To George Washington from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 12 July 1780
From Brigadier General Henry Knox
Prakenis [N.J.] 12 July 1780.
Dear Sir,
I take the liberty to transmit to Your Excellency the enclosed return, by which you may be enabled to see the number of artillery men wanting from each State, at one view.1
The service of the artillery, in case of a siege, will be so evidently extensive, that it would be unnecessary to say any thing to Your Excellency on the importance of having the corps filled up from the recruits that are expected from the respective states. To have a proportion of the recruits from the states assigned to the companies, previous to their being incorporated into any regiment, will prevent that disgust which will certainly arise if the regiments should be drafted to make up the deficiencies of the corps. I have the honor to be with the highest respect and attachment Your Excellency’s most obedient servant
H. Knox.
LS, DLC:GW.
1. Knox enclosed a “Return of the Non Commissioned & Matrosses in the Corps of Art[iller]y, the States to which they belong, & the Number wanting to compleat the Establishment,” dated 12 July and signed by him. According to the return, in the 2d Artillery Regiment the four Connecticut companies lacked 106 men; the five New York companies were short 115 soldiers; the one New Jersey company needed 28 men; and the two Pennsylvania companies required 68 more troops. The 3d Artillery regiment’s twelve Massachusetts companies lacked 343 men and the 4th Artillery Regiment’s eight Pennsylvania companies were short 283 soldiers. One independent Pennsylvania company needed 30 more troops. Overall, the brigade of artillery fell short of its full complement by 973 men (DLC:GW).