TRANSCRIPT GLC 2437.15.14
Henry Knox. Autograph signed letter draft: Westpoint, to George
Washington, 1783 October 8. 2 p. + doc.
West point 8 October 1783
Sir
I have [inserted: just] received your Excellency’s
favors of the 28 [struck: instant] [inserted: ultimo] requesting
a return of clothing [inserted: which will be actually] wanted,
supposing [struck: a certain] the troops necessary during
the Winter, and of 25th containing the resolves of Congress
thanking General Howe and the detachment under his orders,
which with your Excellencys Sentiments will be published this
day - The return shall be forwarded as soon as possible.
I [struck: have] enclose[struck: d] the weekly return of
the troops, and also a statement of the periods for which
the men in this quarter are engaged to serve. By this and
supposing that the numbers in the first [inserted: Massachusetts]
regiment, are similar to the other regiments of that line,
it will appear that more than [inserted: 1500 men] will be
discharged previous to the first of next April. I imagine
that your Excellncy may be in possession of a similar return,
but it is possible [struck: you] [inserted: it] may not [inserted:
be ], and it is necessary to enable you to judge whether,
the services of these men [struck: the] through the Winter
will [inserted: probably] in any degree be adequate to the
expences of returning them especially as they must be clothed
in order to encounter the severities of the season.
I propose setting to [2] work, as soon as the quarter master
General shall be able to make the necessary arrangements [inserted:
of places] for that purpose, a party of five or six hundred
men, to obtain wood for the garrison which may be here the
ensuing winter. These men [struck: to be those] [inserted:
of the number] whose times of servce [struck: for] expire
first, [struck: and who shall] [inserted: [struck: to] and
who shall] receive their discharges as soon as the last asigned
shall be finished, which [struck: will] probably will be before
the 10th of next month. I flatter myself that this will be
consistent with [struck: these] intention of your letter of
the 25 ultimo
A board of inspection have [struck: sat] [inserted: [struck:
sat] been sitting], in order to discharge all the infirm men,
but they have not yet made their report.
[struck: previous to receiving] [inserted: Before I received]
your Excellencys favor, I had [strike-out] requested a return
of the clothing in Store, [struck: which I received last night,
a copy of the return I co] which I have just received; and
inclose a copy of it.
I have the honor to be
with the highest respect
Your Excellency’s Obedient
Servant
H Knox
His Excellency Genl Washington
[docket]
To his Excellency Genl. Washington
8 October – 1783 -
Notes:
|
