Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to David Ramsay
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 #: GLC02437.04778 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter Date: 21 November 1789 Pagination: 5 p. ; 32 x 20.1 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses Ramsay's idea of publishing the names of all the officers in the Continental Army in the appendix of Ramsay's history. Although originally pleased with Ramsay's idea, Knox is now against the idea. "Upon examining the list I found it abounding with omissions and errors." Believes "the loss of papers" can lead to misinformation and inaccuracies, such as officers who were transferred or left the service. Says that he was "convinced that your motive for the publication was to perpetuate honorably the names of the officers of the Army," but now Knox is not sure of this.
David Ramsay wrote a biography of George Washington eight years after Washington's death.
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.