Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to the Board of War
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00887 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: New Windsor, New York Type: Autograph letter Date: 13 February 1781 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 32.1 x 20.3 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses a situation with Pennsylvania soldiers concerning their term of service. See GLC02437.00899 for a letter written by Richard Peters, on behalf of the War Department, responding to Knox's letter. Possibly incomplete.
[Draft]
New Windsor
13 Feby 1781
Gentlemen
The [four] corps of artillery which I have attached to the Park consisting of about twenty, were from Pennsylvania and enlisted under the vague terms of three years or during the War. At the expiration of the three years their enlisting received the same instruction as the soldiers of the line in the same serve and they were detain'd encampment during the war.
The affair of the Pennsylvania soldiers appears to have essentially alter'd the construction with respect to themselves and by strong implication the idea of the soldiers of the whole army - The artillery claim to be discharg'd - and [2] I presume his Excellency the president of Pennsylvania to whom the matter is referr'd will decide they shall be discharg'd - I have written to him by this opportunity on the subject - permit me to ask who is to make up the depreciation to
these poor fellows the state of Pennsylvania or the Continent?
This company being discharg'd we shall be destitute of artificers - there fore I beg that some may be sent from Philadelphia or Carlile immediately or we shall be unable to take the field - We want for the park about 6 smiths -12 Carpenters & 12 wheel writes and about half as many of each trade for West Point -
[inserted vertically in left-hand column]
We want no officers - those we now have being perfectly acquaint'd with their business - any change in this would be highly detrimental -
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