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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 #: GLC02437.00573 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: Morristown, New Jersey Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 April 1777 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; Height: 32.4 cm, Width: 21.1 cm Order a Copy

Expresses his love for her. Thinks Crane will soon have success in recruiting men. Feels "America trifles too much with the high matters in which she is engag'd - an infinity of happiness or misery depends upon the success or non-success of the present Contest." Is pleased with recent victories in New Jersey, but worries that prolonged British occupation of the state has cost the revolutionaries some supporters. Says "a party of ours" attacked a party of 70 Tory "wretches to Humanity" and took 5 prisoners. There are more of them across the Passaic River, opposite Newark. Expects General Howe will next try to take Philadelphia by bringing forces from both land and sea. Accuses the British of terrorizing women and children but feels "America owes every part of her past and present distress to her self" and her sons and daughters who are not committed to this war. Expresses disgust for those who use marriage as an excuse not to serve and says "I would annihilate such fellows or transport them to the country that I hope one day to conquer."

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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