Autograph Letter Signed

Thoughts on the Constitutional Convention & Shay's Rebellion

Knox relates to Wadsworth some of his thoughts about the upcoming [constitutional] convention and the recent insurgency [Shays Rebellion] in Massachusetts.

1787

03

24

New York

Hartford, Connecticut

This letter has a note, added the next day, on the address leaf. Knox will apply for the warrants as Wadsworth requests and forward them by the next post.

This letter seems to be in Knox's hand and is difficult to read.

An added note, 03/25/1787, on the address leaf of this letter.

Col Jeremiah Wadsworth

Henry Knox

Sergeant Webster

General Washington

insurgents of Massachusetts

Supreme Court

federal troops

Colonel Jackson

Colonel Humphreys

your amicable daughte

Society of the Cincinnati

Hartford, Connecticut

New York

Rhode Island

Connecticut

Massachusetts

Springfield

certificate of the sum due Sergeant Webster

accunts of the regiment

balances

modification of the troops now in service

payment of arrearages

certificate

nine States

convention

predatory incursions of the insurgents of Massachusetts

last struggle of an expiring faction

dollars

loan office of Connecticut

The little predatory incursions of the insurgents of Massachusetts, are the last struggle of an expiring faction. If the Supreme Court acts with vigor and a few executions take place, the business of insurgency in Massachusetts will most probably be finished for the present

1787032405010

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4

Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth
Hartford
Connecticut
p[er] favor Mr Bull.

Sunday March 25. 1787.
Yr Letter of the 18th was received only last night - I will apply for the warrants as you request and forward them by the next post, but it is not possible to prevail on the Treasury board to do it to day - Yr Affectionate
H Knox
[
G?] Knox March. 24
1787 --

New York 24 March 1787.
I have received my dear friend, your favor of the 19th instant covering a certificate of the sum due Serjeant Webster. With the sincerest dispositions to serve him I am unable to do it - The accounts of the regiment are not yet settled, and provision made to pay the balances that shall be found due on account of the pay of the last year - Some modification of the troops now in service, will soon take place, and I hope that an effectual
arrangement will be taken for the payment of the arrearages - The moment the thing is practicable, he will be paid I return you the certificate.
There are nine states represented at present - The states generally have chosen for the convention - Rhode Island and Connecticut the only exceptions - I think it a probable circumstance, that Genl Washington will be at it - I hope you will be at the Cincinnati in order to assist in persuading the Genl to continue in the chair of the Society -
The little predatory incursions of the insurgents of Massachusetts, are the last struggle of an expiring faction - If the Supreme Court act with vigor, and a few executions take place, the business of Insurgency in Massachusetts will most probably be finished for the present -
The state of Massachusetts have voted [pound symbol]5000 [indecipherable] for to clothe & partly pay the federal troops in that state. I say voted because but a small part of the [pound symbol]2500 originally voted has been paid - The two sums together amount to 25000 dollars - This would clothe subsist, and pay 300 men, and their officers a considerable time - I have ordered Colo Jackson if the if the state will provide him with the means to march his corps to Springfield, in which case, I should direct Colo Humphreys to move his men to West point - You know that I shall depend on Your feeding them at Hartford, on condition that You are furnished with orders on the loan office of Connecticut for the amount - I do not desire you should run any risques on the subject[?] but that you should be made secure[?] by orders -
I hope your amicable daughter and son - arrived without injury, and are as pleasantly as the season would admit -
I am my dear sir
Your affectionate
H Knox
Colo Wadsworth