Knox, Henry (1750-1806) A Sketch of a defense of General Washingtons System of the Campaign of 1776, at New York and its Vicinity

At the commencement of [struck: the host] [inserted: hostilities] the british, [inserted: troops] possessed a [struck: degree] [inserted: knowledge] of the discipline & science of [struck: what could be the [defeat] of] [inserted: what could be acquird only by] a long series of application, and substantial military establishment. Their equippments of arms and clothing, the artillery and every other part of the apparatus of war was perfect - To those important circumstances was added a high national spirit of pride, the consequence of their successes, in the war [which] was terminated in the year 1763 -
The americans were undisciplined} unprovided, with the least means of war, without officers, and without the shadow of military establishments - In the wars which had been carried on in America, [struck: that] the [struck: americans] [inserted: provincial] were frequently added to the british troops by the respective provinces -But [the] [inserted: [narrow]] pride of the british troops could [struck: never] [inserted: not] be [strikeout] [brought] to consider men, their equals, who were without an uniforms of dress [inserted: [struck: and the military [strikeout]] pertness of military airs] The provincial troops were therefore generally put to those [services] which however laborious were not esteemed honorable. [2] But [struck: many [strikeout]] the [strikeout] ignorance of the commanding generals [inserted: sometimes] involved them in dangers and distress, [from which] they were releived by the bravery and perseverence of the colonial troops - These services were soon forgotten, and the moment the [struck: americans were] provincial troops were not wanted they were disbanded -
By these means, the military spirit of [strikeout] the provinces, never had the opportunity of expanding and establishing itself - [inserted: But] when The conduct of the british nation eradicated every doubt respecting their determination of [enforcing] their acts against the Colonies -[strikeout] it [struck: because] became indispensably necessary to form some military arrangements of defence - Accordingly in Massachusetts & the neighboring States, in the year 1774, regiments were voluntarily formed by the people [strikeout] under the denomination of Minute Men, and afterwards 1775, this kind of [strikeout] arrangement became more extensive - A little practice and the mutual [commerce] and protection of friends at the [time] [3] of their exercises soon gave them a confidence in their untried prowess - [These eager] part of these corps, wished for an opportunity [strikeout] to try the [defence] between the boasted supremacy of british discipline, and their own ardent spirit -
[struck: Although strikeout] the first contest, at Lexington, being on [struck: the whole] [more] in favor, of [struck: americans] [inserted: the provincial], [strikeout] gave a [strength] to the [inserted: natural] spirit of America - [struck: The contest] The battle of Bunkers or Breeds Hill, [strikeout] [inserted: afforded] a new ground of hope for success - The carnage of the british troops what was well ascertain'd caused works to be erected round Boston, [which] the british never had the hardihood to attempt -
Sensible by Expennce of the terror of [what the truth] troops entertained of [strikeout] [works] General Washington [strikeout] on his arrival at New York, formed his plan, to [struck: make the war] make it a war of [posts] during the [illegible] [4] accordingly he erected [inserted: in and about] works in New York, [inserted: or] [long] Island at the heights of Harlem - [struck: The forming of the works moved the men to fatigue and labor, but they effected [a still] more important purpose, They [delivered the best ship] [struck: of] [inserted: from] opening the Campaign untill the month of August [strikeout] [inserted: was] far advanced - [strikeout]
The works besides [batteries] were field [strikeout] redoubts, formed of [bark] with a [parapet] and ditch, [strikeout] the [former] was [some dispursed], and the latter palisaded But they were in no instance formed to sustain a siege, not having any casements, [never] [illegible] or other [servants] against regular siege - These redoubts on Harlem Heights [strikeout] [had an] indifferent Magazine, as have the redoubt on bayards hill, afterwards named by Bunker Hill.
In the state of the Army, the greater number of [illegible] consisted of the [rural militia] these works, were of infinite importance - they gain'd [struck: the] time, and the month of August was [5] month of august was far advanced before General Howe thought proper to open the Campaign - The American redoubts operated like anchors to stop [struck: general Howe and his] [inserted: his] career of victory - [struck: whenever he arrived at a redoubt it appeared as if the ghost of his friends slain at Bunkers Hill commanded him to desist from a storm.]
There can be but little doubt that if he had [prepared] closely his victory of the 27th of Long Island, [struck: that with the loss] [considering the] the defeat of [inserted: of the American troops] [strikeout] that he might have earned the works without [his] capital loss -
This statement is made with a design to justify the conduct of General Washington - for the line he bestowed in formg the works around the [state] of New York on its enemy. Many people whose [struck: good] opinion were formed from partial [news] of the subject undertook, to condemn his [strikeout] [inserted: conduct] without possessing a full knowledge of [his plan].

[docket]
A [struck: sk] sketch, of defence
of General Washingtons
System of the Campaign
of 1776, at New York and its vicinity -
written [strikeout] for
and given to Doctor
Ramsay of South Carolina
in May 1786 -

[address]
Genl Knox