Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820 to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03432 Author/Creator: Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820 Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 30, 1787 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 23.3 cm, Width: 18.9 cm Order a Copy
Thanks him for his letters. Never doubted Knox's good wishes toward him, or his desire to promote Sargent's military achievements. Is acutely aware of Knox's responsibilities and does not want to put him in an embarrassing position because of his desire to attain an appointment. Though he wanted the Captaincy of Artillery, he even moreso wanted Knox's high esteem, both during military service and in civilian life. Writes, "Consider [...] how severely I must have been wounded by [William] North & [Elnathan] Haskell- who were both my Junior Officers during [an] the war & who have Majorities in the Legion." In response to Knox's offer of the position of Inspector of Troops, he thinks himself inadequate for the position. Encloses "paper" (not present) describing General [Benjamin] Lincoln's expedition. Sargent would have liked to join the expedition, and Lincoln and Governor James Bowdoin wanted him to go, but he did not believe there was an appropriate position available to him. Writes, "General Lincoln offerd indeed to make me his Adjutant Genl but I was sure I could not discharge the duty, to my own Satisfaction." Finally, discusses the status of the Massachusetts insurgents. See GLC02437.03413 for a related document.
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