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 Benjamin Lincoln

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.10151 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 30 September 1783 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 35 x 23.2 cm. Order a Copy

Knox, Commander at West Point, writes, "A Report has been brought by the Garrison, that you have passed the river at Dobb's [Dobbs Ferry]- It would be unnecessary to say how much this mortifies me, but the urgency of your affairs, has undoubtedly been so great as to oblige you to pass as unnoticed." Relates that he was unaware that the salary given to previous commanders at West Point was withdrawn when he took command. Requests from Lincoln, Secretary at War, the same compensation as his predecessors, noting "Certainly I have expended as much as any of them, and I only ask the same allowance. This is but common justice. If it is not granted to me it will have an ugly aspect..." Remarks that he has presented the matter to General George Washington. Knox hopes he "shall leave no cause of complaining of unequal rewards for the same services."

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Washington, George, 1732-1799

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