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 James Bowdoin

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03341 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 November 1786 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 32 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy

Introduces Captain [possibly Jeremiah or Constant] Freeman as a worthy artillery soldier who served under Knox during the previous war. Recommends him for service in the Massachusetts line currently being raised.

[draft]
New York 20 Novr 1786

Captain Freeman the bearer [strikeout] being desirous of an appointment in the artillery to be raised in Massachusetts thus requested me to introduce him to your Excellency - I can with great truth say from a thorough [struck: experience of his abilities, character, for during the late war, that] [inserted: of him] he having served in the artillery during the late war under my command, that [struck: his character] [inserted: his character] as a man of honor [strikeout], and [struck: his] [inserted: of] [inserted: professional] abilities [struck: as an officer of artillery and such, that he] [inserted and struck: as an artillery officer] [inserted: as an artillery officer] would [struck: be as] [inserted: render him] acquisitive to any service whatever
I have the honor to be sir
with the highest respect
Yr Excellencys most
Obedient servant
HKnox

His Excellency Govr
Bowdoin
[strikeout]
[docket]
To His Excellency
Govr Bowdoin 20th
Novr 1786 -

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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