Our Collection

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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Showing results 1 - 21

29 October 1786

North, William (1755-1836)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "The people here smell a rat, that the Troops about to be raised are more for the insurgents than the Indians, however this makes no odds, every body seems to wish a strong government, & to believe the government can only be strengthened by an army.

GLC02437.03322

6 November 1786

Parsons, Samuel Holden (1737-1789)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Middletown, likely in Connecticut, as the postal stamp near the address reads "New Haven." Encloses a copy of Shays' circular letter (not present). Has heard from a friend that several towns have met to discuss the letter, and some have voted to send their arms and military stores to the insurgents. The town of Westfield opposed the vote, but only by two or three men. Has also heard that the insurgents are practicing military maneuvers, and that they are being paid daily. Was told that there has been some agitation in Vermont as well.

GLC02437.03328

25 November 1786

Higginson, Stephen (1743-1828)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that since his last letter, the loan for raising men to oppose the Indians has been offered, and it has been debated for several days. The reference to "Indians" is code for the troops being raised to suppress Shays's Rebellion. Explains different positions on the subject. Mentions that Shays' Rebellion has factored into the discussion. Seems to think they will, in a few days, have the money necessary for enlisting the men. Encloses a newspaper article about the doings of the General Court (not present).

GLC02437.03343

29 November 1786

Gorham, Nathaniel (1738-1796)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from "Charles Town," possibly Charlestown, Massachusetts, where Gorham was born. Asks Knox to deliver a letter he has enclosed to his daughter. Relates information on preparations Massachusetts has made to confront the insurgents associated with Shays' Rebellion. Describes how they thought the insurgents would stand and fight, but upon realizing that their reinforcements would not be joining them, they ran. Explains that "it is happy for them they did not come," because the government had prepared its own troops to fight.

GLC02437.03355

December 1786

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter

Title: to Robert Morris

Writes that he has received the documents finalizing the loan Morris and Colonel [Jeremiah] Wadsworth were preparing to give to the Board of Treasury. He is thrilled the plan worked, and believes the public good will be well served. Has received a copy of a letter from the Board asking that Colonel Wadsworth come to New York to finish signing the paperwork as well. Discusses the insurgents associated with Daniel Shays, and explains the claims and issues they are raising.

GLC02437.03403

2 December 1786

Freeman, Constant (1757-1824)

Manuscript document

Title: [Excerpt from a letter regarding military appointments]

The author writes, "That you are not yet appointed need not surprise you when you have read this- I came here fully of opinion that I should have the second [Company] of [Artillery]; that you and all the other officers recommended by General Knox would be commissioned, but what a reverse! for some reason which I have not been able to learn, the company which I expected was given to Cap.

GLC02437.03361

4 December 1786

Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Refers to Washington's resignation as head of the Order of the Cincinnati. Describes a settlement he left after receiving a request to take command of the Massachusetts state militia, which was needed to suppress Shays' Rebellion. In response to a question from Washington, Lincoln discusses Shays' Rebellion in detail: the anger it is arousing, its causes, his expectation of bloodshed, the role of debt, and the rebellions current advantages.

GLC01478

11 December 1786

Wadsworth, Jeremiah (1743-1804)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the lack of supplies faced by a group of soldiers he encountered, and mentions that he had to supply them himself because "not one shilling will be furnished by the state." However, he is running out of money. Declares that the Board of Treasury must reimburse him from the loan he and Mr. [Robert] Morris negotiated with Congress. Otherwise, Wadsworth must immediately stop furnishing the men. In addition, the heavy snow is making it difficult for him to continue procuring the supplies.

GLC02437.03372

13 December 1786

King, Rufus (1755-1827)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that [Daniel] Shays disbanded his party on Sunday & Monday last. King reports that the stageman he is traveling with saw the disbanded insurgents. The stageman said they seemed crestfallen; "some of them say they will go no more, others that they are not yet tired of the business." Includes other information provided by the stageman, such as the fact that Shays will stay at Worcester until he receives word from the Governor. Postscript makes a reference to what appears to be the dispute over the New York-Massachusetts border.

GLC02437.03375

13 December 1786

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Has received Wadsworth's last letter, and so has the Board of Treasury. Hopes he will not delay coming; everything rests on him, as everything stops until he and Mr. [Robert] Morris sign the papers (they are preparing a loan to Congress). Writes, "For Gods sake do not delay a single moment longer than is indispensably necessary." Discusses the Shays insurgents and mentions that he does not believe they will recede. Will write via Mr. [Rufus] King if he hears any more news.

GLC02437.03376

30 December 1786

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Manuscript letter

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Discusses how best to handle Shays and his supporters. Writes, "I will venture to predict that the insurgents must find security in Arms or they must fly the Country I found this opinion on the moral impossibility, of the existence of government with the spirit manifested by the insurgents - One or the other must give place - The insurgents are not the most numerous and therefore they will not have recourse to that expedients.

