Cook, P., fl. 1787 to Benjamin Lincoln
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03435 Author/Creator: Cook, P., fl. 1787 Place Written: Granby, Massachusetts Type: Manuscript letter Date: 31 January 1787 Pagination: 2 p. : 31.3 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy
Written from Granby, likely in southern Massachusetts, near Springfield. Writes on behalf of the town of Granby that the prospect of war is causing severe anxiety among the townspeople, despite the fact that they have a lot of faith and confidence in the ability of General Lincoln. They held a large public meeting and voted to ask that the "Commander will use every possible way & means in his power as a man & as an Officer consistent with ye dignity of government and his own honour to prevent ye awful destruction of mankind- and shedding ye blood of our own Countrymen- and conquer by his wisdom and not by his arms- and bring our deluded friends to a due sense of their error, & subject them to their duty without ye further effusion of blood, if by any means practicable." This is likely one of the enclosures (and thus a copy of the original) mentioned by Lincoln in his February 5, 1787 letter to Knox (GLC02437.03444). It evidently accompanied GLC02437.03439, a copy of Lincoln's reply to the citizens of Granby, which bears a docket in Knox's hand citing both documents.
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