Adams, John (1735-1826) to Henry Knox
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 #: GLC02437.00416 Author/Creator: Adams, John (1735-1826) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 August 1776 Pagination: 1 p. ; 20.3 x 15.8 cm. Order a Copy
Responds to Knox's letter (see GLC02437.00403) to tell him that he did not meet with the founder making the cannons Knox wrote about, but another member of the Continental Congress did. Reports that the congress is also making efforts to mine copper in New Jersey. Discusses the possibility of sending Knox some information about five ships, probably seized vessels. Agrees that Massachusetts should supply the army with more officers, since they supply so many soldiers. Adams continues to discuss the need to promote Massachusetts officers and raises additional artillery concerns in a letter to Henry Knox, dated 25 August 1776 (GLC02437.00424).
Philadelphia, August 13. 1776
Dear Sir
Yours of July 29, I duly received - But had not the Pleasure of Seeing Mr. Byers, the Cannon Founder. - Mr. Paine who is upon the Cannon Committee, I suppose has attended to him. He informs me that the Committee of which he is one are taking Measures to procure Copper as well as Sulphur to be made in New Jersey.
I have obtained from a Gentleman here, very particular Directions concerning Fine ships and Rafts, and Receipts for all the Compositions. They are long, and will be some trouble to transcribe: But if the Business lies within your Department, and you have any Curiosity to see it, I will send it you.
I am very much chagrined that the Massachusetts has not its Proportion of General officers. I wish I was better acquainted with the Persons and Characters of the Colonells from that State. It will never do, for the Massachusetts to furnish so many Men, and have so few Generals while so many other States furnish so few Men and have so many Generals.
I am, Sir your humble Servant
John Adams
Coll Knox.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.