Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Lucy Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00622 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Pompton Plains, New Jersey Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 July 1777 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; 32.2 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy
Knox writes, "the shortness of your two last letters were not very agreable [sic] to me..." Discusses the Battle of Ticonderoga (2-6 July 1777): "We have received... news of the evacuation of Ticonderoga pregnant in my opinion with the most disagreable [sic] consequences of any thing during the War..." Mentions Generals John Burgoyne (British), Arthur St. Clair (American), and Philip Schuyler (American). Refers to a wagon of supplies Lucy sent to him. Wishes his brother William would not join the Army, but would instead remain in Boston, serving as a "disinterested friend and protector" for Lucy. Expects General William Howe to combine forces with Burgoyne at an unspecified point along the North River (the Hudson). Mentions that Mrs. Greene (Catherine Littlefield Greene, wife of General Nathanael Greene) arrived several days before. Discusses a letter he sent to John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, inquiring if Congress intended to appoint Phillippe du Coudray in command of the Continental Artillery. Reports that Congress resolved that Knox's letter was an "infringement on the Liberties of the people."
Knox was almost displaced of his position in charge of artillery by [du Coudray], secured by Silas Deane, the American Minister to France. Washington supported Knox, and Du Coudray was permitted to join the troops under Washington as a volunteer. Coudray drowned in September 1777.
13 July 1777
my dearest friend
I have received yours of 2 & 3d July and thank you most sincerely for the same - tho' I confess you the dearest partner of my soul, that the shortness of Your two last letters were not very agreable to me As long as Providence has parted us for a time I wish to hear as much and as often from you as possible it is the only alleviation our state will admit. [struck: of]
We have received the most chagrining news of the evacuation of Ticonderoga, pregnant in my opinion with the most disagreable consequences of any thing during the war - as we have not heard Genl St. Clairs account of the matter we suspend our Judgement with respect to the propriety of the evacuation tho we Dread the Consequences
we shall send some reinforcements to Genl Schuyler - This event must rouse N England to a man, or they must submit to have their frontiers bath'd in blood - Burgoyne publishes a kind of manifesto in the style of a Gascoon if he does not suceed, he will [inserted: appear] most ridiculous indeed [2] I have received the valuable Cargo you sent me in the Waggons for which I hope to give you ten thousand kisses - beg Mr. Jarvis to send me a Bill of the wine as Genl Greene is Copartner and I want to settle with him -
I suppose Master Billey to be so military mad as to have set out before this, - I confess to you my dear Lucy it is much against my will, he enters upon your account but no other - for while he staid you had a disinterested friend and protector in him - if he has not yet set out I wish him to stay to see what Course Genl Howe will take with his army - which is on the point of [struck: some] [inserted: a] move having been all embark'd for some days - We pin him to the north River as being the most rational plan of forming a Junction with the [laming] Burgoyne - I will try about the Muslin you desire me to get, but I am one hundred miles from Bethlehem, therefore it will be some time before I can get them -
My Lucy regrets that she is not with her faithful Harry - so does he most sincerely - M.rs Greene arriv'd here two or three days ago & must again part with her Genl - who is now on his way to the [3] North River as we all are - [strikeout] M.rs Bland has been at a distance from Colonel Bland for a long time - Mrs Washington or no other Ladies but those I've mention'd are any ways near -
The Letter which I wrote to congress to know whether they had appointed the Mr. du C- has in Conjunction with the Letters of Generals Sullivan & Greene produc'd a Resolve - purporting the said Letters to be an infringement on the Liberties of the people, as tending to influence the decisions of Congress - and expecting the we make acknowledgements to them for so singular an impropriety" The Letters and resolve I will inclose you at some other time - Conscious of the rectitude of my intention, and of the [text loss] Contents of my Letter, I shall make [text loss] acknowledgements whatever - tho my Country is too much press'd at present to resign Yet perhaps this Campaign will be the last - but I am determind to contribute my mite to the defence of the Country in Spite of every obstacle - and I shall be happy to [set it in power going] which I hope will be in the course of this Campaig[n]
May God preserve You adieu
H Knox
[address leaf]
4
M.rs Lucy Knox
Boston
[docket]
Pompton Plains
13th July 1777.
Mentioning the letters
of himself Gens Greene & Sul
livan to Congress -
also evacuation of
Ticonderoga - source
of great chagrin
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