Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to George Washington
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01657 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 October 1782 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 33.4 x 20.6 cm. Order a Copy
Contributes his thoughts on what to do with the "poor unfortunate invalid regiment." Declares that his ideas stem both from compassion for the soldiers and from "what I conceive to be the good of the service." Discusses physical examinations of the soldiers, how to judge who is capable for duty, and what sort of work they might be able to accomplish (says that they could not, for example, be employed in the movement of ordnance). Mentions Colonel Timothy Pickering, the Quartermaster General.
[draft]
West point. 19 October 1782.
Sir
I beg your Excellencys indulgence for a few [strikeout] [inserted: moments] while I just state my ideas respecting the poor unfortunate invalid regiment, which [inserted: ideas] are the result of compassionate sensations combined with what I conceive to be the good ofthe service.
I have in every shape I could devise endevor'd to make the few who are here serviceable in some degree, but without producing any adequate effect. [struck: Those who I] [strikeout] of eight who I [appropr] to the service of the ferry, [strikeout] [inserted: six] fell sick, after four days [strikeout] duty. Some were [struck: appropriated] [inserted and struck: were] [inserted: ordered] to the beacon Guard, on the W. side of the river, but [struck: two] a few days brought an application for a number of men to bear two of them to the hospital- ultimately I determined to place them on Constitution Island [struck: and] build them a barrack [inserted: & nurse them in] and only require the duty of guarding that [struck: place] [inserted: post]. But upon every examination I am convinced to place the least degree of confidence on them is to deceive ourselves, & to rely upon an assistance which if [demanded] must inevitably fail, [strikeout] merely some [struck: weakness] [strikeout] [inserted: inability] Indeed [struck: I think they almost only [service] they are] [2] not capable of any service, but in a few instances boatmen, artificers in light work, waiters, and to do [some] guard duty where they might be sentries inside of houses, stables, &c- Their distributions are contained in the enclosed paper. [inserted: The party cannot be withdrawn from Fish Kill] The teams cannot be had to move the ordnance stores [struck: from Fish Kill and] of which there are one hundred & fifty loads- The [struck: party from thence cannot be drawn [inserted: any] until the Stores are removed]- the party at Newburgh are guarding the clothg stores, some waggons Quarters Master [inserted: stores] &c. The few we have here are of no use, and even if the [strikeout] [inserted: whole] from Fish Kill and nearby were here [strikeout] I could not trust [Constitu] [sic] Island to them, especially as the Magazine of powder there [struck: enhances] [inserted: so greatly enhances] its importance [strikeout] For those reasons I with great deference beg leave to propose [struck: those] [strikeout] [inserted: that] line should be removed [strikeout] to [Newburg] [sic] at which place they may be of some use in guarding the cannon, tools, quarter masters, clothing &c which would require all the effectives from Fish Kill if we should be able to [strikeout] [inserted: bring the stores] from that place [struck: your Exclly will observe that] [inserted: Your Exclly will observe] [3] this number is under sixty.
I had hopes to obtain from the Levies under Colonel Pickerings orders a party of carpenters which might have enabled us to have built a barrack for a regiment [inserted: of Infantry,] but of the party which he sent me yesterday for that purpose only two were carpenters. Every man [struck: who we have] here that can handle an ax is employed in the numerous works which we have in here [struck: and] [inserted: Therefore] unless [struck: I can] [inserted: strikeout] we can obtain thirty carpenters [inserted: & 20 masons] from the army for one month It will be impossible to erect the barrack [struck: all] the [struck: buildings [inserted: barracks here] on [struck: the point exclusive of that in fort Clinton, will not contain nine hundred men] Even with [struck: these men] [inserted: these artificers], it will be [struck: an arduous] difficult [struck: to make the] [strikeout] to effect it, [struck: but with exertion it may be done] [inserted: without much]. The barracks on the point exclusive of that in Fort Clinton will not hold nine hundred men.
There are thirteen [inserted: or fourteen] more artificers who belong to Colonel Van Schaicks regiment, are employed [4] [strikeout] on the [works]. I beg your Excellencys permission to keep them, for a short time. This may be done with more propriety as they have not furnished the engineers department with any workmen -
I have the honor to be with great respect
Your Excellencys
Most obdient
Sert.
His Excellency General Washington -
[docket]
To His Exy Gen Washington 11 Octo. 1782.
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