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Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Benjamin Lincoln

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01309 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter Date: 23 December 1781
Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 22.9 x 18.8 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to respond to General Benjamin Lincoln's request of his opinon on where to store 4,000 barrels of public powder now in Boston. Declares that West Point is so important that they should do everything possible to provide ample supplies. Thinks 1,000 barrels should be sent to West Point as soon as the snow allows transportation. Also thinks that 1,000 barrels should be deposited at Springfield, and that the remaining 2,000 should be split between Reading, Easton and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Through this arrangement "if either of the two objects proposed for the operations of the next Campaigns should be attacked, the whole of the continental powder not appropriated to the defence of posts would be brought together without much difficulty." Then explains how powder could be transported if either Charleston or New York were attacked. Explains that land transportation of the items will be very expensive, but it is unavoidable, unless they transport to portions of Pennsylvania over water, but that is very dangerous. GLC 2437.01308 is a later copy of this letter.

[draft]
Philadelphia 23 Decr. 1781

Dear Sir
As you have been pleased to request my opinion of the places where to deposit the public powder now at Boston and supposd to consist of about [4000] Barrells, I shall give it as concisely as possible.
The great importance of West Point demands that every means in our power should be used to place it in as great security [struck: as] [inserted: as can be given by ample] supplies of all kinds [struck: can admit]- a view of the returns of stores at that post will shew that the quantity of powder now there is [struck: by no manes equal to] [inserted: very deficient of] what it ought to be. I think therefore that at least one thousand barrells ought to [strikeout] be [2] order'd there as soon as the snow will facilitate the mode of transporation [sic]- and that 1000 barrells should be deposited at Springfield, and the remaining two thousand barrells to be deposited in this state [inserted: part in] this City, [inserted: part at] Reading and [inserted: part at] Easton.
By this arrangement, if either of the two objects proposed for the operations of the [new] campaign should be [struck: undertaken] [inserted: attacked], the whole of the Continental powder not appropriated to the defence of [struck: places] [inserted: posts] could be [strikeout] [inserted: brought together] without much difficulty- If Charlestown for instance, should be the point of attack the two thousand barrells in this state and a thousand which might be drawn from West Point on condition of [inserted: it being] replacing [struck: it] instantly from Springfield [3] would constitute the principal part of the [struck: dislocated powder] [dislocated] powder.
If New York should be [attemptd] the [inserted: powder in the] magazines [struck: in this State] [inserted: here] and at Springfield [struck: can be transported] can be easily transported to the north river by [inserted: illegible safe] [struck: easy] communications [strikeout]
The Principal difficulty will be the [expence] of [inserted: a land] transporting of the powder to be deposited in [struck: this state] [inserted: Pennsylvania]- This can be avoided only by a water carriage which must from circumstances be [struck: being] [inserted: extremely] hazardous. The expence of that which [inserted: ought to] [struck: must] be sent to West point & Springfield is inevitable.

[docket]
Copy to Genl Lincoln
respecting the powder
at Boston 23 Decr
1781-

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

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