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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, William (1756-1795) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00455 Author/Creator: Knox, William (1756-1795) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 26 September 1776 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; 19.3 x 15.9 cm. Order a Copy

Celebrates Knox's "very surprizing deliverance from the hands of the Enemy." Criticizes the "Scandalous Flight of the Connecticut Militia," at the Battle of Long Island. Says that "General Washington himself has wrote to our [Council] & cast most severe reflections on their conduct." In response to Henry's letter from 19 September (see GLC02437.00447), he acknowledges that Henry's work and health have limited his writing and notes that he has obtained the epaulets Henry wanted but has not gotten the blue cloth yet.

[draft]
Boston 26 Septr 1776
My dear Brother
I heartily Bless God for your very suprizing deliverence from the hands of the Enemy. I have a most lively Idea of what your sensations must have been on the occasion. I hope to Heaven they will not have the opportunity of captivating you again[.] myself in particular and every one else who are our Friends & who have heard of the Scandalous Flight of the Connecticut Militia, heartily dispise them. General Washington himself has wrote to our Council & cast most severe reflections [2] on their conduct - I recd. yours of the 19th Inst. yesterday morng & assure you that I have not entertaind one hard sentiments of you for not writing altho' I confess I should have been much happier if I could have had only a from you. but Impute intirely to your extreme attention to your ir[text loss] department which Will I am [text loss] afraid much impair your health & make an old man of you too soon if nothing worse. I beg & pray of you to take all those precautions which lay in your power for the preservation of your health - I have got you those Epaulets which you desird me to & will send them by [3] the first person that goes from here that I can depend on. there is not the least Blue Cloth to be got in Town but Joe Laughton is going to salem & Newbury to Morrow, & he has told me he will go to ev'ry store at those places to get it[.] if he dont succeed I will purchase you brown, immediately on his return - which I had rather not do if Blue can be purchas'd
Beleive me to be my dear Harry
your Constantly effectionate
Brother WKnox
Mrs. Knox wrote me the 20th Inst.
[address leaf]
To -
Collo. Henry Knox
Mount Washington
Near
Kings Bridge
Post.
[docket]
Wm. Knox
Boston Sepr 26 1776

Knox, William, 1756-1795
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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