Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to George Washington
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.10163 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 October 1783 Pagination: 2 p. : docket : 35.8 x 23.3 cm. Order a Copy
Lets Washington know that he received his message concerning clothing for the troops over the winter and the resolves of Congress thanking General [Robert] Howe and his detachment. Notes that he enclosed a weekly return of the troops. Discusses the return of men to regiments and the numbers that will be discharged. Asks that the quartermaster make the necessary arrangements for five to six hundred men to obtain wood for the upcoming winter. Says there is a board of inspection assigned to discharging all of the infirm men, but they have not yet made a report. Knox's retained draft.
West point 8 October 1783
Sir
I have [inserted: just] received your Excellency's favors of the 28 [struck: instant] [inserted: ultimo] requesting a return of clothing [inserted: which will be actually] wanted, supposing [struck: a certain] the troops necessary during the Winter, and of 25th containing the resolves of Congress thanking General Howe and the detachment under his orders, which with your Excellencys Sentiments will be published this day The return shall be forwarded as soon as possible.
I [struck: have] enclose [struck: d] the weekly return of the troops, and [struck: also] a statement of the periods for [which] the men in this quarter are engaged to serve. By this and supposing that the numbers in the first [inserted: Massachusetts] regiment, are similar to the other regiments of that line, it will appear that more than [inserted: 1500 men] will be discharged previous to the first of next April. I imagine that your Excellency may be in possession of a similar return, but it is possible [struck: you] [inserted: it] may not [inserted: be [illegible]], and it is necessary to enable you to judge whether, the services of these men [struck: the] through the Winter will [inserted: probably] in any degree be adequate to the expences of returning them especially as they must be clothed in order to encounter the severities of the season.
I propose setting to [2] setting to work, as soon as the quarter master General shall be able to make the necessary arrangements [inserted: of places] for that purpose, a party of five or six hundred men, to obtain wood for the garrison which may be here the ensuing winter. These men [struck: to be those] [inserted: of the number] whose times of servce [struck: for] expire first, [struck: and who shall] [inserted: [struck: to] and who shall] receive their discharges as soon as the task asigned shall be finished, which [struck: will] probably will be before the 10th of next month. I flatter myself that this will be consistent with [struck: these] intention of your letter of the 25 ultimo
A board of inspection have [struck: sat] [inserted: [struck: sat sat] been sitting], in order to discharge all the infirm men, but they have not yet made their report.
[struck: previous to receiving] [inserted: Before I received] your Excellencys favor, I had [strikeout] requested a return of the clothing in Store, [struck: which I received last night, a copy of the return I co] which I have just received, and enclose a copy of it.
I have the honor to be
with the highest respect
Your Excellency's Obedient
Servant
H Knox
His Excellency Genl Washington
[docket]
To his Excellency Genl. Washington
8 October - 1783
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