George Washington Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Knox, Henry" AND Period="Washington Presidency"
sorted by: editorial placement
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-14-02-0291

To George Washington from Henry Knox, 29 November 1793

From Henry Knox

War Department Nov. 29. 1793

Sir

I know not what dependence to place upon the second paragraph of the following intelligence just received from Major Craig, dated Pittsburg 22d November, but it is my duty to communicate it.

“By accounts from Kentuckey, it appears that the army was on the 18th of October six miles advanced of Fort Jefferson—and that a small party escorting either Forage or Commissary stores, commanded by Lieut. Lowrey, had been attacked—Lieut. Lowrey killed, and the party defeated.1

“By account this moment arrived via of Niagara, and Genesee, it appears that our army has had a general engagement with the enemy, and has obtained a complete victory”. I am Sir with great respect Your obedt servt

H. Knox

LS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW. The LS is in the writing of War Department clerk Jacob Hoffman.

1Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne gave a report of this incident in his letter to Knox of 23 Oct.: “Lieut. Lowry, of the 2nd Sub Legion & Ensign Boyd of the 1st. with a Command consisting of about Ninety Non Commissioned Officers & privates (having in charge twenty waggons belonging to the Q M Generals department loaded with Indian Corn, & one of the Contractors loaded with stores) were attacked in the morning of the 17th. Instant about seven miles advanced of Fort St. Clair by a party of Indians, those two Gallant young Gentlemen . . . together with thirteen Non Commissioned Officers & privates bravely fell, after an obstinate resistance, against superior Numbers, being abandoned by the greater part of the Escort, upon the first discharge.

“The savages killed or carried off about seventy horses, leaving the waggons & stores standing in the road, which have all been brought to this Camp without any other loss or damage except some triffling articles” (Knopf, Wayne description begins Richard C. Knopf, ed. Anthony Wayne, a Name in Arms: Soldier, Diplomat, Defender of Expansion Westward of a Nation; The Wayne-Knox-Pickering-McHenry Correspondence. Pittsburgh, 1960. description ends , 279).

Index Entries