Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Benjamin Lincoln
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.02144 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 June 1783 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 34.4 x 21.4 cm. Order a Copy
Gives an account of his advancement in the army and his wages as a way to show the unfair methods of payment of the soldiers and the lack of an organized system to deal with soldiers' wages.
[draft]
West point 2 June 1783
Sir
Having for a long period been sensible of the embarassments [sic] of the public, I have forborn stating certain claims for compensation, which I hope may with propriety be [struck: forward] brought forward at this moment, when all the accounts of the Army are about to be finally closed.
In 1775 Congress did me the honor to appoint me to the command of the Artillery with the rank of Colonel and the pay of fifty dollars p month. The present pay of a captain of artillery. I continued to exercise the complicated and extensive duties of my station through the arduous campaign of 1776, without any addition to my small stipend which I can truly assert did not defray, more than one quarter of the expenses indispensably necessary to my situation in the Army. Just at the expiration of 1776 Congress were pleased to advance me to the rank of a brigadier Gnl still continuing me as commanding officer of artillery and [2] in February 1779 that honourable body having been impressed with the great duties and expences incident to the office were pleased to add [struck: 75] seventy five dollars p month for the change of the ordnance department in the field. This sum was continued untill the August following when it was reduced to forty but upon what principle I have never been able to learn.
Upon this recital of facts I beg leave just to observe That for the portion of time previous to my promotion as a general officer the pay was conspicuously unequal to the expences and importance of the station, and that it was not adequate untill February 1779. It is supposed that the reduction which was made in the August for [illegible] must have been owing to some mistake which [struck: will] Congress will [strikeout] [inserted: enable] the paymaster to rectify in the settlement of accounts. I hope 75 dollars p month additional pay as head of the ordnance department from the time of my appointment to Feby 79 will not be thought an unerasonable [sic] expectation.
Last year his Excellency the Commander in cheif [sic] was pleased to honor me with the command of this post [3] post and its dependencies. The [struck: additional] pay of a Major General in a seperate department has generaly been added to the General officer commanding here, upon account of the undue expences [arrising] from the command. This has been granted in some instances upon special application, and on others, in consequence of a resolution of Congress for that purpose which however was repealed in 1782. There have been several circumstances which have render'd the unavoidable expences during my command, as great as at any other period and for which I presume I have unequal claim upon the public with my predecessors.
In a service like ours which is founded in patriotism, it is painful to [urge] a pecuniary reward. An at the same time it is unjust that an individual should utterly neglect his own affairs and devote his whole time to the public without a sufficient consideration. Money has not been my object [struck: although] It is but justice to my family that I should request a moderate satisfaction [4] for my expences and services. [struck: As I am]
As I am aware that the present state of the public finances will not admit of an immediate payment I ask only that the paymaster be authorized to credit my account for such sums as Congress may please [inserted and struck: to ord] for the above specified services
I beg sir that you will have the goodness to place these matters before Congress in the manner that you may think most proper
I have the honor sir
To [be] with great respect
Your most obedient
and Humble servant
HKnox
Honorable General Lincoln
Secretary at War
[docket]
To General Lincoln 2 June
1783
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