1From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Knox, 9 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
Expecting that my private Affairs will call me to Virginia on or before the 25th of this month, I have to request that you will lay before me, previous to that time, such matters within your department as may require my attention or agency before I set out; as well as those which might be necessary for me to know or act upon during my absence from the Seat of Government (which will be about...
2From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Knox, 4 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
As the public service may require that communications should be made to me, during my absence from the seat of government, by the most direct conveyances—and as, in the event of any very extraordinary occurrence, it will be necessary to know at what time I may be found in any particular place, I have to inform you that unless the progress of my journey to Savannah is retarded by unforeseen...
3From George Washington to Henry Knox, 8 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have taken into consideration your letter of the 15th of last month, and I approve of the proposals therein suggested, of endeavoring to avoid a War with the Creek nation of Indians. I approve particularly of your requesting Mr Hawkins to send the letter to Alexander McGillivray a copy of which you have enclosed—and I authorize you to employ a suitable person to conduct the business, and to...
4From George Washington to Henry Knox, 22 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
In my letter of the 15th I acknowledged the receipt of yours of the 11th; since which your dispatches of the 16th are come to hand, and convey but a gloomy prospect of peace with the Indians, in either hemisphere; but shew the necessity of preparing more vigorously if possible for the dernier resort. That the Western Indians are stimulated to acts of hostility on one side, and every mean which...
5Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Henry Knox, 11 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
B. Dandridge has the honor by the Presidents order, to send the enclosed Proceedings of the Senate, on the subject of the Treaty with the Wabash & Illinois Indians, to the Secretary of War for his information. AL , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosure has not been identified, but it contained a copy of the resolution passed on 9 Jan., in which the Senate refused, by a vote of 21 to 4, to give...
6From George Washington to Henry Knox, 4 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Before this will have reached you, you must have seen in the gazettes that I have taken the liberty (without a previous consultation) to nominate you the Commissioner for ascertaining the true St Croix & the Eastern boundary of the U. States, agreeably to the fifth article of the treaty lately entered into with G. Britain. I hope it will be convenient & agreeable for you to accept the trust,...
7Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 11 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the Speeches to the Chiefs of the Six Nations and to the hostile Indians which have been submitted to the President, and to inform the Secretary that their contents embrace the President’s ideas on that subject. The President observes that the Secretary will write to General Wayne respecting Corn Planter, and to...
8From George Washington to Henry Knox, 10 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
After giving the application contained in the Memorial of Doctr White (herewith returned) all the consideration it deserves, you will report what you think can & ought to be done for the protection of the District of Mero under present circumstances. I am &c. Df , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . On the memorial presented by James White, which requested federal assistance in the defense of the Mero...
9From George Washington to Henry Knox, 26 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Philadelphia Decr 26th 1791 The enclosed is a private letter from Colo. Nicholas (an influential character in Kentucky) to the Attorney General. He put it into my hands to read; I, without having asked his permission, send it to you for the same purpose, of course the communication is confidential. My reason for sending it to you is, to shew you the uniform sentiment of...
10From George Washington to Henry Knox, 19 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
My letter of the 15th inst. mentioned that I had not received any letters from you between the 15th and the 30 of May—it should have been the 15th of April and 30th of May. By the last post from the southward I received yours of the 17th of April—which renders a duplicate of that letter unnecessary. As it appears to be alike requisite to the satisfaction of the public mind and to General...
11From George Washington to Henry Knox, 28 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dr Sir. [Philadelphia] Thursday Morning Feby 28th 1793 It is much to be regretted that the subject of Rations (encreased) had not been thought of and considered at an earlier period! It is to be feared a proposition at this time would be received with an ill grace. probably no attention paid to it. At the meeting you are about to have it might be well to mention the matter and know...
12From George Washington to Henry Knox, 12 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 8th instt with its enclosures came duly to hand. It is painful, after the exertions Government have made to keep the Southern Indians quiet, & the expence that has been incurred to effect it, to receive such unfavorable accts from that quarter as are contained in the letters of Mr Seagroves which you have forwarded to me. From Genl Waynes Representation of the want of...
13From George Washington to Henry Knox, 4 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of this date, enclosing one from Captn Williamson, is received. I have never entertained any doubt myself of the genuineness of the Speech which is published as Lord Dorchester’s; nor of the intentions of the B—— Government to keep this Country in a state of disquietude With the Indian nations; and also to alter the boundary between them and us, if, by any means, they can effect...
14Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Henry Knox, 16 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
By the Presidents order Bw Dandridge respectfully transmits to the Secy of War the copy of a resolution of the House of Representative, of this date; with a request that the Secretary will prepare a Report agreeably thereto. ADf , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . On this date the U.S. House “Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause a report to be laid before this House; of...
15Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 1 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secy of war a letter from Mr Andw Ellicott, to the President, proposing that Mr Joseph Ellicott should proceed immediately to Georgia to explore the head of the Oconee River preparatory to Mr Andw Ellicott’s executing his business of running the line between the territory of the Creeks & the U.S. Should the Secretary of war...
