81To George Washington from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 7 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of Your Excellency’s instructions to me, dated the 7th ulto, I proceeded to the States of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, and delivered the dispatches with which I was charged, to the Governors and to the President to whom they were addressed. The legislatures of Connecticut and Rhode Island unfortunately were not sitting. The Governor of the former...
82To George Washington from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 13 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received the communication of your Excellency’s intentions the next campaign, with instructions to me to use every exertion in our power to procure those articles which we shall want in a capital operation against New York—or against Charlestown, Savanna, Penobscot, &ca in case of our inability to undertake the siege of the first and principal object. I shall with peculiar pleasure...
83To George Washington from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 17 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
[ “Park of Artillery, near New Windsor,” 17 Feb. 1781 ]. In a series of tables, Knox estimates “Ordinance, Ammunition, &ca necessary for an operation against the City of New York, by way of York Island, exclusive of what may be wanted for Long Island and its communications.” The first table estimates “Cannon” as 32 pounders—8, 24 pounders—12, 18 pounders—26, and 12 pounders—22. A second table...
84To George Washington from Henry Knox, 24 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
To subsist an Army well, requires the utmost attention and exertion. Unless an Army is properly fed, all calculations and schemes of enterprise are in vain. For the moment an Expedition is to take place, the troops may be said to have wanted provisions for one, two, or more days, and that it will be impossible to begin a march until they shall be supplied. Experience has often convinced us of...
85To George Washington from Henry Knox, 27 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
There being no established principles to govern the appointments to the vacancies of officers in the artillery, some doubts have arisen since the last regulation of the army, whether the right of appointment is in Congress, as generally has been the case, or in the States on which the regiments of artillery are apportioned, as part of their quotas. This uncertainty has operated to the...
86To George Washington from Henry Knox, 18 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to Your Excellency’s directions to me, Mr Garranger was ordered to West Point, to give some specimens of his knowledge in artillery, and particularly in projectiles. The superintendence of this matter was committed to Major Bauman, who has reported his opinion, in consequence of some experiments made on the 16th instant, of which the enclosed is a copy. I have the honor to be with...
87To George Washington from Henry Knox, 23 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mr Ruddock, Deputy Commissary of Military Stores, at Fishkill, has handed me an order from the board of war, for discontinuing the post at Fishkill, so far as it relates to the department of the Commissary General of Military Stores, dismissing the said Mr Ruddock and all the Officers under him, and ordering all the military stores in his possession to be delivered to the D.Q. Master of the...
88To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellencys orders, we have consider’d of an arrangement of Colonel Baldwins regiment of artificers, and are of opinion That all the non commissioned officers & privates should form one company under the direction and command of Capt. Patten and Lieut Lears Artillery Artificers at the Park, and one lieutenant to be taken from said regiment, the whole to do duty at present at...
89To George Washington from Henry Knox, 8 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellencys favor of this Day enclosing Genl Cornells letter of the 24th ultimo informing of the quantity of Lead & cartridges which may be expected from Boston and Providence, and of the request of the State of New Jersey for Ammunition. It appears from General Cornells letter that the prospects of addition to your are moderate and the demands from the southward and north ward...
90To George Washington from Henry Knox, 29 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was at West point to day where I had the honor to receive your Excellencys favor of Yesterday. I am sorry to learn by the extract of the letter from the board of War that things are not in a good train in Pennsylvania, especially as the prospects are so good from the eastward. I am very sorry that your Excellency has any doubts upon being able to carry into execution the plans which you have...