Confidence in Craig's Promotion of the Public Service
Document 1792Expressed unwavering confidence in zeal of Craig in promoting the public service.
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[L. #350 ?
[undecipherable] &c]
Extract of a letter from General Knox Secretary of the War Department to Isaac Craig dated 13th [undecipherable] 1791
Sir
"You are hereby appointed to take charge of all the public stores belonging to the United States which shall be deposited at Fort Pitt &c"
From same to same date 15th June 1792
"I am persuaded that your conduct since you have been in office, will bear the strictest examination. I have often had the pleasure to approve it, and hope the pleasure will be often repeated. I am convinced your compensation is made ample for your services, and I shall endeavour that it shall be satisfactory to you, as far as my power extends. I conceive your present will be as Deputy Quarter Master General."
From same to same date 27th Jany 1792
"I confide in your character [undecipherable] as the reason of my reposing confidence in you [undecipherable]"
From same to same date 17th Feby 1792
"I have had an established confidence as well in your integrity as in your zeal to promote the public service; nor have I any reason to change it."
From same to same date 29th November 1792
"I am anxious to know whether you will accept of the office of being Commissary General, as no time can be lost in that business. In case you accept you must appoint a deputy for Fort Pitt and the Upper parts of the Ohio"
From same to same date 2nd Decr 1794
"I shall expect to hear from you on the subject of the Commissary post, by the return of the post on the 4th instant."
letter from Henry Knox Secretary of the War Department date 6th December 1794 —
Sir "I have heard nothing from you relatively to the Idea suggested of the Commissary's Department.
I am Sir your
Most Obt Servt
Henry Knox"
Extract of a letter Isaac Craig to Henry Knox dated 8th Decr 1794
"Your very kind and liberal offer of principal commissary claims my most grateful acknowledgments &c."
Then declines the appointment and proceeds as follows
"I must beg leave to mention Major Abraham Kirkpatrick, as one well qualified to execute the duties &c."
John Stagg to Isaac Craig date 18th Decr 1794
"The Secretary of War has directed me to advise you that he sincerely regrets that your domestic concerns prevents your acceptance of the appointment &c"
The Secretary has directed me to inform you that he is fully sensible of Major Kirkpatrick's integrity and abilities, but that the Secretary of the Treasury, in case of your non-acceptance, had previously to the receipt of your letter fixed upon a gentleman whom he wished to fill said office
A letter from Genl Knox to Isaac Craig date [undecipherable] December 1794 is lost, [it] contained the appointment or rather notice of the appointment of Major Kirkpatrick as appears by Isaac Craig's letter to Genl Knox dated 27th Decr 1794, which after acknowledging the receipt of a letter of the 20th Decr 1794, proceeds to say
"your attention to my recommendation of Major Kirkpatrick is very flattering to me indeed. Major Kirkpatrick will be prepared to proceed down the river, the moment your instructions [undecipherable] to hand"
Extract of a letter from Genl Knox to Isaac Craig dated 27th Decr 1794
"I hope nothing will prevent Major Kirkpatrick's executing the duties of Commissary, according to your intimation. His instructions will not be ready until next post, when he will, I hope, be fully prepared to descend the river instantly upon the receipt of them"
A letter from John Stagg to Isaac Craig date Jany 3d 1795
"I have shown your letter of the [undecipherable] of the 26th Decr to General Knox. He resigned his appointment &c at the close of the Year; Colonel Pickering succeeds him"
The foregoing are all true extracts from letters from Genl Knox to my deceased father Major Isaac Craig.
Jany 2nd 1828 — Neville B Craig.
Type
Extract of Letter
Description
Expressed unwavering confidence in zeal of Craig in promoting the public service.
Date
02/17/1792
Author
Recipient
Document number
1792021714066
Page start
2
Note
In 1828 Isaac Craig's son Neville B. Craig prepared a three-page list of extracts of his father's correspondence with the War Office. This document was one of those.
Notable persons
Isaac Craig
Henry Knox
Major Craig
Notable locations
Fort Pitt
Notable items
received your letter
with estimate of the works
at Fort Pitt
inform me in due season of the terms of payment
shall examine the estimate at leisure
it really appears far beyond my conceptions of the expence but it may all be necessary
confidence as well in your integrity as in your zeal to promote the public service
[no] reason to change it
magnitude of the work
expence
necessary
people have though proper to raise 50 percent upon the necessary materials improvements
continue to rely upon a continuance of your services

