1From 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...
2From John Adams to Henry Knox, 25 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 21. is before me. I agree that We ought to have an hundred more of Mortars, Howitzers, and Field Pieces, And if I knew where to procure the Brass, I should be glad to promote the Manufacture of that Number. You Say that Copper can be purchased at a little advanced Price. I wish I knew, where, and at what Price. We have contracted with a Gentleman in Maryland, for a large...
3From John Adams to Henry Knox, 19 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have had the Honour of your Letter of the 4th of this Month, and I thank you for your obliging Congratulations on my Return, which gives me Happiness, whatever Passions or Reasonings produced it. You have Cause to thank Heaven, that the state of Europe is so favourable. It is Scarcely possible it should be more so. France is already elevated to the highest Degree of Reputation and England...
4From John Adams to Henry Knox, 11 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of a Letter from you a few days ago and was rejoiced to learn that you have at last determined to take a more im portant share than you have done hitherto in the Conduct of our military Matters. I have been impressed with an Opinion of your Knowledge and Abilities in the military Way for several years, and of late have endeavoured, both at Camp, at Watertown and at...
5From John Adams to Henry Knox, 2 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your esteemed Favour of the 16 of May, came to my Hand a few Days ago. You have laid me under obligations, by your ingenious Observations upon those Books, upon military Science, which are necessary, to be procured, in the present Circumstances of this Country. I have been a long Time convinced of the Utility of publishing american Editions of those Writers, and that it is an object of...
6From 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.
7From 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...
8From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [2 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
His Excelly directs me to notify you that the last division Kalb’s is ordered to be in readiness to march tomorrow. Its actual marching will depend on a contingency—the getting of horses. The General however wishes the Park to be also ready to move tomorrow. The route will be by Morris Town & the Maryland division will serve as a cover. You will have previous notice to march. Your care is...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [6 May 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
I am commanded by His Excellency to acknowlege the receipt of your letter. He desires you will have the persons you mention carefully confined ’till they can be delivered over to the civil Magistrate as we have no military law by which to punish them. But ⟨that⟩ the civil law may have something substantial to operate upon, he requests you will do every thing you can think of to discover the...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [28 May 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
The General requests you to furnish two Grasshoppers and a company of Artillery to be attached to the New York Brigade which marches tomorrow morning toward Albany. GW John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington (Washington, 1931–1944). , XVIII, 443, note 80. On the same day, Washington wrote Governor George Clinton: “In consequence of the intelligence from Your Excellency...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Henry Knox, [7 June 1782] (Hamilton Papers)
We are told here that there is a British officer coming on from Cornwallis’s army to be executed by way of retaliation for the murder of Capt Huddy. As this appears to me clearly to be an ill-timed proceeding, and if persisted in will be derogatory to the national character I cannot forbear communicating to you my ideas upon the subject. A sacrifice of this sort is intirely repugnant to the...
12From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [3 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Middlebrook, New Jersey, June 3, 1779. ] Catalogue description reads: “Regarding DeKalb’s movements.” Letter not found. ] ALS , sold by C. F. Libbie, April 26, 1904, Lot 1125.
13From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [17 October 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Garanger has returned from ⟨Philadelphia⟩ with a resolve of Congress ⟨that it⟩ cannot employ him. ⟨He⟩ writes me it was because ⟨there was⟩ no testimonial ⟨from the⟩ General or from you. ⟨I assume⟩ the Committee did not transmit your letter. I confess there seems to me something hard in this Gentleman’s case, to be rejected after having taken so much pains and lost so much time to put...
14From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [30 January 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
The General ⟨consents to – –⟩ officers to recover your deserters and to reimburse their reasonable expences. He only makes two conditions, that you will send as few as possible & that they keep and exact and particular account of their expences. The sentence of The Court Marti⟨al⟩ will probably be determined tomorrow; it is too late for to day’s orders. I am ordered to return you the inclosed...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [30 January 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
I send you sundry papers respecting the Ordnance department. The General requests you will prepare your observations on them and be ready to meet The Committee and himself tomorrow forenoon. As he is going out of town on Monday and will have no time to spare, He begs you will be ready at the time mentioned. Will you be at home to day at 2 oClock? Mr. Garanger plagues me to accompany him to...
