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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to William S. Smith

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01866 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 January 1783 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 26.5 x 22.9 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses the proposed prisoner exchange with Cornwallis concerning Lieutenant Sutherland. See GLC 2437.01857 for original proposal.

[draft]
[struck: Dobbs Ferry] West point 27 Jany. 1783
Dear Colonel
I received your favor of the 25 instant respecting Lt Sutherland. I should upon the principle of humanity have been pleased had I spoken to his Excellency concerning him as he would in that case [struck: according] [inserted: according to the letter you received from Headqts have [struck: have been] [inserted: have been] liberated. [struck: according to the letter you received from Head Quarter]. But the person in whose behalf I solicited was Lt Haldane who acted as aid de camp to Lord Cornwallis, and who also had received an appointment in the East Indies, but was restricted by his parole from taken possession of it. If you should think proper to state this matter to Head Quarters, [inserted: and have his exchange exacted] it would [struck: exceedingly] [inserted: much] oblige Lord Cornwallis as well as the [struck: party strikeout should be] [inserted: person] immediately affected, [struck: and]
I am Dear Sir affectionately
Your Humble Servt
Lt Colonel Smith HKnox

[docket]
To Lt Colonel Smith: 27th Jany
1783 - concerning Lt Sutherland
And Lt Haldane.

Smith, William Stephens, 1755-1816
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis, 1738-1805

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