Our Collection

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 Ebenezer Sprout

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.02125 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 May 1783 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 32.3 x 21 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Major General Knox to Colonel Sprout. References Sprout's letter of 19 May. This letter told of the "extraordinary conduct of Mr. Honniwell" Knox says "Such conduct may renew again all the horrors of War." "Mr. Honniwell" refers to Israel Honeywell, a New York patriot militia leader. On May 16, 1783, three days after Sir Guy Carleton evacuated his troops from mainland New York, Honeywell led his men into Westchester where they robbed, beat, and otherwise terrorized Loyalist inhabitants. Knox says he will pass this information along to Washington who will no doubt inform Governor George Clinton. See GLC02437.02126 for a related document.

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