Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to John Popkin
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.02139 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 May 1783 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 34.4 x 21.5 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses the payment of the noncommissioned officers and the resentment they feel regarding the equality of receiving pay, as well as giving directions on how to handle the disgruntled men. For related documents, see GLC02437.02219, .02220, .02226, .02235, .02236, .02364, .10082, .10112, and .10117.
[draft]
West point 29 May 1783
Sir
The non commissioned officers and privates of Colonel Cranes regiment [inserted: whose names are enclosed], complain to me that [struck: certain notes but] [inserted: certain] notes given by [inserted: by the state of] Massachusetts for their pay and depreciation of pay were [struck: lodged on your hands for] [inserted: received] by you in their behalf, and that [struck: same] a [struck: certain] [inserted: large] proportion was appropriated by you in a manner utterly unauthorized by them, and for which they have not to this time received any compensation. I am not perfectly possess'd of all the circumstances and therefore cannot give any decided [struck: upon] opinion upon the subject, But it will be necessary that you immediately remove the cause of the complaint, and fully satisfy the parties, either by giving them notes of the same nature which you received for them, or [inserted: in] any other manner which may be [struck: fully] [illegible] satisfactory to them.
Serjeant [sic] [Howes] one of the complain[ants] [struck: has] is authorized in part the rest, to receive [inserted: from you] this compensation [struck: from you] he will wait upon you [2] for this purpose ten days. If at the experation [sic] of that time you do not settle with him for himself and the rest, [struck sentence] [inserted: I am under the necessity [struck: at] [struck: of] directing that you repair to camp without the least delay. This order you will consider as [struck: pos] positive and final - The prospect of the speedy dissolution of the army will render, [struck: that] it necessary [struck: that] for your own reputation as well as sufficient to them, that you return to camp to as soon as possible - General Heath has informed of the circumstances of your detention in Boston, But you will consider what I now write concerning your return to be the [orders] of the Commander in chief [struck sentence].
your Humble Sert
HKnox
Lt Colonel Popkins
[docket]
Lt. Colonel Popkin.
29 May 1783.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.