Shaw, Samuel (1754-1794) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01370 Author/Creator: Shaw, Samuel (1754-1794) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 March 1782 Pagination: 6 p. : address : docket ; 19.5 x 15.4 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Major Shaw, Knox's former aide-de-camp, to Brigadier General Knox. Letter expresses the touchiness Revolutionary officers had about rank. Says no word on Knox's promotion is to be had. Hopes "The period, however, cannot be remote when Congress must decide - and either do you justice or dispense with your further services." Goes on to express dismay at Knox not receiving the promotion. References the letter he sent on 5 March as well as another he sent a week earlier. Says since his 5 March letter he has been able to reach a settlement with Massachusetts for his pay for 1780. Claims he is owed £820.19.20 for his services as head of the ordnance department from 18 February 1779. Reports that certificates for this amount, plus interest from 1 January 1781 have been issued. Says the certificates are not as good as specie and sell for only 2/3rds their face value. Says "This I conceive to be owing, not so much to a distrust of public credit, as to the extreme scarcity of money - merchants in this town having given in the course of the winter from 5 to 8 percent for a month's loan. Under these circumstances, it is impossible to dispose of your certificates to your advantage, or take up any money on their security." Says he will leave Boston to rejoin him in 10 days. Says his sister died a fortnight ago, leaving behind a husband and 6 children. Laments her death.
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… We are now arrived at such a stage of the war, that a person, who has supported a good reputation from its [2] its commencement, can hardly undergo a greater mortification than that of being obliged, by a proper regard to his personal honor, to withdraw himself from a service which promises so glorious an issue. Perhaps it is on a presumption that the sacrifice is too great for a man to make to his feelings, that justice has been delayed, and may possibly be finally denied. Those who entertain ideas of this kind can have but very little knowledge of the human heart. They may make as much noise as they please about patriotism and forbearance - great virtues indisputably - but of small avail, when brought into competition with the delicate sensibility of an honest soldier. Such people ought to know, that the man who suffers the least imputation, expressed or implied, on his [3] his own honor can never be a faithful guardian to that of his Country. Under the influence of this sentiment, it is unnecessary to add more, than that having been honored with the most fattering [sic] proofs of your esteem and confidence while in the army. I feel myself bound by the strongest ties of affection and gratitude to follow the fortunes of my beloved General, and make his conduct on this occasion the rule of my own…
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