From George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 23 November 1779
To Brigadier General Henry Knox
West point Novr 23d 1779
Dr Sir
The ordnance and ordnance stores necessary for Fort Arnold and its dependencies you will please to have allotted agreeably to a report made to me by yourself and General McDougall and Gen: du Portail.1 And where the artillery can be planted with propriety and safety on account of the unfinished state of the out works to have it done accordingly.
The posts at Kings-ferry should be immediately supplied with two pieces of cannon (one on each side the river) to keep off the enemy’s row gallies which are beginning to appear there. When the works are in a more complete state of defence, such further aid of artillery as shall be judged absolutely necessary, may be added, tho’ it is not my intention to place many at this post; but my wish to have those which are there of the least valuable of their kind.
The rest of the ordnance and ordnance stores which the prospect of an extensive operation against New-York had drawn to this place, and in the vicinity of it, upon, or very near the river, I would have sent to Albany on account of the easy and cheap transportation, and because it may be considered as a safe deposit for them.2
In a removal of this kind a proper attention must be had to the probable and contingent wants of the army at its places of cantonment.
You will please to direct (if it is not already done) the company of artificers at Fredericksburg commanded by Capn Post to be withdrawn from that place as also all other small detatchments of a similar nature and under similar circumstances and have them more connected, as a number of small and seperate detatchments involve considera⟨ble⟩ expence with respect to the issues of provisions &c., while their labor possibly, might be employed to greater advantage, if they were more compact, and under a more general and frequent inspection. I am sir Your most obt servt
Go: Washington
LS, in James McHenry’s writing, NjP: De Coppet Collection; ADf, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Obscured material in the LS is supplied in angle brackets from GW’s draft.
1. For the several cannon indicated in this report dated 20 Aug., see GW to Knox, same date, and n.1 to that document.
A letter from Knox to Col. John Lamb, written at New Windsor, N.Y., on 22 Nov. suggests that GW’s orders had been communicated previously, perhaps verbally. Knox’s letter to Lamb reads: “You will please to examine the different posts, at and near West Point, and direct the number and size of the cannon, and quantity of ammunition, which shall be put into each, respectively, that is finished for their reception, according to an arrangement made by Generals McDougall, Du Portail, and myself, and approved by His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief; a copy of which is given to you. It is also necessary that you should examine whether the posts at Verplanck’s, and Stoney Points, are finished for the reception of the cannon, designed for them. If they are prepared, or when they shall be, you will direct the cannon, which has been pointed out to you, and a proportionable quantity of ammunition, (about twenty-five or thirty rounds for each piece, with a sub, and fifteen or twenty men to manage them.) The artillery men of the garrison, will consist of Moodies, Walker’s, and Fleming’s companies, of your battalion; and Sewell’s [Seward’s], Dinnel’s [Donnell’s], Wells’, and Burbeck’s companies, of the 3d battalion” ( 230).
2. GW had intended to attack the British in and around New York City after rendezvousing with a French fleet under Vice Admiral d’Estaing. For an overview of GW’s preparations and ideas, which never were fully executed because of d’Estaing’s decision not to come north after being defeated at Savannah, see Planning for an Allied Attack on New York, c.3–7 Oct., editorial note; see also Samuel Huntington to GW, 10 Nov., and GW to Huntington, 20 and 24 November.