Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to George Washington
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00941 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: New Windsor, New York Type: Autograph letter Date: 23 April 1781 Pagination: 6 p. : docket ; 23.1 x 18.9 cm. Order a Copy
Argues against Congress's decision to discontinue the post at Fishkill, commanded by John Ruddock, Deputy Commissary of Military Stores. Its proximity to West Point and to army in the field, as well as the armory located on site, renders the post indispensable to Knox. Also expresses opposition to moving the stores from Fishkill to West Point. "With Respect to the dismission of Mr Ruddock, I can have nothing to say, but that it is a disagreeable service indeed where a man after six years faithful services, without the imputation of an official crime that I know shall be dismis'd, with almost his whole pay due for four years, and that at a time when there are not... more officers of his station than are wanted." Knox's working draft.
[Draft]
New Windsor, 23d April 1781.
Sir
Mr Ruddock Deputy Commissary Military Stores at Fish Kill has handed me an order from the board of War for discontinuing the post at Fish Kill so far as it relates to the department of the Commissary General Military Stores, dismissing the said Mr Ruddock and all the officers under him, and ordering all the military stores in his possession to be delivered to the DQM: of the State of New York. - a copy [struck: of the] [inserted: of which] order is enclos'd.
I beg leave to recite to your Excellency the [struck: impropriety] [inserted: injury] that would [struck: attend] [inserted: arise to the service by] breaking up said deposit, and delivering the stores (among which are most of the Arms Accoutrements [strikeout] musquet [2] cartridges [struck: cast] for the ensuing campagns) to the D.Q.M. [struck: and take your Excellencys directions on the subject]
Fish Kill from its relative situation to West Point and the Army which has generally operated below it, has been the temporary deposit of most of the surplus stores, necessary to be carried to or from the field, or West point, or damag'd stores which have commonly been sent to that place on the first instance and afterwards to the places where they would be best repaird. Besids which there is a small Armory which executes the light repairs and prevents much expence of transportation
These circumstances have occasiond [3] stores and a magazine to be built for the reception of such things as should be sent there, and which although they are not so good as they ought to be [struck: yet] are the best of any in this vicinity.
It may be supposd that all the stores now at Fish Kill might be logdged at West point, but such a measure [strikeout] would be highly improper for the following reasons 1st. To encumber West point with stores not necessary for the Garrison would be capital injury to the defence of the place, besides the absurdity of risquing all our stores at one point
[4] 2dly
There are no proper places there for the reception of such a quantity of stores as are
at Fish Kill
3dly The [inserted: natural] situation is improper [struck: for the] for such a temporary receptacle of stores [struck: as] as that at Fish Kill, because the opportunity for sending & receiving stores from the different arsenals could not be [inserted: em] brace, [struck: with] in any degree with the same facility [struck: as]
I have even considerd Fish Kill [inserted: with your Excellncys approbation] as a necessary appendage to the field & made use of it accordingly. I apprehend the order for its suppression has been given [5] without a due knowledge of its situation & ability. The impropriety is apparent of ordering the [strikeout] ordnance & other military stores, so [maneurving] & complicated as those at Fish-Kill to be deliverd to persons who from their officers cannot be suppos'd to know even the different Species by name much less than uses, and cannot be accounted for in a candid manner but upon the supposition of [strikeout] misinformation.
With Respect to the dismission of Mr Ruddock, I can have nothing to say, but that it is a disagreable service indeed when a man after six years faithful services, without the imputation of an official [crime] [inserted: that I know of] shall be dismiss'd, [6] dismiss'd with almost his whole pay due for five years, and that at a time when there are not [strikeout] more officers of his station than are wanted -
I beg your Excellency directions on the subject.
I have the honor to be with the highest respect
Your Exclncys
Most Obedient
Servant
[docket]
To His Exy. Gen. Washington 23 April 1781.
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