Report on Recent Desertions & Morale Problems Due to Lack of Payment At West Point
Item
Type
Letterbook
Title
Report on Recent Desertions & Morale Problems Due to Lack of Payment At West Point
Description
Reports on the recent desertion of a corporal and three privates, 2 each from Connecticut and New York, giving details of each case. States that he has few men, and they are discontented for lack of pay; believes morale would improve if at least some payment was sent to them, if not all that is due to them.
year created
1786
month created
08
day created
01
author
sent from location
West Point
recipient
in collection
in image
notable person/group
Henry Knox
William Price
corporal
private
deserter
notable location
Connecticut
New York
West Point
notable item/thing
pay problems
pay
morale
desertion
document number
1786080140055
page start
37
number of pages
1
transcription
West Point 1st August 1786
Sir,
I have forwarded by the [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] and quarter masters store for the month of July 1786 -
I am sorry to inform you with the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the privates by desertion, [undecipherable] of Connecticut 5 has [undecipherable] New Jersey. The two of Conneticut had deserted before Lieut Wilcox left this place. The capt he had given a [undecipherable] to New York. [undecipherable] [undecipherable} places his [undecipherable] charge from you the other is the frenchman who asked Lt [undecipherable] for a [undecipherable] on the same [undecipherable] but he refused him to went off on the night of the 24 July ~ the two from New Jersey deserted the night of the 29 july and stole a bout from Capt Jefferson I sent after them the next morning but have not been able to hear anything of them
The five men that are here is very [undecipherable] [undecipherable] upon account of their not getting some pay some of them have been insisted better than twelve months and have recv'd but one moth pay - if the finances would admit that they could receive a part it not are either weekly or monthly. If it was not more than a quarter of their due I am led to think it would in some [undecipherable] prevent the frequent [undecipherable] -
I have wrote to Ensign Luce that he may adverrtly their and forward some clouthing if he has any, as they stole everything from the two of his men that was on duty taking what they had
I wish to have two gallons a sweet oil sent for the [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable]
I am {undecipherable] {undescipherable] Gen' Knox Secretary at War
Sir,
I have forwarded by the [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] and quarter masters store for the month of July 1786 -
I am sorry to inform you with the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the privates by desertion, [undecipherable] of Connecticut 5 has [undecipherable] New Jersey. The two of Conneticut had deserted before Lieut Wilcox left this place. The capt he had given a [undecipherable] to New York. [undecipherable] [undecipherable} places his [undecipherable] charge from you the other is the frenchman who asked Lt [undecipherable] for a [undecipherable] on the same [undecipherable] but he refused him to went off on the night of the 24 July ~ the two from New Jersey deserted the night of the 29 july and stole a bout from Capt Jefferson I sent after them the next morning but have not been able to hear anything of them
The five men that are here is very [undecipherable] [undecipherable] upon account of their not getting some pay some of them have been insisted better than twelve months and have recv'd but one moth pay - if the finances would admit that they could receive a part it not are either weekly or monthly. If it was not more than a quarter of their due I am led to think it would in some [undecipherable] prevent the frequent [undecipherable] -
I have wrote to Ensign Luce that he may adverrtly their and forward some clouthing if he has any, as they stole everything from the two of his men that was on duty taking what they had
I wish to have two gallons a sweet oil sent for the [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable]
I am {undecipherable] {undescipherable] Gen' Knox Secretary at War
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (1 pages) | MBD01 (40 pages) | Collection: Letterbook No. 1, West Point 1784-1786. | P:37 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | William Price | West Point | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |