Autograph Letter Signed

Delivery of Shirts & Shoes, Congressional Deliberations, and Illegally Sold Powder

Asks that Wadsworth go ahead and deliver the troops' shoes and shirts that he had planned to, and promises that he will be paid. Asks if Wadsworth will consent to take on additional warrants. Notes that "the subject of the troops" is before Congress, but that nothing has been decided yet. Thanks Wadsworth for information on damaged powder; believes "capital error" caused the damage. Asks that Wadsworth use his "informant" to keep Knox informed, that the illegal sale of powder may be investigated. Notes that he saw an advertisement recently which advertised the sale of damaged powder by auction -- believes this to be "the" powder.

Delivery of Shirts & Shoes to Troops, Congressional Deliberations Regarding Troops, and Matter of Illegally Sold Powder

1787

04

08

New York

A (private) letter.

Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth

Henry Knox

Mrs. Lucy Knox

troops

Treasury

Colonel Humphreys

Congress

Captain Price

New York

Connecticut

West Point

Brookland

public and private favors

salmon

vessel

shoes and shirts

payment

bill

uniformly clothed

receiving warrants

accounts settled

damaged powder

capital error

stores

authority to sell

investigate

auction

ferry

price

inquire minutely of your informant, when, where, and of whom the powder was bought

1787040805010

1

4

H Knox




1787
N. York


April 8
(private) New York 8 April 1787
My dear Sir
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your public and private favors of the fifth instant. Your two favors of the 4th together with the
salmon which was received by a vessell yesterday in high perfection & for which Mrs. Knox presents You her thanks.
It is by no means my intention that the troops should be deprived of the shoes and shirts you were preparing for them. On the contrary I pray you to furnish them, and you shall receive your payment out of the sums already in your possession or others as your option, only let me have a bill of Debt the clothing you have furnished.
The troops will perhaps be to be uniformly clothed - would it be agreeable to you to undertake the [undecipherable] with the treasury upon the principle of receiving warrants to the amounts on this receiver of Connecticut?
I will
I will endever to have your accounts settled to your satisfaction, previously to which I shall transmit the tents under which all the articles shall be arranged.
If colonel Humphreys has arrived he will be able to inform you that Congress have under consideration the subjects of the troops - nothing however is yet decided. By this days post I shall be more explicit.
I thank you cordially for the information respecting the damaged powder although I am strongly inclined to believe that there is some capital error in it - Capt Price who has the charge of the Stores at Westpoint, is a man in whom I confide most unboundedly. He has no authority to sell any powder. I beg you therefore my dear sir to enquire minutely of your informant, when, where and of whom the powder was bought, that I may minutely investigate the affair - If true which I flatter myself is impossible, a rigorous procedure
must
instantly to Replace - but I wish for proofs before I begin.
I have seen advertisments for the sale of damaged powder by auction at Brookland ferry ten or fifteen days ago. I will enquire to whom it belonged, to whom sold, & the [undecipherable] - most probably this is the powder of which you have been informed. Pay your early attention to this matter.
I am yours affectionate
Knox
Colo. Wadsworth