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 Charles Knowles

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00498 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Trenton, New Jersey Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 30 December 1776 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 29 x 16.5 cm. Order a Copy

Orders Knowles to Philadelphia to get "accounts of the Regmt from General Mifflins [store] & the Quarter master Generals whilst under the direction of Colo Moylan," and then return quickly to Knox. Written four days after the American victory at Trenton and four days before their victory at Princeton. On verso is a Henry Knox autograph document, circa 30 December 1776, comprising a list of distances between various New Jersey towns. This information would have been extremely useful for plotting troop movements and organizing scouting parties.

Charles Knowles was appointed paymaster of Knox's Regiment Continental Artillery, 23d September, 1776, then became Paymaster 3d Continental Artillery, 1st January, 1777, later ascended as high as Captain-Lieutenant.
Stephen Moylan, 1737-1811, was the Colonel Quartermaster General from June 1776-September 1776 after having been General Washington's aide-de-camp.

[draft]
Sir
You are immediately to repair to Philadelphia and get the accounts of the Regimt from General Mifflins [illegible] and the Quarter master's Generals whilst under the direction of Colo Moylan, the first you will get some in Mr. Ansprach and the second from Mr Chuckley
When you have gotten there you are to return to me with the greatest expedition
Henry Knox
Colonel Artillery
To Mr. Charles Knowles
Paymaster to the Regt Artillery
Trenton Dcer. 30. 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Knowles, Charles, ?-1796

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources