Alexander, William, 1726-1783 to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01653 Author/Creator: Alexander, William, 1726-1783 Place Written: Albany, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 9 October 1782 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 33.7 cm, Width: 20.4 cm Order a Copy
Writes to disclose the cargo on Captain [Garrit] Rykeman's sloop. Ship carries the boards from "a long building which was of no use but to harbour allmost all the Bell dames [pssibly camp followers] in this department"; provides measurements of the boards and hopes Knox can put them to better use. Ship also carries two prisoners of war, which "we cannot prudently exchange, indeed the Enemy have no claim on them, and we dare not discharge them, they will do very well to carry- stone & mortar to the new magazines." He would like to know when Knox will be ready to receive the military stores, "that they might go at the Same time with Capt. [possibly Thomas] Seward's camp." Sends respects to Mrs. Knox and reports that his daughter has "Just presented us with a fine Boy." Lastly adds that John Swans, a deserter from Colonel [perhaps Rufus] Putnam's regiment, is also on board the sloop.
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