George Washington to Henry Knox suggesting that soldiers' wives and children be provisioned by the army - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC02437.09364
From Archive Folder	The Henry Knox Papers [0055] 1-15 March 1783
Title	George Washington to Henry Knox suggesting that soldiers' wives and children be provisioned by the army
Date	8 March 1783
Author	Washington, George (1732-1799)
Recipient	Knox, Henry
Document Type	Correspondence; Military document
Content Description	The wives and children of soldiers in the New York Artillery regiment who are living in camp are to be provisioned by the army, in order to make sure they do not leave and take their soldier husbands with them. This provision only applies to women who are already in camp, and not new arrivals. "The number of Women and Children in the New York Regiments of Infantry before the new System of Issues took place obliged me, either to depart from that System and allow them provision or by driving them from the Army risk the loss of a number of Men, who very probably would have followed." Written at "Head Quarters." Washington's signature clipped.
Subjects	President Revolutionary War Revolutionary War General Military History Artillery Infantry Military Provisions Children and Family Women's History Military Camp Continental Army
People	Washington, George (1732-1799) Knox, Henry (1750-1806)
Place written	Newburgh, New York
Theme	The American Revolution; The Presidency; Children & Family; Women in American History
Sub-collection	The Henry Knox Papers
Additional Information	Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide Download PDF [draft] Head Quarters 8th March 1783 Dear Sir The women of the New York Regt of Artillery have applied to me on the subject of allowing them and their children Provisions- The number of women & children in the New York Regiments of Infantry before the New System of Issues took place obliged me; either to depart from that System and allow them provision or by driving them from the Army risk the loss of a number of men who very probably would have followed their [text loss]red the former and [text loss]ted that the whole [text loss] children this with [2] Troops, should be allowed to draw as usual- So far as the artillery Regimt. was under the same circumstances they are entitled to the same indulgence: but as that indulgence was to remedy, and not to create, an evil- I would by no means extend it to women who on the prospect of it, have since been brought into Camp- and I would wish you to see that no such do draw Provisions- I am Dear Sir Your very Obedient Servt [signature purloined] [docket] from his Ex Genl Washington 8 March 1783 [inserted in a different hand: Signature purloined No 49]

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