TRANSCRIPT GLC 2437.08.088

Henry Knox.  Autograph letter draft signed: Philadelphia, to George Washington, 1782 March 10.  2 p. + doc.

Philadelphia 10 March 1782

[inserted – different hand:  H.K. to Washington]

Sir

By a letter from Colonel D’Aboville commanding the french Artillery in Virginia it appears there have been lately discover’d in that State 14 heavy battering brass Cannon, which are indisputably the property of the state.  These Cannon have no carriages, and I presume little or no proper ammunition & [strike-out] [inserted: <?> no] implements [struck: &c].  In their present or indeed in a perfect state [struck: they] it would be difficult to conceive of what use they would be to the state of Virginia as their equipments would require great exertion, and to move them with their appendages a vast apparatus.  But although these Cannon are in a manner useless to an individual state they would be highly serviceable to the United States which are in [inserted: great] want of a battering [struck: apparatus] [inserted: train] especcialy with the prospects in view [inserted: for [struck: this] operations of next summer] I would therefore request your Excellency to [inserted: take] such steps as you may [struck: think proper] [inserted: struck: think most]  [inserted: think will most probably] [struck: to] obtain them – In my opinion we could spare some small Arms or [struck: small cannon] [inserted: field pieces] in exchange for them which would be much more convenient for the State of [2] Virginia [struck: than those these unwieldly cannon spoken of] But as a negociation of the particulars of the exchange would take up much time, which would render the Cannon of no service in the ensuing campaign as they want to be new mounted, [struck: I would beg leave to] I take the liberty to suggest the propriety of borrowing them of the State, or purchasing them and the price & [inserted: <?>] payments to be [inserted: hereafter] settled by the secretary at War or Congress [struck: And to have] [inserted: But] them transported immediately to the head of Elk in order to be forwarded to this City or Burlington [struck: to be <?>] to have carriages prepared for them – The season is so far advanced that a moments time cannot be afforded to be lost if we [struck: are to have] [inserted: can get] them in possession –

I have the honor to be Sir
with great respect
Your Humble Servant
H Knox

His Excellency General Washington

[docket]
To his Excellency Genl.
Washington, 10 [struck: June 1781]
March 1782 –