TRANSCRIPT GLC 2437.05.134

Henry Knox.  Autograph letter draft signed:  New Windsor, to George Washington, 1781 February 13.  7 p.

New Windsor 13 Feby 1781

[inserted – different hand: HK to Washington]

(private)

Sir

I have received [struck: your Excellencys] [inserted: the] communication of your [inserted: Excellencys] intentions the [struck: ensuing] [inserted: next] campaign with instructions to me to use every caution in our power to procure those articles which we shall want in a capital operation against New York or [struck: the lesser disents which you mention to be] [inserted: against] Charlestown Savannah Pennobscot &c in case of an inability to undertake the siege of the first and principal object

I shall with peculiar pleasure exert myself [struck: to do every thing] to the utmost of my power [struck: in attending to matters] with the materials within my reach to prepare for events, [struck: in the successful of commotions if in [inserted: with]] the progress of which I would [struck: be] combine the pleasing part of the duty of my particular profession with [struck: the general good of the cause as which] [inserted: an attempt to render essential services] [2] [struck: to the <?> to serve] [inserted: to my] country –

But Your Excellency well knows our presents supplies [inserted: & reserves] of [struck: ordnance & stores for an <?>] of ordnance & stores are totally inadequate to the demands of an arduous operation – I have straind every nerve I [struck: have possessd of] [inserted: possess] public and private to obtain an ample supply of shot & shells [struck: articles] which are made in our own country to uncommon perfection but in vain contracts which have been made for those articles upon the [struck: inst] prospect of our instant exigence, have been suspended [inserted: or annihilated], as soon as that [inserted: particular] prospect [strike-out] [inserted: subsided.], And tho we have by these transitory exertions [struck: I was] obtaind a considerable quantity of those articls yet the <?> is still great.  [struck: The Contracts a cause] the greater part of the contracts which were made [struck: last year] <?> were arrested by an order from the [3] board of War just as the furnaces began to work to the great detriment and even utter vain of some of the owners –

[struck: Powder] Powder is an article of which we are so [strike-out] deficent that when a reasonable quantity [inserted: shall be appropriated] [strike-out] for the use of the important posts in the highlands (which [struck: ought to be <?> certain quantity] [inserted: ought to be well <?>] under all circumstances [strike-out]  [inserted: There will] <?> none [struck: will] remain

Besides the want of Cannon proper for a siege, shot, shells and powder the Laboratories upon which we must [inserted: almost entirely] depend for the preparation of all our fix’d stores are from the best information [struck: I am able to receive] [inserted: procure], in fact a wretched condition for want of money [inserted: & [strike-out] [inserted: material] workman] that they are incapable of affording the least assistance.  That at Springfield is either entirely stopd or on the point of being so – [4] I [struck: write those things to your Excellency to show] [inserted:  It is my opinion] that unless [struck: new measures & those vigorous] new & vigorous measures are adopted for [struck: the proceeding all kinds of matters] [inserted: to provide of every thing] in the ordinanc department that it will be in vain [struck: to send] [inserted: to] place any dependance on it in its present wretched, [struck: missreble] [inserted: &] <?> state – I may make <?> it is true and prefer them to the board of War as I have done; in times past – & probably they will react with the same fate of being unattended to or disputed untill the moment of making proper provisions [struck: be past] shall be past.

It may be said that by making [inserted: & presenting]  [struck: proper] estimates [inserted: in due <?>]  [struck: and presenting them to the boa] I shall exonerate myself from any blame.  That may be just but experience proves that not [5] for want of means or [inserted: from] some other causes they have been but little attendd to. – [inserted: [struck: a very large proportion of the shot and shells <?> all those in Jersey have been obtaind [strike-out]  by acts of superior navigation – ]] I freely confess I much dislike to be placed in a situation where I shall have the appearanc of responsibility [inserted: [struck: for members]] which from my office I must have, [struck: without having the least control or check] for the actions or [struck: conduct] [inserted: measures] of persons who perhaps are amenable to nobdy and who of consequence conduct [struck: their] business in a manner that may be most agreeable to their [strike-out] own ideas –

[struck: I will as soon as possible make us an estimate on the principles given by your Excellency, [struck: and to be which] if you approve I should your directions to <?> I shall] address [struck: it] myself in order to [inserted: attempt] procure the articles it may contain.

I thought [struck: the] [inserted: it] proper to state the [strike-out] above facts that your Excellency may know what degree of dependence [6] [inserted: can be placed] on the ordinary modes of supply.  I exceedingly fear they will fail us, [struck: but] possibly [struck: something <?>] some assistance might be obtaind by an application to the [inserted: respective] states.  [struck: respectively but and this [inserted: will] measure] the [struck: presiding <?> principle which state has adopted that it is best to take care of its own safety is to be] But it will be difficult to procure much by such an application because the states have but very small stores of their own, and because it will interfere with [inserted: a] principle which [inserted: each] state has imbibed so strongly as to become fix’d <?> that [struck: they will] [inserted: it is] bound in the first place to provide for [struck: their] [inserted: its] own defence.  If the [struck: quantities] ordnance who stores should arrive [inserted: safely from France] which your Excellency mentions [struck: has] [inserted: have] been sent for we should I think be able to procure [inserted: in these states] whatever else may be wanted, provided [inserted: means are given] great exertions and industry are used [7] by the persons whose business it may be to provide them

I will as soon as possible make out an estimate on the principles given by Your Excellency, which if you approve it I shall take your directions to whom I shall address myself in order to attempt to procure the articles it may contain.

I have the honor to be
with the greatest respect
Your Excellency’s most
Obedt Servt
H Knox

His Excellency
Gen. Washington