61From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Knox, 19 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
When the hour of dinner is approaching, sometimes it rains, sometimes it is too hot for a long walk, sometimes your business would make you wish to remain longer at your office or return there after dinner, and make it more eligible to take any sort of a dinner in town. Any day and every day that this would be the case you would make me supremely happy by messing with me, without ceremony or...
62From George Washington to Henry Knox, 14 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
(Private) My dear Sir, Mount Vernon Octr 14th 1791. I have been under a strange mistake with respect to the time appointed for the meeting of Congress, and a distressing one; inasmuch as I shall have but little time after my arrival in Philadelphia to receive, & digest the thoughts which may have occurred to the heads of Departments, with those of my own, into proper form for communication, or...
63Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 25 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the Presdent’s command T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secy of War a lettr from O. Pollock & Jno. Nicholson Esqs. requesting to be furnished with copies of certain parts of the treaty lately made by Genl Putnam with the Illonois & Wabash Indians —to wh. the President requests the Secretary will give an Answer to the effect of the enclosed sketch, wh. was intended to have been...
64Edmund Randolph to Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox, 2 January 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just taken the oath of office, which reminds me that I am brought into a nearer relation to your department than hitherto. While official men are under no less an obligation than others, to live in harmony; there are too many opportunities for misconception and misrepresentation to interrupt it. I have therefore prescribed this rule for myself: that if anything, supposed to be done in...
65From George Washington to Henry Knox, 7 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
If the number of recruits in the Atlantic States, can afford a detachment of fifty men to the southward without too great an exposure of more important objects, it will accord with my opinion that that number should be sent thither. And they may be designated for Charleston or Savannah, as shall appear most eligible to you from the information that is to be obtained. Yours &c. Df , DLC:GW ; LB...
66From George Washington to Henry Knox, 4 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
You will lay before the House of Representatives such papers, from your department, as are requested by the enclosed Resolution. Df , in Tobias Lear’s hand, DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Tobias Lear noted at the bottom of the draft: “(The papers aluded to are such as relate to the expedition under Genl St Clair—).” The enclosed resolution was undoubtedly that passed by the House of Representatives...
67From George Washington to Henry Knox, 1 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th Ultimo was received last evening. Your proceeding upon the intelligence therein contained (which I think truly alarming) meets my entire approbation, and appears to promise as good effects as the limited sphere of action, allotted to the general government, in cases so deeply effecting its dignity and the happiness of the citizens will allow. Should you suppose that...
68Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 18 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s Command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the letter & enclosures from Majr Genl Wayne, which have been submitted to the President, and the letter from Mr Greenup, upon which the President observes that if the request therein containd can be complied with, it ought to be done as he thinks it would be attended with good affects. ALS (letterpress copy),...
69From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Knox, 6 November 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
As it is possible that the measures complained of by the representatives of Spain as meditated to be pursued by La Chaise and others for attempting hostilities from Kentuckey against the Spanish settlements, may require the employment of military force by the Governor of Kentucky, I have the honor to inclose you my letter to the Governor, stating the facts handed me by the Spanish gentlemen,...
70Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 24 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the letter to Govrnor Lee—to Thomas Wilson Esq. & others —and the Copy of a letter to Genl Wayne, which have been submitted to the President & to inform the Secretary that their contents meet the ideas of the President. ADfS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . For Knox’s letters to Henry Lee and to Thomas Wilson, see Lear...
71From George Washington to Henry Knox, 9 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 6th came to hand last night. It would have given me pleasure to have had you with me & advantages might have resulted from it on my present tour, if your return, in time, would have allowed it. It is now too late, as we shall be in the Act of crossing the mountains, or I shall be on my return to Phila. (according to circumstances & the information I shall receive) at the...
72Edmund Randolph to Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, and William Bradford, 14 April 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
The President wishes your opinion, as to the step, proper to be taken, upon the inclosed address. To send to congress, what the President thinks unfit for himself, will be unkindly received; being uncivil in itself. To acknowledge the body, as such, is in every view inadmissible. So that the question seems to turn upon this; whether it be better to treat the paper with unqualiffied and silent...
73From George Washington to Henry Knox, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed papers relative to a treaty with the Cherokee Indians were put into my hands: and as I understand that matters of this kind have hitherto been considered as belonging to the department of the Secretary of War to examine and report thereon, and knowing that you have others of a similar nature now in your hands, I would wish you to make a summary report on the whole as soon as may...
74From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 17 December 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
In reply to your letter of this date I have the honor to inform you, that no general Instructions have gone from this department to the Collectors relative to the purchase of the Lands on which Fortifications might be erected, from an expectation, that the information necessary for the Government of the Treasury would come in course through the Channel designated in your letter to me of the...
75From George Washington to Henry Knox, 29 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
That General St Clair may not think his letters (enclosed) to me, have been unattended to, or slighted, I wish such an answer as will do for publication may be prepared—conformably—to the Sentimts which seemed to be entertained of the matter when the subject was before us the other day. I am always Yrs P.S. To say neither too much, nor too little, in the answer will be a matter of some...
76Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 14 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the dispatches from Mr Seagrove, which were submitted to the president yesterday. The President thinks there are some parts of these communications which should be laid before Congress, and requests that the Secretary will select such as may be proper & have them communicated accordingly. ALS (letterpress copy),...
77From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Knox, 22 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received information that the ship Ann and Susan belonging to William Nelson & Co. citizens of New York with about 400 passengers on board, bound from Ireland to Philadelphia has been taken by the French armed vessel the Little Democrat and is brought into Newcastle in the state of Delaware. This capture was made on the 19th. inst. and consequently is within the rule which provided...
78From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Knox, 2 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Genl. Knox and incloses him a letter from a Mr. Thorn solliciting a military appointment. He knows no more of the writer than his letter expresses, and can not conjecture from that, of what state he is. He incloses also two letters from a Mr. Bowyer and Mr. Matthews (brother of the General) solliciting an appointment for a Mr. Gibson. The writers are...
79Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 18 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the President of the United States to transmit to you the enclosed letters which have been received by him, and which come properly under the cognizance of the Secretary of War. The letters enclosed are as follows, viz. one from Samuel McDowell, as chairman of a committee of a Convention in Kentuckey, upon Indian Affairs in Kentuckey, and containing a list of sundry tribes of...
80From George Washington to Henry Knox, 23 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have read the proposed message to the “Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors of the Six Nations” and approve of it, except that I question whether the 8th and the 11th paragraphs are expressed quite strong enough. The 8th gives too much ground, in my opinion, to expect a compliance with their request in its full extent; and the 11th although the sense is plain, seems hardly decisive enough for Indian...
81Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Henry Knox, 28 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s order Bw Dandridge has the honor to inform the Secretary of War that the President thinks the fortification of New York much more difficult to be accomplished than that of any other place intended to be fortified—he therefore thinks it proper that the most skilful of the engineers should be selected for that purpose. ADf , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . On the proposed fortification...
82Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Henry Knox, 5 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s order Bw Dandridge has the honor to return to the Secy of War the letter of mr Seagrove of the 25 Decr 93 with its enclosures. Some parts thereof appearing to require particular attention, the President requests the Secretary to consider what is proper to be done in relation thereto. ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed letter from Indian agent James Seagrove to Knox,...
83Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Henry Knox, 13 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the Presidents command Bw Dandridge has the honor to send to the Secretary of War—a Letter from the Govr of North Carolina, of 26 Nov. 93 to the President, covering depositions respecting the Spanish prize carried into Wilmington by Capt Hervieux—& to inform the Secretary that the President wishes him to take such measures thereupon as may seem to him adviseable. ADf , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW...
84From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Knox, 26 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On the hasty view which the shortness of time permits me to take of the treaty of Hopewell, the act of cession of N. Carolina and the act of acceptance by Congress, I hazard the following sentiments. Were the treaty of Hopewell, and the act of acceptance of Congress to stand in any point in direct opposition to each other, I should consider the act of acceptance as void in that point: because...
85From George Washington to Henry Knox, 25 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Mount Vernon Sep. 25th 1793 I have duly received your letters of the 15th & 18th instt and as the last announces your intention of setting out for Boston the next day I shall add nothing in this letter on business—but shall thank you for the information you have given me—as well private as public; and observe that, it appears to me highly necessary that the heads of...
86From George Washington to Henry Knox, 19 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have given due consideration to the papers annexed. If the usage of the Army has been, that the Officer next in seniority has not only the right to fill the vacancy which is occasioned by death—Resignation—or dismission; but also (if adjudged worthy of promotion) to have his Commission dated at the time the said vacancy happened: And; as it appears that the resignation of Captn Mercer of the...
87George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolph, 24 February 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
The President of the United States requests the attendance of the at Nine o’Clock tomorrow morning ; at the President’s house, on the subject of the note sent to the on the 17~. inst: and that the will bring with him such remarks as he may have committed to writing in pursuance of said note. At the same time the President will lay before the Heads of the Departments & the Attorney General some...
88From George Washington to Henry Knox, 2 November 1790 (Washington Papers)
(Private) My dear Sir, Mount Vernon Novr 2d 1790 I am a little surprised that we have not heard (so long after the time appointed for the Rendezvous) of the issue, the progress, or the commencement of the Expedition against the Wabash Indians under the conduct of Brigr Genl Harmer. This, in my opinion, is an Undertaking of a serious nature. I am not a little anxious to know the result of it, &...
89From George Washington to Henry Knox, 14 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
On as full a consideration of the last speech made to me by Cornplanter, Half Town, and the Great-tree, Chiefs of the Seneka Nation, as my comprehension of their meaning enables me to give, I am led to the following conclusions, which, if there is any propriety in discussing their request, or yielding the land asked for, I wish you to consider as the basis of the communications to be made to...
90From George Washington to Henry Knox, 23 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
The letter of which the enclosed is a copy, was received yesterday. The information wch it contains being of a serious nature I request that strict enquiry may be instituted into the matter and a report thereupon made to me. ADfS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . See Pierce Butler to GW, 30 November. Knox referred the question to Alexander Hamilton, who in turn referred it to Tench Coxe. Noting that...