1To John Adams from Henry Knox, 26 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
Encourag’d by your kindly mentioning my name in your Letters to several Gentlemen this way I now take the liberty of writing to you. A number of the Generals desir’d me to act as engineer and said that when the delegates from the Continental Congress came here the matter should be settl’d—myself as cheif engineer with the rank and pay of Colonel and a Lt. Col. Putnam as second also with the...
2To John Adams from Henry Knox, 3 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time since I have had the pleasure of a Line from you. I was in hopes to have seen you when I went to Boston but you had previously set out for Congress and I miss’d you on the road. Since my return from thence the duties of my department have taken up the whole of my time, which together with the fear of trespassing on your more important engagements has prevented my writing to...
3To John Adams from Henry Knox, 4 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
To the numerous congratulations which you have received on your safe arrival in America, permit me to add my tribute, and to felicitate you on your safe return to your Family, friends and Country, and event which I am certain gives you true pleasure and happiness, whatever motives produc’d it, Whether Faction, Ambition, or—as I am a very bad Statesman—true policy in order to procure proper...
4To John Adams from Henry Knox, 10 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
I am obliged to you for your two favors, one of the 25 Ultimo and the other of the 6 instant both of which I have received. I know not in what condition the Furnace at Salisbury is, but, from the reports which I have had of the Ore, I should suppose they must be bungling workmen indeed if they do not succeed. Shall I enquire into the management of it, and, if practicable, endeavor to get some...
5To John Adams from Henry Knox, 10 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I received your obliging favor of the 19th last month by Mr. Lowell, for which I thank you. Mr. Gerard has been to Camp, and has return’d to Philadelphia, to embark on board of the Confederacy for France, on board of the same Ship Mr. Jay and his Family embark. Mr. Gerard made us happy, politically so I mean, by informing us of your appointment as sole Minister plenipotentiary for the purpose...
6To John Adams from Henry Knox, 25 September 1776 (Adams Papers)
Thro’ the hurry and confusion of one retreat after another I have omitted to answer your last favor. You are pleas’d to desire a list of the Officers from Massachusetts Bay noting such as bid fair to rise superior to the commonality. I have endevor’d to procure the whole list but in vain. The General sometime since order’d a list to be given in of the Officers of evry Regiment in Order to go...
7To John Adams from Henry Knox, 16 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the honor to address you sometime ago and soon after it I sat out upon a Journey to New York Ticonderoga &c: whilst I was upon my Journey your kind Letter came to Cambridge but by some mischance it was not till lately I had the pleasure to receive it. I blush at what you must have thought of my negligence. I am much oblig’d to you for the favorable opinion you are pleas’d to...
8To John Adams from Henry Knox, 29 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Paine has done me the honor to write to me on the subject of casting cannon, in consequence of which Mr. Byers a Cannon founder from this place has proceeded to Philadelphia. I take the liberty to beg he may be set to work immediately and if upon a large scale the advantages must be proportionate. As every hint to a Gentleman in Acting in your important Station may be attended with good...
9To John Adams from Henry Knox, 21 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
I received your favor by the post for which please to accept my thanks. I hope the Copper you mentioned will be purchas’d as speedily as possible, as it appears to me to be matter of the utmost consequence. I have purchas’d about two tons but this is nothing equal to what I wish was collected. We ought at least to have enough to cast an hundred Mortars, Howitzers, and feild peices. A numerous...
10To John Adams from Henry Knox, 21 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honor of receiving several Letters from your Excellency, since your departure from america, which I have duly answerd, and hope you have received them. Your ideas of the necessity of some important blow to the british power in the southern states were extremely just. The reasons are too obvious to be mentioned. I am happy my dear Sir, in having it in my power to announce to you...
11To Alexander Hamilton from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 12 October 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Fredericksburg, New York ] October 12, 1778 . States desire of Captain-Lieutenant Daniel Gano, Second Continental Artillery, to resign. ALS , RG 93, Miscellaneous Records, National Archives.
12To Alexander Hamilton from Brigadier General Henry Knox, [9 July 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Preakness, New Jersey, July 9, 1780. Knox’s endorsement on Hamilton’s letter to him of July 9, 1780 , reads: “note … to, Colo Hamilton, Sunday 9th July 1780.” Letter not found. ] Printed in this volume.
13To Alexander Hamilton from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 12 June 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Artillery Park [ Valley Forge ] June 12, 1778 . Requests discharge of “Mr. Le Brune a second Lieutenant.” ALS , RG 93, Miscellaneous Records, National Archives.
14To Alexander Hamilton from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 28 June 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Garanger having positively renounced all claims to rank or command in the Corps of artillery, it is my opinion that he can be Employed in the Corps in a manner honorable to himself, and useful to the service. There can be no objection to his receiving a brevet of a Captaincy in the army. I am Dear Sir affectionately your huml Sert. Copy, Reel 95, Item 78, X, p. 460, Papers of the...
