Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Jonathan Trumbull
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01286 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Virginia Type: Autograph letter Date: 4 November 1781 Pagination: 3 p. + docket Order a Copy
Responds to Trumbull's letter requesting information for George Washington to incorporate into a letter to Governor of Virginia Thomas Nelson (see GLC02437.01282). Explains plans to establish an artillery magazine in Virginia, containing the ordnance remaining after the siege of Yorktown. The artillery would be for the use of the Southern Army and protection of Virginia in case of a British invasion. Washington needs to make requests to Governor Nelson for a location to store the munitions, preferably in Westham, and a party for the transport. Discusses the channels through which the requests and instructions to officers should travel. Knox's instructions to Colonel Edward Carrington in regard to the creation of the magazine appear in GLC02437.01284. Trumbull was Washington's military secretary.
Nov. 4. 1781.
Dear Sir
I yesterday mention'd to his Excellency, that I [wished] he would write to the Governor of this state, to inform him [struck: of the intended important] [inserted: that it was intended to] deposit of [inserted: all the] arms and ammunition for musquetry, which we brought with us and which were taken from the Enemy, at [Westham] in this state, as well to supply the Southern Army, as to [strikeout] a reservoir for these states in case of another invasion-
To request of the Governor to have proper places provided at Westham [inserted: if possible, if not at Richmond for the present] for the [reception] of the stores, taking special care to avoid placing them in any of the [salt] houses which [struck: will ruin] has a pernicious tendency to [rust] them-
To request a party of 24 men either from the state troops or recruits to serve as a Guard for the stores, to be put under the orders of Capt Singleton of Colonel [Harrisons] regiment of artillery who will have the general charge of the stores-
[struck: In case In case stores cannot possibly] [2] To allow [strikeout] assistance of transportation for Capt Smiths Company of [laboratory] men and artificers to remove for the deposit [inserted: of] the stores.
In case of danger, or other exigence [sic] to afford any possible assistance in procuring transportation or materials, charging the expences to the united states-
These are the heads my dear sir of the Letter, which I wish [struck: me] may display the importance of the [inserted: intended] magazine [inserted: [strikeout] to the safety of these states] and the [struck: absolute] necessity that the state [should] particularly attend to its [struck: safety] [inserted: security] and preservation another circumstance [I beg may be] mentiond that in case of invasion of the state- and the absolute necessity existing for to draw upon the magazine for stores that the Governor would issue a formal warrant for that purpose signed by him in his official capacity
Capt Singleton, mentioned before, will set off this day for Richmond for the purpose of obtaing [sic] [struck: the stores] places to put the stores on their arrival-
[3] he will take his Excellencys Letter to the Governor, which you will please to [struck: send] [inserted: enclose] to Colonel Carrington who will give it to [inserted: Capt] Singleton-
Col. Trumbull
[docket]
To Col. Trumbull- secy with
head of a letter to be written to Gov.r
Nelson
4. Nov. 1781
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