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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.

Bauman, Sebastian (1739-1803) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01182 Author/Creator: Bauman, Sebastian (1739-1803) Place Written: Baltimore, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 September 1781 Pagination: 2 p. ; docket Order a Copy

Reports that General Mordecai Gist received permission from Governor of Maryland Thomas S. Lee to take the cannons Knox was seeking. Bauman is attempting to get vessels to transport troops as well as other supplies. Mr. Thorp has arrived and answers to Knox's questions about supplies (see GLC02437.01178) will be forthcoming. Jokes in a post script: "I have but six hands, so assist me in the business you have sent me on!" The Continental Army was preparing for the upcoming siege of Yorktown.

[draft]
[partial]
Baltimore 11 Sep.tr 1781
Dear gent.
I arrived here with his Excellency, and have done nothing ever since. Genl Gist wrote to the governor about the cannon, this morning he recieved for answer, that we can have them. But no vessells yet provided to put them aboard. Owing to an Express order the quarter master [M.r pac] Recieved from his Excellency to appropriate all vessells for no other use but for the Transporting of Troops. However this morning he said we shall git vessells. And as soon he does that, you may rest assured that nothing shall be wanting on my side to facilitate the business you have sent me on. - The powder is 40 miles from here, but expected here this day. - The cannon are good, but the carriage Bad. - one half of the 10 Inch shells are so bad, that I will be oblige to leave them.

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Gist, Mordecai, 1742-1792
Thorp, John, fl. 1780-1783
Lee, Thomas Sim, 1745-1819

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