Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to George Washington
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 #: GLC02437.08176 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter Date: 1781 Pagination: 2 p. ; 30.1 x 19.3 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses the importance of the campaign in New York and feels Washington's efforts in the state are worthwhile. But states that "prospects are dubious," because the enemy has reinforcements arriving. Mentions the arrival of the Comte De Grasse. Feels that New York should be the object but is worried that their forces are not adequate. Unsigned but creator inferred from handwriting. Date and recipient added later in pencil and red ink. See GLC02437.08161 for a related document. Knox's retained draft.
The embarrassments under which your Excellency labors, by the States not complyinging [sic] with your requisitions are truly distressing. The importance of New York to the enemy and America fully justifies every step which you have taken in order to beseige it, and the circumstances with which you expected to effect [inserted: it] would have promised success. But at the present moment, the prospects are Dubious, owing to the [Enemy] having received a reinforcement from Pensacola [struck: and] the troops they expect to [receive] from Virginia which will probably arrive in a few days, and the capital deficiency of recruits [illegible] [illegible] -
[Struck: Should we be so fortunate to Si]
Should Comte de Grasse be so fortunate as to arrive during the absence of the british fleet & previous to the arrival of the English from Virginia we are of opinion that New York [struck: might] clearly ought to [become] [2] our object although our force is not upon a military calculation in any sufficient degree adequate to the attempt, but we conceive that in the case above described we should [strikeout] derive effectual succour from the zeal of the country [line struck] [struck: nearest being realized].
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.