Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to William Knox

[draft]
Camp Bergen County New Jersey 30th October 1780
I cannot describe my dear Brother, the joy, I received from your welcome note, of the 14th instant, by his Excellency, le Chevalier la Luzerne, just informing me of your arrival at Boston. The happiness it conferr'd, was enhanc'd, by the certainty, of your having escap'd the dangers, which inevitably must have attended, the measures you pursued. - however proper the motives, & however sacred, and high, the authorities, which influenced you (of which, I am at present not a competent judge,) to take the hazardous step you did, nothing could have consoled me, for the loss of an only brother, and one I so highly value. I should ever have reprobated with the utmost bitterness of the heart, men, & measures, which for the remainder of my days, had burdened me with such a load of misery. But thanks be to God for his goodness in returning you safe to America [2]
You will now have, to make the rectitude of your conduct in the instance, apparent to your countryman. - I, for my own part, have no doubt, the propriety of this, and every other part of your character, can be made manifest, to any dispassionate person, also will take the trouble to examine into your behaviour.
Some time ago, when Doctor Smith arriv'd in a Cartel, and brought the first intelligence that your were coming to America in the same manner, a Gentleman wrote me "That he was sorry, that you intended to return that way, as the affair of the Cartel, had made a great noise." from which it must have been supposed, that the measure, in the public opinion, was thought to be improper.
I am anxious to receive from you, a very particular detail of your affairs, and of the manner in which you were received, and the opinion of the people upon it -
You must not fail to be very [struck: particular] accurate, & minute in your [3] description of the situation of Lucy's family, and the manner in which they received you. She ardently longs, to hear of & from them, and hopes that you have brought her some letters.
Colonel Harry Jackson is here and sends his love to you, and wishes you to write to him at west point, to give him all the information in your power, concerning his sister [Sus] [strikeout], wife to Lewis Gray - Shaw, sends his love to you -
About five months ago, we were blessed with a son, whom we have nam'd Henry Jackson. Were I to attempt to give you his panegyric, you could suppose, his father had arriv'd at his dotage, therefore let it suffice, that we think our Gosling quite a cygnet.
Little Lucy is well and has grown tall, indeed she is a lovely Girl, in person & mind.
My dearest partner has enjoy'd [4] enjoyed a fine state of health since last August, and has for the greater part of the time been with me. - She requests me to insert her most sincere congratulations on your arrival, and an [assurance] that she retains for you the purest fraternal affection.
We have lately received good news from the southward, a party of our militia totally routed a party of the Enemy consisting principally of tories, and the remainder british troops, amounting to 1400, kill 150 among whom was a Colo Ferguson, commanding officer, [813] taken prisoners - 1500 stand of arms and 29 Barrells powder - This happened on the 7th instant at a place in North Carolina call'd Kings mountain - It is expected the best effects will be deriv'd from this fortunate rècontre.
I am my dear Friend
Your affectionate
Brother
HKnox
Mr William Knox
[written in left margin of page 4] In turning over my paper I mistook a leaf, so you must read [and] the older [two] pages are numbered -
[docket on page 1]
Brig.r Gen.l Knox
[Prackenis] Octr 30. 80