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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.

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809 to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00550 Author/Creator: Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809 Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 March 1777 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; Height: 32 cm, Width: 19.2 cm Order a Copy

Colonel Crane has been authorized to give twenty pounds as a bounty to those he enlists in the regimental artillery. But Boston is offering a town bounty of fifty pounds for anyone who joins the local army, and this is making recruiting very difficult. Suggests the only way to fill the artillery will be with men from other units, but has his doubts about this as well. Wishes that George Washington would issue an order putting the artillery on equal footing for recruitment. Feels that the other officers, who gave up a lot while fighting, deserve better than their current situation. Discusses Mr. Hill, a wheelwright who Knox apparently sent to Springfield to work, but who was told he was not needed there. Hopes to resolve this situation. Postscript expresses pity for General William Heath because he has been put in command at Boston.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809
Heath, William, 1737-1814
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Crane, John, 1744-1805

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