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TRANSCRIPT GLC
2437.06.008
Henry Knox. Letter
draft: New Windsor, to George
Washington, 1781 April 23. 6 p. +
doc.
New
Windsor, 23d April 1781.
[inserted
- different hand: HK to Washington]
Sir
Mr
Ruddock Deputy Commissary Military Stores at Fish Kill has handed me an order
from the board of War for discontinuing the post at Fish Kill so far with
relates to the department of the Commissary General Military Stores, dismising
the said Mr Ruddock and all the officers under him, and ordering all the
military stores in his possession to be delivered to the DQM: of the State of New York. – a copy [struck: of the] [inserted:
of which] order is enclos’d.
I beg
leave to recite to your Excellency the [struck:
impropriety] [inserted: insuing] that
would [struck: attend] [inserted:
arise to injustice by] breaking up said deposit, and delivering the stores
(among which all most of the ArmyAccoutrements [strike-out]
<?> [2] cartridges [struck:
cast] for the cursury campagns) to the D.Q.M. [struck: and take your Excellencys directions on the subject]
Fish
Kill from its relative situation to West Point and the Army which has gnerally
operated below it, has been the tempory deposit [struck: of most] of the surplus stores, necessary to be carried to
or from the field, or West point, or damag’d stores which have commonly been
sent to that place on the first instance and afterwards:
to the places where they would be best repaird.
Besids which there is a small Armory which executes the light repairs and
prevents much expence of transportation
These
circumstances have occasiond [3]
stores and a magazine to be built for the reception of such things as should be
sent there and which although they are not so good as they ought to be [struck:
yet] are the best of any in this vicinity.
It may
be supposd that all the stores now at Fish Kill might be logdged at West point,
but such a measure [struck: aspects]
would be highly improper for the following reasons 1st. To encumber
West point with stores not necessary for the Garrison would be capital injury to
the defence of the place, besides the absurdity of risquing all our stores at
one point
[4]
2dly. There are no proper places there for the reception of such a quantity of
stores as are at Fish Kill
3 dly
The [inserted: natural] situation is
improper [struck: for the] for
<?> a temporary <?> of stores [struck:
as] as that at Fish Kill, because the opportunity for sending & receiving
stores from the different arsenals could not has [inserted: <?>] brand, [struck:
with] in any degrees with the [strike-out]
facility [struck: as]
I have
even considerd Fish Kill [inserted:
with your Excellncys approbater] as a necessary appendage to the field &
made use of it accordingly. I
apprehend the order for its Suppossion has been given without [5] a due
knowledge of its situation & ability. The
impropriety is apparent of ordering the [strike-out]
ordnance & other military stores, so <?> & complicated as those at
Fish-Kill to be deliverd to persons who <?> their officers cannot be
suppos’d to know even the different Species by name <?>
less than uses, and cannot be accounted for in a candid manner but upon
the supposition of [strike-out] misinformation.
With
Respect to the dismission of Mr Ruddock, I can have nothing to say, but that it
is a disagreable service indeed when a man after six years faithful services,
without the imputation of an official course
[inserted: that I know of] have
be dismis’d, [5] with almost his whole pay due for five years, and that at a
time when there are not [struck: a
papers] more officrs of his station than are wanted –
I beg
your Excellency directions on the subject.
I have the honor to be
with the highest respect
Your Exclncys
Most Obedient
Servant
[docket]
To His Exy. Gen. Washington
23 April 1781.
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