Henry Knox to George Washington about former women and children prisoners of native Americans in need of assistance - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC02437.01624
From Archive Folder	The Henry Knox Papers [0046] September 17822
Title	Henry Knox to George Washington about former women and children prisoners of native Americans in need of assistance
Date	22 September 1782
Author	Knox, Henry (1750-1806)
Recipient	Washington, George
Document Type	Military document; Correspondence
Content Description	Written by Major General Knox to General Washington. Says he arrived at camp to find that 22 American women and children, formerly prisoners who had travelled from Canada, were seeking assistance. They travelled down from Vermont to Albany, New York. From Albany, Lord Stirling sent them southward with the idea that they could reach Philadelphia. Says "These unhappy people, were inhabitants of the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania. Their husbands and fathers have been murdered by the Savages and themselves taken into captivity to Canada." Reports that after "horrors unutterable," they were trying to return to places where they were known. Has given them some provisions and seems to be asking if Washington will give them permission to travel to Philadelphia on army wagons (handwriting is hard to decipher here). Hopes the Minister of War "will take measures to enable them to go with a degree of comfort to the places of their destination."
Subjects	Prisoner of War Revolutionary War Revolutionary War General Military History Continental Army President West Point (US Military Academy) Canada Prisoner Women's History Children and Family Frontiers and Exploration American Indian History Death Atrocity Military Provisions Travel Transportation
Theme	The American Revolution; Native Americans; Women in American History; Children & Family
Sub-collection	The Henry Knox Papers
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide Download PDF [draft] Sir [inserted: Yesterday] There arrived at this place twenty two women & Children, who have been sent by the Enemy from Canada to Vermont [struck: and from [illegible] to Albany]. The [struck: people of which] [inserted: whose inhabitants] forwarded them to Albany, and my Lord Stirling has sent them down the Country, with a view, of them having an opportunity of going to Philadadelphia on the way to their respected homes. These unhappy peoples, [struck: consisting entirely of women have had their] were inhabitants of the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania. Their husbands and fathers have been murder'd by the savages and themselvs taken into captivy to Canada. After having experienced, horrors unutterable, they are now endevoring to return to the places where they are known. They drew provisions at Albany and I have furnished them with [strikeout] some here. I [struck: hope] [inserted: pray] your Excellency will direct the QMsrs to give them provisions to go to Philadelphia and upon [inserted: return] [illegible] It [strikeout] I hope the [2] minister of war will take [struck: some] measures to enable them to go with [inserted: a] [strikeout] degree of comfort to the places of their destination. I am Sir with the highest Respect Your excellency Obdnt Sert H Knox [docket] To His Excy Genl. Washington 22 Sept 1782.

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