Washington, George (1732-1799) to Benjamin Lincoln
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.09310 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: New York Type: Manuscript letter Date: 6 June 1783 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 34.1 x 21.2 cm. Order a Copy
Written from military Headquarters in New York. Washington, Commander in Chief of Continental forces, writes to Lincoln, Secretary at War. Discusses extra allowances requested by General Henry Knox, declaring the allowances "perfectly reasonable and well founded." Attests that Knox's position as commander at West Point (1782-1783) required extra expenses (in 1782, Knox entertained many French officers in the area). Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide. Docket indicates this letter is a copy.
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
[Draft]
Head Quarters,
Dear Sir, 6 June 1783.
Having attentively perused the letter from Major General Knox to you, respecting extra allowances to him, which you committed to my consideration, I can with great truth and justice say, that the requests made by Gen. Knox appear to me to be perfectly reasonable and well founded.
In the first instance, the duties of his command from the time of his entering the service have been arduous and important - and if it was necessary to make the observation to you I could add, they have been executed with the greatest attention, ability, and satisfaction, as well as with great prudence and according for the public. If therefore Congress should be pleased to give him the allowances, for the time mentioned, for his extra service as matter of the ordnance, I think it would be no more than what justice demands for his particular merits, and will involve no disagreeable consequences.
On the other head, although the extra allowances have been discontinued to officers in separate departments, yet General Knox situation has been very peculiar for the time he has commanded at West Point; particularly last year, while the French army was in the neighbourhood. Curiosity led many of their most respectable officers to visit that post, which circumstance alone led him, for the honor of our County as well as his own, into many unavoidable [2] expences, beyond what any other Situation would have subjected him to. Independent of this particular reason, West Point, being a post of great importance and much famed for the peculiarity of its situation and strength, is at all times subject to much company, many of whom are so respectable as to claim the attention of the Commandant. In this view, exclusive of his particular merits at that post, I think the request of General Knox is extremely reasonable and just. And if Congress should be pleased to grant him some extra allowance therefor [sic], it would be exceedingly grateful to me and perfectly conformable to my wishes.
With great regard,
I am, dear Sir,
your most obedient Servant
(signed) Go. Washington
Hon. Secretary of War.
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