Pickering, Timothy (1745-1829) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01645 Author/Creator: Pickering, Timothy (1745-1829) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 October 1782 Pagination: 2 p : docket ; 23.3 x 21.1 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Colonel Pickering as Quartermaster General to Major General Knox. Reports that Major Cogswell will have 2 good teams sent today to haul the frame for the barrack at Constitution Island. Says 4 more teams will be added as soon as they arrive from the country with their forage. Says if the timber is hewed in the woods to sizes, Major Cogswell believes the 6 teams can haul the frames to the landings in 6 or 8 days. Hopes the enemy's movements will not interrupt the construction of accommodations for the troops. Says the "artificers" of Parsell's Company were to arrive yesterday at West Point and included 9 carpenters and wheelwrights. Says more on the way and that hospital tents will be sent off soon. Postscript asks about hired Masons;. Has asked the quartermaster at Morristown to inquire for terms on which he could engaged 6-12 if needed. Place written in simply marked "Camp."
Camp Octr. 5. 1782
Dr Sir,
Major Cogswell will have two good teams sent to-day to haul the frame for the barrack destined for Constitution Island - at least four more will be added as soon as they arrive from the country with their forage to support them, which will be today or to-morrow. If the timber be hewed in the woods to fires, Major Cogswell supposes that number of teams will haul the whole of the frames to the landings in six or eight days. More can be added if no movement of the enemy takes place, concerning which I am yet held in suspense. Such a movement will interrupt, if not defeat, almost every design for accommodating the troops to [this] Satisfaction the ensuing winter: I hope therefore, & presume, it will not take place.
The artificers of Pursells company, that are retained in service, were to arrive yesterday [2] [yesterday] as West Point - among them nine carpenters and wheelwrights. The dispersed situation of the New Levies has prevented my selecting the artificers from them: but I respect the returns in this forenoon, and that to-morrow those destined for West-Point & the Hospital huts will be sent off.
I am dear sir
yr. most obed.t serv.t
Tim: Pickering
Q.M.G.
P.S. I am doubtful whether you did or did not, upon the whole, wish for some hired masons: you supposed the wages to be actually paid them would disgust those in constant service. I have therefore only desired the Qr. Master at Morristown to inquire those terms on which he could engage half a dozen or a dozen, if called for. -
M.Genl. Knox
[docket]
From Col. Pickering
Oct 5 1782
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