Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00550 Author/Creator: Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 March 1777 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; 32 x 19.2 cm. Order a Copy
Colonel Crane has been authorized to give twenty pounds as a bounty to those he enlists in the regimental artillery. But Boston is offering a town bounty of fifty pounds for anyone who joins the local army, and this is making recruiting very difficult. Suggests the only way to fill the artillery will be with men from other units, but has his doubts about this as well. Wishes that George Washington would issue an order putting the artillery on equal footing for recruitment. Feels that the other officers, who gave up a lot while fighting, deserve better than their current situation. Discusses Mr. Hill, a wheelwright who Knox apparently sent to Springfield to work, but who was told he was not needed there. Hopes to resolve this situation. Postscript expresses pity for General William Heath because he has been put in command at Boston.
Henry Jackson was a colonel in a continental regiment who later rose to the rank of brevet Brigadier-General.
John Crane was a colonel in the Third Continental Artillery.
[draft]
friend Harry Boston Mah: 16 1777
We have no new's since you left us - The General Court have given Coll.o Crane the additional [inserted: bounty] of £20 - but there is clog in the wheel yet - you must know the severall Town's in this State, have given an additional town Bounty, to each Man that Inlist's in their Town - some town's give £10 some £15 some £20. & some £24. Lm:y which makes the Bounty in some [strikeout] £50 Lm:y to each man - you must observe this additional Bounty is only given to the men that Inlist in the 15 Battaln for every man that Collo. Crane Inlists is depriv'd of the Town Bounty, which is a great, very Great, obstruction to the Recrutg: the Regt: of Artilery - The only [inserted: method] to get Crane's Regt Complet'd is to draft the men from other Regiments. I assure you it Labour's - and does the 15 Battalns: - their was a Return from all the towns in this State Last week - and they had no Raisd: half there Men -
As to Leir, Hentleys - and mine I dont see they intend to do any thing [2] about them - or if they do they say, they can't till the 15 Battalns: are Complet'd, when that will be God only know's. I dont believe it will be till the resurrection. - I have talk'd with several members of the Court, respg our three Regt: and they say it's only a desire or wish of his Excellency the General's consern'g our Regt: I wish the General would find a Positive Order for them, to put us on the same foot:g wh the 15 Bat: and then see what they would do - I wish to be determined soon about it, for myself and officers are in disagreeable Situation - I look upon it my Officers [inserted: are] in Pay from the I engage'd them, many of them quit'd there Business, & some would have gone into other Regt: I think it nothing but what is right - There is a Mr Hill a wheelwright has been with me - he say's you engage'd [inserted: him] to go to Springfield as a Master workman in that Branch, that when he got to Springfield, Mr. Ayers told him he was not want'd, & was much Suprise'd that you should engage any [3] man, as he thought you had given him full Power to Procure every man that was want'd there - that he had got a Master wheelwright and that if he (Mr. Hill) stay'd he must be an under workman - as you had engag'd him a Mater in that Branch, he expect to find you here, and so came home - The man seems to be a greatly uneasyfor fear you should think hard of him - he has got some money of your's in his [text loss] and wish's to know who to pay it to [text loss] as I am writ:g to a General, shows [text loss] taken more pains, but you'll excuse it, as the Post just a going and have no time to mend my Pen nor Coppy my Letter any thing that should take Place will respect to my Reg:t please to write me -
Your
H Jackson
PS - Heath I think is appoint'd here
I pity him, that it should beat this Particular time
[address]
HQ
Brigadier Gen:l Knox
Post Morris Town
[docket]
March 16 Colo Harry
Jacksons
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