16From George Washington to Henry Knox, 10 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 1st inst: I have duly recd—likewise one of the 4th, covering a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury together with some communications from Lt Colo. Beckwith. I herewith transmit you an Address & Memorial of the Officers, Civil & Military, of the District of Miro, which was sent to me by Govr Blount—I wish you to take the same into your consideration, & make a Report...
17From George Washington to Henry Knox, 30 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
The considerations which you have often suggested to me, and are repeated in your letter of the 28th instant; as requiring your departure from your present office, are such, as to preclude the possibility of my urging your continuance in it. This being the case, I can only wish that it was otherwise. I cannot suffer you, however, to close your public service without uniting with the...
18From George Washington to Henry Knox, 26 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your Letter of the 17th inst; with it’s enclosure from Genl Wayne. Whatever Genl Wayne may require towards the equipmt of his troops for the service for wch they are designed, provided a compliance therewith be authorised by Law, I think had better be granted. powder in particular, precisely such as he desires, I would furnish him with in order that there may be no room for...
19From George Washington to Henry Knox, 13 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Session of Congress having closed, and it being my intention to go to Virginia as soon as the public business will permit; and wishing, during my absence from the Seat of Government, to have my mind as free from public cares as circumstances will allow; I am desireous of having such matters as may, by Law or otherwise, require the agency or sanction of the President of the United States,...
20From George Washington to Henry Knox, 25 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir Mount Vernon 25th June 1794. Your letter of the 18th instt came to me by the Post wch arrived in Alexandria on Monday evening. It is not more unusual than it is difficult to account for the motives wch induce Gov. M——’s either to antedate or to detain after they are written the letters which I receive from him. That there is design in it, admits of little doubt in my mind....
21Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Henry Knox, 31 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
Bw Dandridge respectfully informs Genl Knox that the President will be glad to see him at 10 o’Clock this morning. The President wishes the General to bring with him the message & other papers which are to accompany the treaty with the Six Nations to Congress. ADf , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . For these documents, see GW’s first letter to the U.S. Senate, 2 Jan. 1795 .
22From George Washington to Henry Knox, 27 August 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Henry Knox, 27 Aug. 1790. On 29 Aug. 1790 Knox wrote to GW , “In answer to your secret communication of the 27th instant, and the questions stated therein.” See GW to John Adams, 27 Aug. 1790 (second letter), n.2 .
23From George Washington to Henry Knox, 22 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
Upon reflection, I think it best that no mention should be made of the probability that the characters we run over yesterday will be nominated as General Officers (in case the Bill shall pass)—and, if you have disclosed the matter to Mr M——or any one else, that secrecy may be enjoined as to the Men, not the numr. In the embryo state of this business it might (especially as it respects the...
24Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 4 May 1792 (Washington Papers)
United States [Philadelphia] 4 May 1792 . Returns by GW’s command “the Instructions to Major Genl Wayne & a letter to Mr Seagrove, both of which meet the President[’s] approbation.” ALS (retained copy), DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . War Department clerk Benjamin Bankson had transmitted Knox’s proposed letter to James Seagrove to Lear on the previous day and had asked that it be submitted to the...
25From George Washington to Henry Knox, 7–8 May 1791 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Henry Knox, c.7–8 May 1791. Tobias Lear wrote to GW on 22 May : “I had the pleasure to receive a letter from Major Jackson—enclosing one for each of the heads of the Departments.” GW’s letters to the secretaries of state and treasury bear Charleston, 7 and 8 May, datelines.
26From George Washington to Henry Knox, 25 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have given the enclosed draught of a letter to Captn Brandt a careful perusal. Such additions as are made with a pencil may be advisable—but, after you have given them an attentive consideration, they may stand or fall as you shall think best. Yours &ca ALS , PHi : Society Collection; Df , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW
27From George Washington to Henry Knox, 15 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
The violence with which (from all accounts I have received) the contagious fever in Philada continues to rage makes it still more necessary than ever that the meeting of the Heads of Departments which I requested you to attend in a letter of the 25th Sept: should not fail to take place by the first of November that, among other things measures may be taken for security of the public offices &...
28Enclosure II William Blount and Andrew Pickens to Henry Knox, 1 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to your request, we present you with such Observations on the Subject of establishing a permanent military and trading Post at the mouth of Bear Creek as at present occur to us. The Creeks, if not the Cherokees must be chastized by the hand of Government before they will desist from killing and robbing the Frontier Inhabitants of the United States. The Chickasaws and Chocktaws must...
29From George Washington to Henry Knox, 14 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the Gazettes of to day, I perceived a Vessel is just arrived in this Port from New Orleans, on board of which are several of our citizens; who, having passed down the Mississipi, are now on their return to Ohio, their place of residence. It is of great importance that this Government should be fully informed of the Spanish force in the Floridas—The number of their Posts—and the strength &...
30From George Washington to Henry Knox, 16 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 8th, with its enclosures, came duly to hand; & requires but little in reply to it, as your answer to Genl Waynes communications contain every direction which is necessary for his governmt at this time. Whatever may be the Attorney General’s opinion with respect to the legality of calling out Militia by the Governor of Pennsylvania—for supplying the place of the Rangers—it is...