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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.

Washington, George (1732-1799) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.09368 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Manuscript letter Date: 3 December 1783 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket : endorsement ; 22.5 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

Comments on "The splendid display of Fireworks last evening" and wishes Knox to pass along his compliments to those in charge. With an signed endorsement on the verso by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide de camp, sending the letter to Brigadier Generals Michael Jackson and Henry Jackson stating that the letter be published for "the troops under your command." George Washington's signature is clipped.

Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

[draft]
Sir /
The splendid display of Fireworks last evening [struck: were] [inserted: was] so highly satisfactory that I must request you to present to Captain Price under whose direction they were prepared, and to the Officers who assisted him, my thanks for the great skill and attention shewn in the conduct of that business-
I am
Sir
Your most Obedient
Servant
[signature purloined]
New York
3 Decr. 1783

Majr. Genl Knox

[Docket on page two by Samuel Shaw: Letter of thanks to Captain Price from the Commander in Chief. 9 Dec. 1783]

[overleaf]
Sir,
I do myself the honor to transmit you the following copy of a letter from His Excellency the Commander in Chief to Major General Knox, who requests you to publish it in orders to the troops under your command.
I am, Sir,
&c
S. Shaw
Aide de Camp
New York
4 Dec. 1783.

The Hon.
Brig. Gen.
M. Jackson.
H. Jackson.

[docket]
From Gen. Washington
N. Yk. 1783 -
[inserted in a different hand: Signature purloined No 48]

[address]
Major Genl. Knox

Washington, George, 1732-1799
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

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