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 Clement Biddle

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 #: GLC02437.10154 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 October 1783 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 35.9 x 23 cm. Order a Copy

Knox writes a warm letter to Colonel Biddle. "I should have done violence to my feelings and Sentiments, my dear Biddle, were I to pass further from you eastward without dropping one line of recognition- The War is over, our acquaintance began in times of distress and was ripened by common danger into sincere friendship. We shall now assume new situations which may separate us widely and perhaps forever. But no distance, and no circumstances but loss of memory will obliterate... the idea of your goodness and sensibility... If at any period it may appear that I can be of service to you or yours, suffer me to embrace the opportunity..."

Biddle served as General Nathanael Greene's aide-de-camp during the Revolutionary War. He resigned his commission in 1780 only to return to service in 1781 as Quartermaster General of the Pennsylvania Militia with the rank of Colonel.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Biddle, Clement, 1740-1814

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources