TRANSCRIPT GLC 2437.14.163
Henry Knox. Letter draft: West Point, to George Washington, 1783 October 2. 2 p. + doc.

West point 2d October 1783
Sir.

By some bad arrangement of the post which has been detained [struck: three] [inserted: two] days somewhere upon the road I did not receive your Excellencys dispatches [inserted: of the 23 and 25th] untill last night –

I will attend [struck: to the of] [inserted: to] your [struck: Excellencys] directions, to discharge the invalids and those whose times [inserted: of service] may shortly expire [struck: and than by to the number mentioned] If 3000 [inserted: or any number near it] [strike-out] should be absolutely necessary [struck: for any considerable] for a [struck: considerable] considerable part or the whole of the Winter, it would be proper to make some immediate arrangements to procure wood, and to render them comfortable in barracks. Upon this point I [struck: shall] request your Excellencys directions as soon as possible – The redoubts, [struck: and] barracks, and the posts occupied by Colonel Swifts regiment [strike-out] [inserted: Cap Winters undone] regiment to hut anew would probably [struck: contain] [inserted: accommodate] the whole.

The british [strike-out] [inserted: measurably] protract [struck: this] the evacuation of New York – [struck: There are many conjectures as to the time when they will effect it, but] they appear to be ready either [struck: to effect its, ] [inserted: to go or stay] as shall be most conducive to their views. Major Bauman who was in New York a few days ago was informed by Mr [2] D. Parke that they [struck: could] [inserted: would] not get away untill December. If [struck: this] [inserted: his] conjecture should be right they will hardly [strike-out] [inserted: go] at that time – Your Excellency is [strike-out] probably posses’d of such information, as to enable you to decide with precision as per their intentions.

The [struck: intentions] wishes of the engineers here has been sounded previous to your Excellencys letter – [struck: Lt Colonel Villpanch] Lt Colonel Villepanche Majors Rochesontunce, and L Enfant would be well pleased to stay in the American Service – They [strike-out] wish however to retain their rank in the french [struck: service] [inserted: Army], and to go to France this winter. I will endever to find out the inclinations [struck: of some] of the [struck: rest] others. [struck: and Villeplanche at any rate intends to be of]

I am [inserted: my] Dear General
[struck: your] with the greatest respect
Your most obedient Serv
H Knox

His Excellency General Washington

[docket]
2d October 1783

Notes: