Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Ebenezer Stevens
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 #: GLC02437.01078 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Sleepy Hollow, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 25 July 1781 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 19.1 x 15.6 cm. Order a Copy
Directed to Lieutenant Colonel Stevens at "Kings Ferry, Westpoint, or New Windsor." Informs Stevens to suspend his movement to Kings Ferry if he is not already there, reporting that "Two twenty Gun ships, two sloops, and a galley belonging to the Enemy" have just passed up the river. Orders Stevens to get all stores on shore if he is at Kings Ferry, as Knox fears losing the stores to the British. Adds, "His Excellency the General has given me orders to risque no peices [sic] or stores..." Written at Philipsburgh, New York (present-day Sleepy Hollow).
Phillipsburg Sunday evening 9 oClock
25th July 1781 -
Dr Sir
Two [strikeout] twenty Gun ships, two sloops, and a Galley belonging to the Enemy having just past up the river, it will probably become necessary to suspend your movement to Kings Ferry if you [struck: may no] have not already arrived there. His Excellency the General has given me orders that to risque [struck: nothing] no pieces or stores belonging to the Park, as it is at this moment uncertain what is the fate of the Iron Guns with Capt Lt [Niels]
If you should have [2] arrived at Kings Ferry, not a moments time to be lost in getting [inserted: every thing] [struck: them] on shore, and informing me of the same and whether [inserted: you have a sufficiency of] [strikeout] horses there. If you are at West point or New Windsor rest there until further [orders].
Your Hble Servt
HKnox
Lt Colonel Stevens -
Kings Ferry, West point, or
New Windsor
[docket]
To Lt Colonel
Stevens. 15 July
1781
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.