Knox, Henry (1750-1806) An opinion delivered to His Excellency General George Washington

Camp Bergen County 9th Sep 1780 -

Sir
I have endevor'd attentively to consider the several propositions, resulting from the State of the circumstances of the Army, and Country, which your Excellency on the 6th instant was pleasd to lay before your General officers assembled in Council.
The respective States, [struck: not fully] [inserted and struck: only partially] [inserted: having] complied [inserted: only partially] with the requisitions made of them of men and provisions - The inadequate quantities of military stores; the disaperance of [inserted: a considerable] part of the armorment expected from France, and a number of other causes have at last produced a conviction, that the siege of New-York, the primary object of the intended operations of the Campaign cannot be undertaken with the [inserted: force &] means in our possession.
If [struck: New York] it shall be establishd that New York [struck: at present] cannot be attaind with our present force, an enquiry arises, is there any object that we can employ the troops against which [2] will promise success and compensation for the [struck: trouble] expence [inserted: attending it] [struck: an] the acquisition? - Hallifax has been mention'd by the Court of France, and others, as a proper object for our excertions. - But it is certain, that Hallifax, even supposing the acquisition easy, cannot be maintaind without an naval force, and therefore must be lost to America - whenever the Enemy shall please to attack it - if this is true, our attempt on it, would be a [struck: great] misaplcation [sic] of our force under [struck: our] [inserted: the] present Circumstances. -
Canada ought to claim a great proportion of the attention of America - wither the possession of that [struck: state] [inserted: Province], the frontiers of the respective states, will always be subject to blood and desolation. - But the [struck: period] season is too far advanc'd, & circumstances [inserted: too] unfavorable to [strikeout] attempt it at present -
To disposses the Enemy at Penobscot, requires a favorable season, and a superior navy, but the force there is so [struck: small, that] [inserted: triffling as] [3] to follow the fate of Hallifax, or be subjected by a small detachment at a period when we shall be masters of those seas -
These objects being either improper or impracticable the southern states loudly claims, protection and assistance from the rest of America by their union, [struck: and assistance to] [inserted: and perseveranc with] us they have united the [inserted: severe] misfortunes that have befallen them - we are bound by interest, and good faith to render them every possible succour in our power - The Enemy by their former and recent success appear to have the asscendancy [sic] not only so far as to silence opposition but to draw out the resourses of [struck: Geo] men and provisions from Georgia and South Carolina, and to threaten North Carolina with total subjugation - The full possession of those three states will confer innumerable advantages on the enemy in the course of the War and [strikeout] [inserted: probably] enable [4] them to conquer [inserted: at least some] the [struck: remainder] [inserted: others] - The principal inhabitants of spirit will be made prisoners, and the common people enjoying the sweets of ease, and commerce will be willing to remain under the british government [struck: even at the] [inserted: and will perhaps at the] conclusion of peace, [struck: and perhaps] by an act of their own refuse to return to the [struck: American] union - [struck: America] dispossessed of Georgia North & South Carolina [inserted: America] will be deprivd of their [struck: assistance in paying] [inserted and struck: resources] [inserted: proportion of] the expenses of the War, and of articles immensely valuable in the commerce and which cannot be obtained but by permission of [struck: a] [strikeout] [inserted: a jealous Enemy] [struck: Great Britain who will be ever jealous of the rise of America who [inserted: tenacious of the truce] will be cautious in proportion to her jealousy] [inserted: of those states] - besides which, to suffer three states to fall a prey to and remain in possession of the Enemy with so small a force, will be to confess the extremity of weakness in America -
Therefore the moment [struck: that can acquire] second division [inserted: of the french fleet] shall arrive or wee [sic] can gain a naval superiorty we [5] we ought to send by water the whole of the french troops, and so many of the Americans as will make up ten thousand men, included the regular force of Virginia and Maryland which [struck: may] [inserted and struck: must] [inserted: may] be rais'd in the [inserted: present] exigence - The [struck: force] [inserted: Army] that shall be sent must be so completely superior as to accomplish its point speedily - our exertions & prepartions [sic] should be for this purpose -
The middle and eastern states with the [inserted and strikeout] force that will remain will be equal to the protection of themselves - then battalions must be completed and every preparation carried on [inserted: in the course of the Winter] with the utmost vigor for the Siege of New-York in the Spring.
The french [struck: will] [strikeout] have an apparatus of artillery equal to the siege of Charlestown, [struck: and] [inserted: or] any other fortified places [inserted: to the Southward] but if they should [struck: not] [inserted: be any deficency] we must [struck: render] [inserted: give] all the assistance [inserted: in our power] [strikeout] that we [struck: can - But] I suppose that the Siege of Charlestown ought not to be the [6] first object, for probably there will be considerable bodies of troops in Georgia & [struck: South] North Carolina - [inserted: what] a sudden & judicious landing in South Carolina could separate [struck: those corps] and render the conquest of them much less difficult than if they were united - This however is a matter of detail that can be much better settled after the General Manoeuvers shall be decided upon -
I presume Transports and a very [struck: cons] large quantity of salt provisions [inserted: for the troops who should be sent in addition to the French] might be [forward] under various pretences to the eastward [strikeout] [inserted: of] the prizes lately brought in there, [struck: for the troops, who shall go in addition to the french troops] [inserted: army -] should an expedition to the southward be undertaken, [struck: it cannot be entr] it ought to be entrusted to as few persons as possible [struck: and] the design must be mastr'd with the utmost art, to prevent the enemy sending any additional force there which would [struck: probably] [inserted: might] render [struck: the expedition] [inserted and strikeout] [inserted: the enterprize] totally abortive -
If we cannot acquire [7] a naval superiority [inserted: in those seas] I cannot see what enterprize we can undertake - [inserted: with any great prospect of success] to march troops to Canada, [struck: would] be [inserted: exclusive of the lateness of the season] an arduous task, [struck: but and probably too late possibly] and [struck: might] [inserted: would probably] produce consequences that might [struck: render abortive][inserted: frustrate] any designs on New York in the Spring if we [inserted: should] attempt to march the french troops [struck: with others] to the southward the Enemy would have an opportunity to reinforce [inserted: their [struck: troops] army] long before our [struck: troops] [inserted: force] could arrive there, but [struck: even] this expedient tedious expensive [struck: and] arduous [struck: as it] and [strikeout] [inserted: even compar'd with a water transportation [strikeout]] as it would be, must be adopted in preference to permitting the Enemy to [strikeout] [inserted: extend] their conquests, or to return those they have made.
These sentiments are with proper deference submitted by your Excellency's
Most obedient
Humble Servt
H Knox
His Excellency
Genl Washington
(Copy)
[docket]
An opinion
deliverd His Excly
Genl Washington
9th Septr 1780 -