15To Alexander Hamilton from Major General Henry Knox, 24 July 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been waiting my dear Hamilton, for a Crisis in the case of the intended retaliation for the murder of Huddy before I answer’d your favor of the 7th of last month. But it has yet to have arrived. A Captain of Cornwallis’s Army was brought up to the Jersey line by a mistake of General Hazens in lieu of an unconditional prisoner as a subject for execution. As this person is of considerable...
16From George Washington to William Heath, 23 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
By His Excellency George Washington Esqr. General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America. To Major General Willm Heath and Major General Henry Knox. Whereas the Honorable the Delegates of the United States in Congress assembled, have been pleased to authorize and impower me, by Letters patent under the Great Seal bearing date the 16th day of September Anno Domini...
17From George Washington to William Heath, 23 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Powers of equal date herewith Authorize you to proceed to Tappan in Orange County in the State of New York and there meet Commissioners from the British for the purposes mentiond in your powers. You are to pay the most pointed attention to the nature of your Powers which are founded upon Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United States bearing date the 16th instant a Copy of which...
18Orders to Major Generals Arthur St. Clair and Johann Kalb and Brigadier General Henry Knox, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Instructions for Major General St Clair, Major General Baron Kalb, and Brigadier General Knox. Gentlemen You are to proceed with all convenient expedition to Fort Mercer, where by conferring with Brigadier General Varnum, Commodore Hazlewood and such other Officers as you may think proper to consult—and from your own view of the ground and river, you will investigate the following Points. 1....
19From George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 13 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I inclose you a petition from Robinson who is under sentence of death for your consideration. If you concieve from his present disposition, or past conduct—any hopes of his becoming a useful soldier, you have my permission to suspend his punishment—But if you imagine it indispensibly necessary to make an example you will have his sentence put into execution. Df , in James McHenry’s writing,...
20From George Washington to Henry Knox, 17 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
Captain Machin being under arrest there would be an impropriety in his transacting any public business—or in granting him leave of absence from Camp. His Trial must soon come on in course, if that terminates in his favor I shall then have no objection to granting the leave requested, and if in the mean time any business of the Corps requires that an Officer should go to Philadelphia, leave...
21From David Humphreys to Henry Knox, 2 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
Mr Merrit, who has permission to go into New York with a Sum of Money for the Naval Prisoners of Massachusetts, waits upon you in his route for your advice and assistance—If it shall be thought a small escort is necessary for the protection of the Money he is possessed of, the Commander in Chief wishes you would order one to attend him to Dobbs’s ferry—I am Dr Sir with perfect respect Your...
22From George Washington to Henry Knox, 9 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I had the Inclosed in my pocket but forgot to give it to you yesterday. I pray you to let the Parole &ca of the day only be known at a time, keeping the others to your self, to avoid the evil of a premature discovery. I am sincerely and Affectionately Yr Privately owned.
23From John Adams to Henry Knox, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your Friend the Marquis, with whom I have sometimes had the Honour to drink your Health after that of General Washington, will deliver you this. His Love of Glory is not diminished, nor his affection for America, as you see by his Return. He has been indefatigable in endeavours to promote the Welfare and Comfort of our Army, as well as to support their Honour and Character, and has had success...
24George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 8 December 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] December 8, 1779 . Instructs Knox to send artillery pieces and men to man them to the Southern Department. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress.
25From David Humphreys to Henry Knox, 14 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency the Commander in Chief desires that such Men as are acquainted with the repairs of Boats may be employed under the Quarter Master’s direction, in repairing those Batteaux which will be fit for service on the Western Waters. Those Boats will be wanted to proceed to Albany as soon as possible. I have the honour to be &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
26From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 26 March 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Middlebrook, New Jersey, March 26, 1779. Letter not found .] Sold by Thomas Birch’s Sons, December, 1892, Lot 106.
27From George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 31 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
By advices received this afternoon the Enemy have again made an incursio⟨n⟩ into this State and were in pretty considerable force before Fort Schuyler on the 27th. It is essential that a considerable number of Militia should march to relieve it, and Ammunition is wanted for them, which can not be supplied at Albany. You will therefore be pleased to direct the Commissary of Military Stores to...
28From George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 12 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
From present appearances, and the Season of the Year, there is little reason to beleive, that a cooperation, with the French Admiral, can possibly take place. In consequence of this opinion, and to avoid as much as possible a further increase of expence, I have to request you to suspend such of your arrangements as were designed for this purpose, and which, unless this event were to take...
29From George Washington to Henry Knox, 14 May 1783 (Washington Papers)
I approve of your sentiments given to the Officers commanding the Regiments at West Point, respecting the carrying into execution the sentence of Courts Martial upon the Rioters, mentioned in your Letter of this day, & they will stand justified with me. I am loth at this time to consent to the absence of Officers from their Corps, wanting their influence as much as possible, to quiet & allay...
30From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [26 March 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Headquarters, Middlebrook, New Jersey, March 26, 1779. “This will be delivered to you by Mr. Garranger, who comes to pass through a probation with you. He is to give you such proofs of his knowledge in the theory and practice of artillery as you shall deem satisfactory. He will, on your certificate of the same, be recommended to Congress for an appointment as Preceptor to the artillery, or...