Henry Knox to George Washington discussing a Congressional order - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC02437.03031
From Archive Folder	The Henry Knox Papers [0072] April-July 1784
Title	Henry Knox to George Washington discussing a Congressional order
Date	26 July 1784
Author	Knox, Henry (1750-1806)
Recipient	Washington, George
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	Responds to a 2 June 1784 letter from Washington. Discusses a recent Congressional order requiring Frederick Haldimand, Governor of the Province of Quebec, to give the United States information as to when British troops will completely evacuate Western forts, and how cannon and stores from the forts can be exchanged. Knox is incensed, writing "I cannot say but that I am well satisfied to be excluded from any responsibility in arrangements that cannot be executed. The attempt to employ militia for twelve months in an arduous operation of conveying the stores and making permanent establishments in that difficult country..." Notes that William Hull has been sent to obtain the information from Haldimand, but that Haldimand will likely deliver the information at his own convenience, if at all. Notes that opposition to the Society of the Cincinnati in Massachusetts had died down. Written in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.
Subjects	Society of the Cincinnati Revolutionary War General Continental Congress Congress Government and Civics President Global History and Civics Treaty Revolutionary War Diplomacy Canada Fortification Frontiers and Exploration Military History Artillery Military Supplies Militia Fraternal Organization
People	Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Washington, George (1732-1799) Hull, William (1753-1825) Haldimand, Frederick, Sir (1718-1791) Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810)
Place written	Dorchester, Massachusetts
Theme	Government & Politics; Foreign Affairs; The Presidency
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] Dorchester - July 26th 1786 my dear sir [struck: An apprehension] A fear of [struck: intruda] intruding upon your more important concerns has prevented my writing to you since my return. I found here your kind favor of the [struck: 5th ] [inserted: 2th] of June with its enclosure for General Putnam, which I delivered. The measures taken by congress respecting the Western posts, must defeat themselves by their own imbecillity. I cannot say but that I am well [struck: enough] satisfied [struck: that I was] [inserted: to be] excluded from any responsibility in arrangements that cannot be executed. [inserted: The attempt] To employ [strikeout] Militia for twelve months in an arduous operation of conveying the Stores and making permanent establishments in that difficult County after the experience we have had of them, [strikeout] [struck: can do it is truly ridiculous] characterizes itself. Agreably to the orders of Congress I sent Colonel Hull to General Haldimand to request that he would [inserted: immediately] deliver [struck: to the] up the posts on our frontiers - [struck: If] If he should comply [struck: with the request] [2] and fix his own time at a short day which [struck: it is supposed] If he delivers them at all, he will do for his own convenience, or we should be [strikeout] [inserted: illegible] embarrassed, not having a man, for that purpose - [inserted paragraph on page 3: I presume General Lincoln informed you that the alterations of the Cincinnati are generally satisfactory in this state - The opposition to it is [struck: entirely] dead, one or two persons [inserted: [strikeout it is said [inserted: however] still grumble - Our Society on the 4th of July was very full, and adopted it unanimously excepting one [struck: person] vote. General Lincoln Mr Partridge and myself are going at the request of the Legislature of this State to examine what encroachments have been made by the british on its eastern boundary - We shall set out on this business in a few days. Mrs Knox joins me in presenting our [inserted: affectionate] respects to Mrs Washington, & I am my dear Sir Your truly affectionate Humble Servant H Knox His Excelly Genl Washington [docket] To his Excellency Genl Washington 26 July 1784

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