Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810 to Henry Knox

Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 25 November. Says he has suffered anxiety over his long silence and lack of acknowledgement of his letters. Says he told Congress in strong terms of the distress the army suffered for want of pay. Says he told Congress that the information came from the best sources and was not simply grumbling. Says he told Congress that many troops still need pay dating back to 1 January and that some states have helped, but others have not. Reported to the legislature that this caused "uneasiness" among the troops. Also reported that the officers are upset about Congress's inability to decide on a half-pay pension. Says a committee in Congress have put together a report and he believes it will recommend the states to fund their own lines to 1 January 1781. Says the same committee seems to want to recommend that pensions be funded by the states, but does not want to seem as if they are passing the buck. Discusses the details of how to handle the situation in Congress. Marked "copy" on verso.