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Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810 to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01524 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810 Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Manuscript letter signed Date: 12 August 1782 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; Height: 33 cm, Width: 20.4 cm Order a Copy

Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 7 August. Thanks him "for your opinion on the department of field Commisary of Military Stores." As Knox hinted, Lincoln said he has submitted it to Washington. Wants his opinion on the peace. Says he received a late letter from London "shewing the miserable state to which their nation is driven. - which, if true, must soon produce a peace provided we do not relax on the present state of things - and thereby lay ourselves open to a stroke." Says a Mr. Blake of South Carolina has recently returned from England and does not hesitate to say New York and Charlestown (Charleston) will be evacuated by the British in October. Blake claimed it would have be done sooner if transports could be had. Lincoln doubts the report saying "If this is their real design, why is it so publicly mentioned?" The body of the letter is written in the hand of William Jackson, Lincoln's assistant.

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