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 Alexander Hamilton

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.

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01498 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: New Windsor, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 July 1782 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 32 x 19.9 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Major General Knox to Hamilton who had left the army in March 1782. References Hamilton's letter of 7 July. Discusses retaliation against "a captain of the 57 regmnt" (Captain Charles Asgill), for the murder of Captain Joshua Huddy by Loyalists. Asgill was to be executed after the British refused to hand over Lippincott, who the Americans said was responsible for Huddy's death. Washington felt he could not recede from this course of action but wants all other possibilities exhausted before the execution is carried out. Reports Washington will likely demand of Sir Henry Clinton that "the guilty be punished before the innocent'." Says they are waiting for the court martial proceedings of Lippincott to be sent. Says this affair has caused much bad blood between the Tories and regular troops in New York "and this rancor seems to increase as the matter is protracted." Does not support execution, "But yet it will difficult for the General circumstanced as he is with his own declaration, the resolution of Congress on the subject and the expectations of the people, to find reason to justify him to the publick for a total suspension of the matter. If it can be done constantly, he will be happy, not to be obliged to have recourse to a measure, the execution of which must cost him grief and pain." Says there is no news and that Washington has not yet returned from Philadelphia, where he is meeting with Rochambeau.

New Windsor 24 July 1782

I have been waiting my dear Hamilton, for [struck: favor] [inserted: a] Crisis in the case of [inserted: the intended] retaliation for the murder of Huddy before I answer'd your favor of the 7th of last month. But it [struck: appears not] [inserted: has] yet to have arrived - a Captain of Cornwallis's Army was brought up [inserted: to the Jersey line] by a [struck: mistake] [inserted: mistake] of General Hazens [inserted: in lieu of an unconditional prisoner] as a subject for execution. As this person [struck: was] [inserted: is] of considerable family it was thought proper to let his importance have all the influence possible, to obtain the [struck: gu] [inserted: delivery or] the execution of the guilty [inserted: person] in New York. Sir Guy Carleton in a late letter to the General says "the trial of Lippincot is finished and he shall [insert: soon] forward the proceedings [struck: attended] with some other documents" by which a conclusion may be fairly drawn that the Court martial have not found him guilty from some conversations which I have had with the General on the subject he appears to think that it is impossible for him to [struck: relax] [inserted: recede] from his first determinations, but that he shall not [2] [struck: be hasty in the execution, but exec] put into execution untill every other method has been tried in vain
As soon as he [struck: will] receives the [struck: trial] [inserted: proceedings] from Genl Carlton he will probably repeat the demand he made to Genl Clinton that the [strikeout] the guilty [struck: may] be punished before the innocent. [struck: Upon receiving a demand] [inserted: After] [to] this possibly something may [struck: be suggested] [inserted: turn up] to procrastinate the matter still further. You cannot but know that this affair [struck: crea] has created much ill blood between the tories and regular troops in New York and this rancour seems to increase as the matter is protracted, and their fears alarmed. Therefore [struck: a litigation of it is on] [inserted: to agitate it with coming to the ultimate point is in [inserted: our] favor.
My sentiments on [inserted: frequent] executions at this [struck: advanced] [inserted: or any other] period are very similar to yours - I am persuaded that after reflexions will convince [strikeout] dispasionate and enlightened minds that executions have been too frequent, under the color of the Laws of the different states [inserted in the right hand margin: and they will hereafter be recited, to sully the purity of our cause ]. In the present case, I am pretty well convinced that, the representations, and the [l]ight in which [3] which the murder of Huddy has been received on both sides the lines will prevent a repetition of the crime and so far render retalitation unnecessary. But yet it will be difficult for the General [struck: to find] circumstanced as he is [struck: with] [inserted: with his own declarations] the resolution of Congress [strikeout] [inserted: on the subject] [strikeout] and the expectations of the people, to find [struck: principles] [inserted: reasons] to [struck: supposing] [inserted: justify] him to the publick for a total suspension of the matter. If it can be done consistently he will be happy, not be obliged to have recourse to a measure, the execution of which must cost him [inserted: grate] pain
We have no news. The General has not yet returned from Philadelphia here he has been [strikeout] to make some plans with Comte de Rochambeau - [inserted: however] The affair the West Indies is so important [struck: but far] to [strikeout] affect American operations. I am afraid we shall only be able this year [4] beginning to eat Beef and drink Whiskey. I am my dear [struck: Hamilton] [inserted: Sir] with [inserted and strikeout] compliments to [struck: Madame] [inserted: Mrs Hamilton]. Your affectionate
Hble Servant
HKnox
Colonel Hamilton
[docket]
To Colonel Hamilton
24 July 1782

[inserted in the left margin of page one] Fortunately for this [sentence struck] [insert: him] [strikeout] [insert: a Captain of the 57 regiment] has since been taken without any terms who probably [struck: will take] be the unhappy sufferer.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804
Asgill, Charles, 1762-1823
Huddy, Joshua, ?-1782
Lippincott, Richard, 1745-1826

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources