Our Collection

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 William Knox

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00953 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: Wethersfield, Connecticut Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 May 1781 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ;s Height: 31 cm, Width: 18.6 cm Order a Copy

Recently arrived in Wethersfield with Generals George Washington and Duportail to meet General Rochambeau and Admiral Louis Jacques comte de Barras de Saint-Laurant to discuss "matters of great consequence." Expresses relief regarding William's management of an unspecified debt. Hopes for the safety of the Amsterdam, a ship. Comments on his distress regarding the depreciation of paper currency, asking William to procure "hard money" if he can. Adds that he will be paid as a Brigadier of Infantry, and asks William to look into the matter of his pay and "send a copy of the award." In a post script, asks William to tell "Harry" [Henry Jackson] "he must come on by the 1st of June or he will be black ball'd."

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Knox, William, 1756-1795
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Duportail, Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Begue de Presle, 1743-1802
Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de, 1725-1807
Barras, Jacques-Melchior, Comte de, 1719-1793
Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources