Lamb, John (1735-1800) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01457 Author/Creator: Lamb, John (1735-1800) Place Written: Burlington, New Jersey Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 June 1782 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket ; 20.6 x 16.8 cm. Order a Copy
Writes that he has, pursuant to Knox's instructions, sent Captain [William] Stevens to Secretary at War [Benjamin] Lincoln with a section of a howitzer shell and a request that Lincoln order Mr. [John Jacob] Faesch to produce the number of shells Knox requested. Lamb also asked General Lincoln to give Captain Stevens an order to the Financier for enough money to "defray his expences," but Lincoln said he did not need to go to the Financier until the shells were cast. Also relates that Captain Patten mentioned a machine in Springfield "for cutting Elevating-Screws" and asks Knox to order some for the French howitzers and have them sent from there to Fishkill. Asks Knox to send his regards to Mrs. Knox and to Samuel Shaw. A note appears under the address that reads "Favor'd, per Capt. Lt. Thompson," presumably denoting that Thompson delivered the letter. "On public service" written on address leaf.
The "Financier" to which Lamb refers might be Robert Morris, the Philadelphia merchant and banker who was Superintendent of Finance from 1781-1784.
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