GLC02437.03395

31 December 1786

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Provides an account of the recent actions of Shays and his followers: the previous Tuesday, they prevented the Court at Springfield from sitting. The Court will meet in Worcester on 23 January. He and General [Benjamin] Lincoln are recruiting troops and preparing the militia. Also extensively discusses the clothing, supplies, and provisions needed for the troops.

GLC02437.03398

10 January 1787

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Hopes to hear from Knox by the Saturday mail. Writes that the expedition against Shays and his supporters "has a pleasing appearance." Funds have been raised for the expedition, a proportion of which will be used by the troops being raised. Asks him to deliver an enclosed letter (not present). Sends his respects to Mr. and Mrs. [James] Swan, as well as to Lucy Knox and the Knox children.

GLC02437.03412

27 January 1787

Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810)

Manuscript letter

Title: to James Bowdoin

Written from Brookfield, likely in Massachusetts. Marked "copy." Relates how he led his troops to the aid of General Shepard.

GLC02437.03425

28 January 1787

Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810)

Manuscript letter

Title: to James Bowdoin

Marked "copy." Written from "Head Quarters Springfield." Reports on Shay and his supporters' situation. Relates that he and a number of other regiments arrived in Springfield the day before. Writes, "On my arrival I found, that Shays had taken post at a little village, six miles north of this, with the whole force under his [inserted: immediate] command, and that Day had taken post at West Springfield, & that he had fixed a guard at the ferry-house on the west side of the river.

GLC02437.03427

28 January 1787

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks him for his last letter, and asks him to deliver an enclosed letter (not present) to Mrs. Swan and send the Swans his compliments. Discusses the fight against the insurgents: General [John] Brooks marched yesterday to support General [Benjamin] Lincoln against Mr. [Daniel] Shays and his supporters. Mentions that Rufus Putnam will be coming to help Lincoln as well. Will meet with the Governor that evening and if he is finished in time to send off a letter, he will provide Knox with any news. Provides him information on the status of the force fighting the insurgents.

GLC02437.03429

30 January 1787-1 February 1787

Haskell, Elnathan (1755-1825)

Manuscript document

Title: to Lieutenant Colonel Platt

Body of the letter and signatures in the hand of Robert Pemberton, Knox's aide. Document titled, "Extract of a letter from a gentleman of character in General Lincoln's army, to his friend at New York." Addressee may be Richard Platt; identified only as "Lieutenant Colonel Platt." Document contains extracts from Colonel Haskell's letter, as well as portions of two letters from Daniel Shays, and the reply of General Benjamin Lincoln. Haskell's portions contain information as to the strength of Pelham as a position to station the government troops.

GLC02437.03433

31 January 1787

Shays, Daniel (1747-1825)

Manuscript document

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Contains two letters. The first, written from Pelham, Massachusetts on 31 January 1787 to General Benjamin Lincoln, is signed by (though not in the hand of) Daniel Shays, along with Francis Stone and Adam Wheeler. The second is Lincoln's reply, written on the same date, from Hadley, Massachusetts. The Shays letter mentions that he and his men have sent a petition with terms of surrender to the General Court, and he feels that all hostilities should cease until they receive a reply.

GLC02437.03434

1 February 1787

Eustis, William (1753-1825)

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Henry Jackson

Dr. William Eustis writes that it "amounts almost to a presumption in Major [Elnathan] Haskell & myself" to provide information by letter to Jackson, as "Colo. [William] Hull will carry more in his head than we can possibly crowd into his pocket." Has enclosed the correspondence "between the two Generals" (not present). Reports that the latest news is that Mr. Fowle has been taken by Shays, but he does not know if this is true. Adds that they are stationed at Hadley, and that Shays is twelve miles away in Pelham Hills.

GLC02437.03438

11 February 1787

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Received his last letter and delivered the enclosures appropriately. Sends regards to Mr. and Mrs. [James] Swan, and reports that their family is well. Writes that the Rebellion is nearly at an end. Has enclosed newspapers to provide an "authentick & particular" account of the fate of Mr. [Daniel] Shays and his "banditti" as well as of the success of their friend General [Benjamin] Lincoln.

GLC02437.03450

4 September 1788

Knox, William (1756-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William, attending to business in Henry's absence, reports on white settlers' infringement on Cherokee lands in the western territories. Congress recently directed Knox to prepare troops to protect the Cherokees (the troops are to march from Ohio to Chota, a Cherokee town in present-day Tennessee). The troops are to disperse Congress's proclamation among white settlers "in the vicinity of the hunting grounds secured to the Cherokees by the treaty concluded between them and the United States Nov.

GLC02437.03982

Showing results 1 - 21