1From George Washington to Henry Knox, 17 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your two Letters of the 3d & 10th inst., with the enclosed Returns, have been duly received. To prevent the trouble in Future of transmitting the particular Returns of each Corps, let the Fort Major or Adjutant, digest them into one General Return, as I only wish to have a view of the general strength & state of the Troops. As Congress have reassumed the consideration of a Peace Establishment,...
2From George Washington to Henry Knox, 23 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
The favorable Sentiments expressed in your private letter of the 17th Inst., and which you say are felt by the Officers in general on the late honor confered upon me by Congress, cannot fail of adding greatly to my sensibility on the occasion. It always has, and I trust ever will be, the most pleasing reflection of my life that in a contest so important, so long, & so arduous, accompanied with...
3From George Washington to Henry Knox, 25 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your Letter of the 17 Instant. Your arrangements—in discharging the Invalids and contracting your deposits of Stores meet my fullest approbation—the former especially, not only seconds my views, but those of Congress, whose wish it is, to diminish our force to the number only which may be absolutely necessary—and this I think may be estimated at 3000 Men—A...
4From George Washington to Henry Knox, 26 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am happy in transmitting to you the inclosed Resolves of Congress,which I must desire you to publish to the Army and to assure General Howe and the Detachment who were under his Command, of the pleasure it gives me to communicate to them this public testimony of the approbation of Congress. I am Dear sir Your most Obedt Servt MHi : Henry Knox Papers.
5From George Washington to Henry Knox, 28 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
Supposing the necessary number of Troops to be kept up during the Winter it will be necessary to make some provision to supply their wants of Cloathing. That this may not be delayed I am to request you to call for Returns of such Articles as will be absolutely necessary and to forward me a general Return thereof as soon as possible. I am Dear sir Your very Obed. servant MHi : Henry Knox Papers.
6From George Washington to Henry Knox, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Captain Shaw has handed me your Letter of the 2d instant. I have been impatiently waiting the determination of Congress to ascertain what number of Troops are actually to be kept up in the Garrison of West-point during the Winter but I do not see any probability of their coming to a speedy decision; on the contrary, the Members with whom I have conversed seem unwilling to lessen the present...
7From George Washington to Henry Knox, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Count Wengiersky, a Polish Gentleman travelling the Continent for his amusement, will have the pleasure to deliver you this; he comes recommended to me by the Marquis de la Fayette and by the Minister of France and as he proposes to take West-point in his tour I take the liberty to Request your civilities to him during his stay there. Mr Vernon, an English Gentleman lately from Europe travels...
8From George Washington to Henry Knox, 16 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the pleasure to write to you on the 8th Instant, I have received your Letter of that date. I am clearly of opinion that the services of those Men whose times expire so early in the spring, are not adequate to their Clothing and Maintenance during the Winter, but, as I said in my last letter, such seems the disposition of the members of Congress with whom I have conversed on the...
9From George Washington to Henry Knox, 16 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Major Shaw not returning so soon as I immagined, and the subject of your Letter of the 28 September not admitting much delay I take the opportunity of the Post to reply to it. On referring to the Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati I find that the Chevr de la Luzerne, the Sieur Gerard, the Counts D’Estaign, de Barras & De Grasse, the Chevalier des Touches, and the Count de Rochambeau,...
10From George Washington to Henry Knox, 23 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Since the return of Genl Lincoln, I have taken occasion to move a little on the Subject of your letter of the 17th of last March—notwithstanding other matters have kept the Peace Establisment entirely out of view. I suppose, at least I so hope, that it will now be taken up with a determination to go thro’ with it—without more delays. Upon enquiry, I do not perceive any intention to abolish the...
11From George Washington to Henry Knox, 23 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
The arrival of the Definitive Treaty, and the evacuation of New York have been so long delayed as to interfere very materially with our arrangements for the Celebration of Peace; at this Season no use can be made of the Bower, the only possible means of accomodation, besides, the dissolution of the Army at so short a period totally defeats the object in view, for if we were even determined not...
12From George Washington to Henry Knox, 26 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Mr Arthur Noble a Gentleman from Ireland who visits this Country in behalf of a considerable number of his Countrymen to provide a settlement for them. He is Recommended to me by the President of Congress & by Mr Morris and as he is going to the Northward and wishes to take west point in his way—I take the liberty to Request your attention and liberties to him...
13From George Washington to Henry Knox, 2 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
You will readily conceive how much I have been chagreened, & vexed at a loss occasioned by the stupidity of the Postmaster at Princeton, when I tell you, that the original of which the enclosed is a duplicate, & the first draughts of all my public & private letters written in the Six Weeks preceeding; were lost with the Mail on Thursday Night last. Having many letters to write by the Post the...
14From George Washington to Henry Knox, 2 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure to reply to your Letter of the 15th of October to go by the Post before the last, but by some neglect my letter was left out of the Mail and remained in the Post office untill the Evening before the last Post should have gone, when it was, with all the Easter Mail, stolen from thence—unfortunately too, all the Copies of my letters up to that day met with the same accident,...
15From George Washington to Henry Knox, 3 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to transmit you the proceedings of the society of the Cincinnati of the State of So. Carolina which I reced yesterday. I am sir Your most Obed. Servt DSoC .
16From George Washington to Henry Knox, 3 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
The splendid display of Fire works last Evening was so highly satisfactory that I must Request you to present to Captain Price under whose direction they were prepared, and to the Officers who assisted him, my thanks for the great skill and attention shewn in the conduct of that business. I am Sir Your most Obedient Servant. MHi : Henry Knox Papers.
