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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Lucy Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00275 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Norwich, Connecticut Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 April 1776 Pagination: 1p. : address ; 31.5 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy

Comments on a fatiguing two day, sixty-four mile journey from Newport, Rhode Island, to Norwich, Connecticut. Indicates that he will stay in Norwich until all the stores are embarked for New York. Mentions that he will make a trip to New London, Connecticut to "see the watery hero" Esek Hopkins, who Knox hopes "will one day command an american Navy up the river Thames." Asks Lucy to have his brother William Knox send a letter to a button maker about buttons for military uniforms. Longs to see his wife. Knox was then moving southward toward New York, planning coastal defenses against the British navy for Rhode Island and Connecticut in the process. Called upon "the parson at Narragansett but he was not there."

Norwich Sunday April 21st
My dearest Lucy -
I came from Newport (from which place I wrote you) the day before yesterday and arriv'd here after a very fatiguing Journey of 64 miles in one day with a terrible road - I intended calling on the parson at Narraganset but he was not at home & I was too much in a hury to get off my horse - I am in hopes of setting out for New York as soon as all the stores are embark'd which will be about Wednesday - from which place I shall write very particularly - I am now going down to New London to see the watery Hero Hopkins who I hope will one day command an american Navey up the river Thames - I long to see you & feel every tender anxiety that love & friendship dictate, I pray to Heaven for you & your sweet babe night & morning - Inform Billey that I wish him to send a very particular Letter to one clark a Button maker for to send to clark Button maker at leonard for 8 or 10 doz of the regimental Buttons & send them forward immediately - Believe me my love to hold you constantly in my mind.
I am yours most
Affectionately,
H Knox.
[docket]
Apl./ 76. Gen K
to Wife
[address leaf]
Mrs. Lucy Knox
Boston

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824
Hopkins, Esek, 1718-1802

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