Autograph Letter Signed

Concerns About Financial Problems of the U.S. Armed Forces

In a private letter, Knox discusses his financial concerns with Col. Wadsworth. Revenue is limited and various financial measures may be necessary including reducing the pay of the officers and troops.

Concerns About Financial Problems of the U.S. Armed Forces

1787

02

28

New York

letter marked "private"

Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth

Henry Knox

Board of Treasury

Mr. Imlay

comptroller

Quartermaster's department

Paymaster General

officers

Colonel Murphy's Corps

Congress

Secretary of War

troops

Mr. Morris

New York

orders on Mr. Imlay

3000 dollars

my public letter of this day

business

warrants to be drawn in my name

large sum

overplus

surplus

great distress

public debts

no other relief

subsistence of the officers

salary

subject of the troops

secret

Congress will probably take up the subject of the troops in a few days--As you and Mr. Morris would not maintain them--It is most likely they must be reduced--Keep this however entirely secret.

1787022805010

1

2

(private) New York 28 January 1787
My dear sir I have persuaded the board of treasury to give me orders on Mr. Imlay for 3000 dollar[s? page cuts off] which are enclosed to you in my public letter of this day.
In order to facilitate the business I have consented to suffer the warrants to be drawn in my name, and to become accountable with the comptroller for the same. I hope you may be able to negociate them. The one for the quarter masters department, is drawn for a large[r] sum than will be required for that department. I shall expect that you pay the overplus to my order, as I am in grea[t] distress on account of some public debts and the board can afford me no other relief, than that now proposed.
If you could negociate 1000 dollars more, than the sums now forwarded and will inform me so, I will endeavor to get
to get the board to give the [undecipherable]. General subsistence of the officers and the pay of the [undecipherable] Colonel Humphrys's Corps -
Congress have reduced the pay of the civil [undecipherable] - every officer has been reduced more or less excepting the Secretary at War. His salary is too low to be touched
Congress will probably take up the subject of the troops in a few days - as you and Mr. Morris would not maintain them - [undecipherable] is of likely. They must be reduced - keep this however entirely a secret.
I am my dear sir
Your truly affectionate
HKnox