TRANSCRIPT GLC 2437.02.022

Henry Knox.  Letter signed: Albany, to George Washington, 1776 January 05.  1 p.

Albany Jany 5 1776

[inserted – different hand: To Washington]

Sir

I did myself the honor to address your Excellncy from Fort George on the 17 Ult. – I then was in hopes that we should [inserted: have] been able to have had the Cannon at Cambridge [struck: before] [inserted: by] this, [inserted: time] the want of Snow detain’d us some days & now a [struck: creul] cruel thaw, [struck: which] hinders from Crossing Hudsons River which we are oblig’d to do four times from Lake George to this Town – the first severe [strike-out] night will make the Ice on the river sufficiently strong, ‘till that happens the Cannon & mortars must remain where they are [strike-out] most of them at the different crossing places & some few here – these inevitable delays [struck: give me the] [inserted, struck: chagrin] [inserted: pain] Me [strike-out] [inserted: exceedingly] as my mind is fully sensible of the [strike-out] importance of the greatest expedition in this Case – In eight or nine days after the first severe frost they will be at Springfield from which place we can get them easily transported Altho there should be no snow – but to that the roads are so excessively bad Snow will be necessary – We got over 4 more dble fortified 12 pounders after my last to your excellency – I send a duplicate of the List for fear of miscarriage of the other [inserted: List], General Schuyler has been exceedingly assidious In this matter, as to myself my utmost endevers have been & still shall be use[d] to forward them with the utmost dispatch.

I have the honor to be
with the greatest Respect Your
Excellencys Most Obdt Hble Servt
H. Knox

His Excellency Gen Washington

Notes:  Published in Twohig, Dorothy et. al.  The Papers of George Washington.  Revolutionary Series v. 3:29-30.