17From George Washington to Henry Knox, 4 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
The splendid display of fire works last Evening were so highly satisfactory that I must request you to present to Cap. Price under whose direction they were prepared and to the Officers who assisted them, my thanks for the great skill and attention shewn in the conduct of that business. I am Sir DLC : Papers of George Washington.
18From George Washington to Henry Knox, 4 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
Finding it essential to public Interest that you should superintend the Posts & Military affairs in this Department; untill some farther Arrangement or untill the pleasure of Congress shall be known; I therefore to request that you remain in Service untill the foregoing events shall place—in the mean time will be pleased to pay part attention to the enclosed In respectg a reformation of the...
19From George Washington to Henry Knox, 20 February 1784 (Washington Papers)
The bad weather, and great care which the Post Riders take of themselves, prevented your letters of the 3d & 9th of last Month from getting to my hands ’till the 10th of this. Setting of next Morning for Fredericksburgh to pay my duty to an aged Mother, and not returning ’till yesterday, will be admitted I hope, as a sufficient apology for my silence ’till now. I am much obliged by the trouble...
20From George Washington to Henry Knox, 20 March 1784 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 21st ulto did not reach my hands ’till yesterday—Having the Governor here & a house full of company—& the Post being on the point of setting out for the Eastward I must confine the few lines I shall be able (at this time) to write, to the business of the Cincinnati. From what you have said of the temper of your Assembly respecting this Society—from the current of Sentiment...
21Appendix I, To Henry Knox, c.4–18 May (Washington Papers)
The names which follow, are those mentioned in the Marqs la Fayette’s letter to me. La’ Peyrouse La Touche D’Albert de Rion✻ Tilly✻ Enclosed it seems is the proper address to the characters therein mentioned, I send it that you may be governed thereby—pray return it to me again —The enclosed private letters be so good as to include under cover of the public ones. Yrs affly ✻I am not sure that...
22From George Washington to Henry Knox, 2 June 1784 (Washington Papers)
The inconvenience with which I left home, & my impatience to return to it, hastened every step I took back, & but for the delay I met with in crossing the Bay, I might have been at home with ease on the Friday after I parted with you. Before eight on thursday morning I was at Rock-hall, & not until friday evening could I get my horses & carriage over to Annapolis. It is a real misfortune, that...
23From George Washington to Henry Knox, 5 December 1784 (Washington Papers)
Apologies are idle things: I will not trouble you with them—that I am your debtor in the epistolary way I acknowledge—and that appearances indicate a disposition to remain so, I cannot deny; but I have neither the inclination nor the effrontary to follow the example of Great Men or St—s to withhold payment altogether. To whatever other causes therefore my silence may be attributed, ascribe it...
24From George Washington to Henry Knox, 5 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
About the beginning of last month I wrote you a pretty long letter, & soon after, received your favor of the 23d of November. It is not the letters from my friends which give me trouble—or adds ought to my perplexity. I receive them with pleasure, and pay as much attention to them as my avocations will admit. It is references of old matters with which I have nothing to do. Applications, which...
25From George Washington to Henry Knox, 28 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 31st Ulto came to my hands by the last Post. enclosed are letters under flying Seals to Count de Rochambeau & the Marqs de Chastellux (late Chevr) introductory of Mr Swan. also certificates for Lieutts Seaver & Henley. if these will answer the purposes designed, I shall think nothing of the trouble, but be happy in having given them. Upon summing up the cost of my projected...
26From George Washington to Henry Knox, 18 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
I am quite ashamed to be so long deficient in acknowledging the receipt of your favors of the 24th & 29th of March, and 5th of May; but an intervention of circumstances (with the enumeration of which I shall not trouble you) have prevented it. It gave me great pleasure to hear of your appointment as Secretary at War—without a complimt, I think a better choice could not have been made—and...
27From George Washington to Henry Knox, 11 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
Majr Farlie gave me the pleasure of receiving your letter of the 22d Instt, & thereby knowing that you, Mrs Knox & the family were all well. It has always been my opinion you know, that our Affairs with respect to the Indians would never be in a good train whilst the British Garrisons remained on the American side of the territorial line—& that these Posts would not be evacuated by them, as...
28From George Washington to Henry Knox, 1 June 1786 (Washington Papers)
The Post of last week brougt me (by way of New York) a letter, of which the inclosed is a Copy. I transmit it, not only for your perusal, but for information, and advice. All the papers respecting the Soci[e]ty of the Cincinnati being in possession of the Secretary Genl or the Assistant Secretary, and my memory very defective, I cannot speak with precision to Mr Jefferson, or decide on any...
29From George Washington to Henry Knox, 21 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter I received a short time since. As I am wholly unacquainted with the writer, & circumstances therein mentioned; I can only say, that if the facts are such as there alledged, I think the sufferer is entitled to some redress; but how far it may be in the power of Congress to comply with petitions of this nature I am not able to say. You undoubtedly know much better than I do,...
30From George Washington to Henry Knox, 26 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
Nothing but the pleasing hope of seeing you under this roof in the course of last month, and wch I was disposed to extend even to the present moment, has kept me till this time from acknowleging the receipt of your obliging favor of the 23d of October. Despairing now of that pleasure, I shall thank you for the above letter, and the subsequent one of the 17th instt, which came to hand yesterday...