29 April 1778 edition of the Pennsylvania Evening Post.

GLC01450.150

circa 1778

Johnston, Francis (1749-1815)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Persifor Frazer

Discusses American troop movements, including those of General Gates and Comte d'Estaing. Asks Frazer to send Andrew, since he is in need of a good waiter.

GLC01450.457.11

1778

Goodwin, Nathaniel (1748-1819)

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Diary kept in "Bickerstaff's New-England Almanack"]

Goodwin, a Major in Colonel Jacob Gerrish's regiment, writes "while at Boston" across the title page of the almanac. Includes entries from other locations. Contains 22 pages of printed text, 7 pages of handwritten text. Relates traveling to Bedford and Salem. Mentions the Lucy, possibly a ship. Discusses the weather and a French naval fleet. Writes that Major General Horatio Gates assumed command of the Eastern Department (November 1778). In December, states that his entire detachment was discharged from duty based on Gates's orders.

GLC01450.629

14 January 1778

Scollay, William (b. ca. 1756)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Possibly written to William Knox, Henry Knox's brother.

GLC02437.00690

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