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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.

Knox, William (1756-1795) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00608 Author/Creator: Knox, William (1756-1795) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 June 1777 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; 22.9 x 18.9 cm. Order a Copy

Relates to Henry what he has heard regarding the Battle of Bound Brook, New Jersey (13 April 1777). Notes that he knows "General Washington & yourself was not in the Battle but intended being at bound Brook the next day." Discusses raising a sum of money and business matters, possibly related to his joining the army and to the bookstore he managed in Boston in Henry's absence. Also mentions Henry's share in the Newbury Privateer as demanded by Colonel Jackson (possibly Henry Jackson). Still awaits Henry's reply regarding his intentions to join the army.

[draft]
Boston 3d June 1777.
My dear Harry
Mr Russell arrivd in Town from Camp this [inserted: day] but Alas! No letter for poor Bill but however I am not without hopes of receiving one [big] tomorrow evening's post, as Mrs. Knox told me you had wrote her, that you had returned your late engagement of not writing me. We hear that you have had a Battle, but accounts from [text loss] rather lame concerning its at present [text loss] the less we have the [following] particulars. that our Army to the amount of 15.000 Men advanc'd from Morris Town to B[ound] Brook (the place which was of late the Station of our most advanced Guard) the Enemy suspecting our intentions were to attack them in their lines, determined by one bold stroke to deprive us of the opportunity they therefore [detach't] a large part of [2] their Army to attack ours att bound Brook, the consequence of this maneuvre was a bloody Engagement in which we lost 500 Men, but in return we took 900 Men kill'd & wounded unknown tis farther said that General Washington & yourself was not in the Battle but intended being at bound Brook the next day. So much for the reported Battle. You will by this time have receivd my last by Mr Turnbull in which I have inform'd you of the forwarding, in which I had got my aff[text loss] order to set of for the army, my [conjectures] concerning the [raising] of the remaining part of the sum before I could possibly receive an answer to my last were not ill grounded, as I have already raisd [300] & part of it a[strikeout] & I am sure of raising the other part by the time stipulated. Collo. Jackson has demanded £200 more for the Newbury Privateer which I shall deliver to my [3] [WL], or tomorrow morning morning which will make in all £500. & I believe that will be the whole of your part of the privateer. I am all anxiety till I receive [struck: a] your answer to my last
In the interim
[Adieu]
I am dear Harry
Yrs ever affectionately
William Knox

[address]
To
Brigadier General Knox
Morris Town
Favor'd by
GenL Glover

[docket]
Wm Knox 3. June
1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Knox, William, 1756-1795
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

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