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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 Benjamin Lincoln

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01760 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 December 1782 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 33.8 x 21 cm. Order a Copy

Writes that as he has been charged with being the commander of West Point, he must, with General George Washington, determine any changes or additions to West Point "as may tend to give it that solid strength which the nature of the service may require." Discusses some changes he would like made to the structure of the redoubts, which would require timber. To obtain the timber, he needs teams of oxen to pull it, and he is having trouble acquiring the timber and oxen. Asks Lincoln to empower the Quarter Master General to help him in his endeavor.

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Washington, George, 1732-1799

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