Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Francois Jean Chastellux
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.02829 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 December 1783 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 19.8 x 16.1 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses the great debt and gratitude the new nation owes to France and the French officers and commanders for their leadership and support.
Major General Francois-Jean de Chastellux was one of the French generals who arrived with Rochambeau and helped the Americans achieve victory at Yorktown.
[draft]
New York 14 Decbr 1783
I cannot omit so good an opportunity of writing a line of recognition, [struck: to Genl Chastelus] [inserted: to you my dear General] as that which presents by the packet, [struck: and] especially when the safety of it is guaranteed by Lt Colonel the Chevalier Villefranche who is going to France in Company with Major Rochefontaine They are both men of much merit in their profession, and will I am persuaded meet with the encouragement and protection of the experienced Militaires of France.
We have at last happily arrived at a peace glorious to the allied Armies of France & America. To us who were contending for every thing dear and valuable to men, it is peculiarly [2] precious [struck: and if we seize the occasion which now present itself we may herein] We shall never forget how much is owing to the generous exertions of France, upon this important event - and I flatter myself with the hope that America [strikeout] will eagerly seize every occasion to place her gratitude [struck: to France] in a conspicuous point of view - with this [struck: view] [inserted: intention], and in order to counterballance [sic] the [inserted: late] prejudices [struck: forme] in favor of England, The officers of the American Army have ventured to establish the Society of the Cincinnati which is universally adopted by [struck: The officers, from Virginia to New Hampshire] [inserted: the officers. - ] [3] The [struck: ready] aquiesence [sic] of the Gentlemen of your Army who were in America with the proposal to become Members, will [struck: add] greatly tend to render the institution [form] and respectable. His Excellency Genl Washington who is [strikeout] president Genl has transmitted by Major L'Enfant the particular details of this affair, which I hope will be pleasing to you -
I shall be [strikeout] particularly happy to receive a line from you at your leisure. I have not forgotten my promise [struck: I shall continue] [4] [inserted: and I] shall [inserted: continue] write to you frequently, being [struck: exceedingly] anxious to inspire you with familiar sentiment of friendship to those which I feel
I am my Dear Genl Your [strikeout] [inserted: respectfully]
Affectionate HKnox
The Genl Chastelus.
[docket]
To Genl Chastelus 14Decr
1783 -
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