Brigadier General Henry Knox to George Washington, 29 June 1781
From Brigadier General Henry Knox
New-Windsor 29 June 1781
my dear Sir
I was at West point to day where I had the honor to receive your Excellencys favor of Yesterday.
I am sorry to learn by the extract of the letter from the board of War that things are not in a good train in Pennsylvania, especially as the prospects are so good from the eastward.
I am very sorry that your Excellency has any doubts upon being able to carry into execution the plans which you have formed for the Campaign. I hope the intelligence of the Enemy having receved a reinforcement of 4000 men is premature, if it is not, we shall soon have it from other quarters than the one mention’d which perhaps in the present instance is liable to error.1
In consequence of the communication you have been pleas’d to make me of the possibility of events taking a contrary turn to our wishes, I arranged matters with General Cornell as follows.
The heavy cannon (about 12 pieces) to be at Kings ferry by the 20th of next month.
The first division of the powder to be at New-Windsor by the same time and the remainder to follow in divisions, of three or four days distance from each other, on the same route, and under proper guards.
The Shot, Shells, and heavy stores to be collected, and held in readiness to be transported by the 25th of next month.
The Articles for composition, implements for the Laboratory, cartridge paper, empty cartridges, and some other articles not amounting probably to more than twelve Waggon loads to be here as soon as possible.
These directions were contain’d in a letter to the board of War of the 27th inst. of which General Cornell was the bearer, and with whom I communicated fully on the supplies requested.2
I will wait on Your Excellency on Monday and if any part of the Orders shall be necessary to be changed, there will then be time sufficient for that purpose.3
I have sent the Lanthorns & rockets order’d. The former would properly require Wax or spermaceti candles, of which we are destitute. The latter are good, but not so large as I intend the rockets for signals. Any of the Artillery Officers are Acquain[te]d with the method of firing them. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect and attachment Your Excellencys Most Obedient Servant
H. Knox
ALS, DLC:GW; ADfS, NNGL: Henry Knox Papers.
1. For Knox’s references in the preceding two paragraphs, see GW to Knox, 28 June.
2. Knox had written the Board of War from New Windsor on 27 June “that the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island have readily complied with the requisitions for the loan of cannon, and have given such effectual assistance in the transportation of them; and the Continental stores directed, as to ensure the arrival of them on this river early in next month. Massachusetts have agreed to lend one hundred barrells of powder only—The determinations of Connecticut with respect to the loan of same as well have not been received—Genl Cornell, from the assistance which he afforded at Springfield, has it amply in his power to give a detail of the stores that may be expected from thence. Our prospects from the Eastward are good, and I flatter myself we shall not be disappointed in any great degree from Pennsylvania. Powder is the article of which we are the most deficient. I hope that all that can be possibly procured in Pennsylvania or Maryland will be forwarded.
“I earnestly request that all the articles for composition, and the implements for the laboratory, cartridge paper, empty cartridges, ropes, &ca may be forwarded, as soon as possible, by the upper route.
“The Powder to be forwarded by the same route to this place, well secured from injury by bad weather, and under a proper guard. The first division of which to be at this place by the 20th next month, and the succeeding divisions to arrive at three or four days distance from one another.
“The heavy cannon to be at Kings ferry by the above time.
“The shot, shells, and forty tons of the largest size grape to be held in readiness to be transported by the 25th of next month.
“A particular application will be made to New Jersey, by his Excellency the Commander in Chief, to transport the shot and shells from the furnaces in that state to the points of operation” (NNGL: Henry Knox Papers).