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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 #: GLC02437.10040 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 September 1782 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; Height: 36.2 cm, Width: 23.1 cm Order a Copy

Knox writes to Lincoln, Secretary of War. Writes, "His Excellency the commander in chief has stationed me at this post, which in addition to its natural embarrassments, is attended with much greater expenses than my purse can admit." Notes that Congress arranged for extra compensation for General Alexander McDougall, a previous commander at West Point. Asks Lincoln to provide a similar arrangement for him. If this is beyond the reach of Lincoln's powers, requests that Lincoln consult Mr. Morris (possibly Gouverneur Morris, assistant superintendent of finance). "How my dear sir is the relief to (arise) if that payment shall be postponed, to a day which hope can be scarcely reached?"

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810
McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

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