Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Francois Marie, comte de Aboville
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01365 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 March 1782 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 33.5 x 21.2 cm. Order a Copy
Responds to Aboville's last letter (see GLC02437.01350). Discusses the loss of cannon: "Your surprize and astonishment must have been great indeed that Machines so important and essential to the defence of a country would be placed in so negligent a manner as to be destroyed or rendered unserviceable by a single malignant person. But you judged right my dear Sir when you informed [his Excellency] Genl Rochambeau that I had no knowledge of them." Comments on the acquisition of military stores by the state of Virginia, and declares that General Washington will begin to negotiate with Virginia to obtain them for the United States. Sends compliments to him from General Washington, and extends his complements to General Rochambeau. Hopes to see him soon: "I hope my dear Sir the ensuing campaign will bring us together again that we may have another glorious opportunity of continuing to humble the pride and power of our enemies."
Library of Congress lists Aboville's first name as Marie Francois, but almost every other source available lists it as Francois Marie.
[draft]
Philadelphia 8 March 1782
I sincerely thank you my dear Colonel for the information of the Cannon which you had the good ness to communicate in your favor of the [16th] ultimo. Your suprize and astonishment must have been great indeed that Machines so important and essential to the defence of a country should be placed in so negligent a manner as to be destroyed or render'd unserviceable by a single [strikeout] [inserted: malignant person]. But you judged right my dear [struck: Colonel] [inserted: sir] when you informed [inserted: his Excellency] Genl Rochambeau that I had no knowledge of them. I think [may] venture to assert [if they] had ever been in my charge they would have been [struck: otherwise] [inserted: differently] deposited.
I paid an enquiry that they are the property [struck: belong] of the State of Virginia, [inserted: imparted by them from France by Mr. Lee], but whether [inserted: they] ever [inserted: fell] in possession of the Enemy I cannot learn, but at any rate the property remains as at first- I anxiously wish [2] to get them in possession on account of the United States, for which we could [hasten] other Warlike stores much [struck: more in demand] [inserted: better adapted to the service] by the State of Virginia. His Excellency Genl Washington will immediately set this matter in [inserted: a train of] negociation and I hope we shall derive much proffit from your [discourses]-
I have obey'd your request in communicating your respects to his Excellency Genl Washington who is happy in your expressions of [struck: affection] [inserted: attachment] and desires me to present his compliments and assurances of his respect for you and the gentlemen of your Corps-
I hope my dear sir the ensuing campaign will bring us together again that we may have another glorious opportunity [struck: opportunity] of contributing to humble the pride and power of our enemies.
I pray you to present my most cordial [struck: respects] [inserted: strikeout] to his Excellency Genl Rochambeau and all your Genl officers and in particular the officers of your own corps whom I always shall remember with the greatest [struck: affectio] [inserted: pleasures] [among] whom dont let [illegible phrase] be forgotten.
[3] If we shall be so happy as to effect in exchange I shall [inserted: emboldned] by your head officers] take the liberty to request your assistance in embarking them on board the transports which shall be destined to take them to the head of Elk-
I am dear Colonel with [inserted: the] greatest
respect [struck: and attachment]
Your most Obedient
Humble Servt
HKnox
[struck: Colonel D'Aboville]
Colonel d'Aboville
Commander the royal Artillery of France in Virginia
[docket]
To Colonel DAboville
8 March 1782. in answer
to his of the 10th February
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