16From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [25 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
The General is anxious to receive you observations on the letter sent you yesterday from General Gates so soon as possible, that he may dispatch an express waiting for an answer. Yr. Most Obed ser ALS , MS Division, New York Public Library. Major General Horatio Gates’s letter to Washington (dated July 18, 1779), which deals with questions concerning the management of the arsenal at...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [22 July 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
The alliance is not come nor our arms, nor our powder. They probably will come with the second division we want to know what we can do in the meantime in the article of arms without those; will you send us immediately a memmorandum of what we have to your knowledge? Do you know whether the Eastern States can furnish any on loan and in what proportion. We must borrow of them and borrow of our...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [25 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
A party of the enemy’s horse with about 1000 infantry are said to be at Pines bridge. Possibly the stores at New Millford may be the object. The General requests you will send a proper person to see what progress may have been made in removing them and to complete the removal. I have the honor to be Your most Obed ser ALS , Mr. Otto Madlener, Hubbard Woods, Illinois; ADfS , George Washington...
19From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [24 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
I have communicated your letter to The General. He thinks Col Harrison’s regiment not intitled to a ⟨part⟩ of the present supply. I inclose you by the General’s order a letter from General Gates, with sundry papers respe⟨cti⟩ng powder Springfield &c. on which yo⟨ur opi⟩nion is requested. The question is—W⟨hat is t⟩o be done? Col Nixon sent to Springfield ⟨to be in⟩ charge of the Massachusettes...
20From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 27 June 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Garanger has waited upon the General to know decisively his fate. He renounces all ideas of command or rank in the corps of Artillery and asks only a brevet of Captain in the army. The simple question is—can he be employed usefully or not in the present state and temper of the corps? if not, I shall be obliged to you to inform him so, with a line either to the General or myself, informing...
21From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 22 August 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
I inclose you a petition just put into my hand. You know the General’s idea is not to force the continuance of any man in the service longer than he can be detained consistently with the terms of his engagement; attempts of this kind in a service like ours do more harm than good. This I dare say corresponds with your sentiments; and if the petitioner is not really inlisted during the war, you...
22From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 24 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Headquarters, West Point, July 24, 1779. Letter not found. ] Sold by Thomas Birch’s Sons, December, 1892, Lot 106.
23From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [4 June 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Gilliland, the most helpless mortal in the world, and the most ignorant of every thing he ought to know, represents that he has been two years without pay. He begs this line to you to have justice done him and seems even not to know to whom he ought to apply. In pity give him such information and advice as you can and at least enable him to have some idea of his own affairs & to give me...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [9 July 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
We wish to know the number of heavy cannon we might bring into an operation against New York—already in the possession of The Continental distinguishing the Iron from the Brass. We are writing to The French General. Yr most Obed also the Mortars their different sizes. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. These cannons were to be used for an attack on New York City, which Washington...
25From 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...
26From 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.
27From David Humphreys to Henry Knox, 25 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief desires you will have as much of the hard Bread, which was delivered by the late Contractors into Elderkins Store, issued to the Detachment as they can carry with them—and that you will have the remainder of that Bread served out occasionally, that it may not be lost by the Public, whose property it now is—I have the honor to be &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
28From David Humphreys to Henry Knox, 21 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
It having been reported to Head Quarters that there is an error in the Arrangement of Officers in the Masstts Corps of Artillery, by the omission of Capt. Sargeant (without his knowledge or consent, the Commander in Chief directs me to refer the matter to you with the Enclosure, that in case there has been a Mistake it may be rectified, and that a complete Return may be sent back to Head...
29From David Humphreys to Henry Knox, 25 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am directed to acquaint you, that the General has just recd Dispatches from Philadelphia, by which it appears the necessity still exists for marching the Detachment as expeditiously as may be, the contents will be communicated to you by His Excellency tomorrow. I have the honor to be Sir &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
30From David Humphreys to Henry Knox, 25 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency commands me to inform you he approves of the Arrangements you have made, & would have the party from the Lines follow in the manner you propose. General Howe will meet the Detachment in the Clove tomorrow Morng. No Express or Information hath arrived from Philadelphia since you left Head Quarters last Evening—I have the Honor to be &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.