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.

Lamb, John (1735-1800) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01411 Author/Creator: Lamb, John (1735-1800) Place Written: Burlington, New Jersey Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 6 May 1782 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 21 x 16.5 cm. Order a Copy

Written from Burlington, likely in New Jersey. Explains to Knox that per his instructions, they have performed some experiments comparing English and French howitzers. They have concluded that French howitzers will be useless unless they have specially-cast shells created for them, because the amount of powder they can hold is different from the amount English howitzers can hold. Has included some samples. Extends his compliments to Mrs. Knox and to Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Lamb, John, 1735-1800
Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824
Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

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