Autograph Letter Signed

Request for Character Witness Concerning Officers

Letter, discusses recommendations of character for officers.

Ltr, dis recommendations of character.

1791

04

14

Providence

Henry Knox

Jeremiah Olney

Colonel Dexter

Captain Holden

Captains

subaltern officers

Lieutenant S

Major Franklin

Colonel Daniel Tillinghast

Providence

Philadelphia

military character

business

health

military glory

recommend

appointment

reputation

intemperance

supply

clothing

unpleasing and delicate task to draw the dark side of a persons character

officer who served with tollerable reputation in the army

thought him very enterprising

fallen intothe habbits of intmeperance

residence in the south part of the state

leaves this town in ten days

officer of excellent character

his health is now and has been for a year past much impaired which would prevent his acceptance of the company even did his heart again thirst for military glory

subaltern officers

not in my power at present to recommend a person from among them that would accept

do honor to the appointment

opportunity to advise with any of them

private

honor'd with your (confidential) letter

all the old captains of reputation being now settled with their families

engaged in some cost of business

do not again to incline to assume a military character

1791041440001

1

2

28 [circled] (private)
Providence 14th April 1791
Dr Sir
I have been honor'd with your (Confidential) Letter of the 5' Inst., Respecting appointments &c.
All the old Captains of Reputation being now settled [undecipherable} with their Families, & having engaged in some sort of business, do not again incline to assume a millitary Character. Capt. Holden, whom you mention, was as Officer of Excellant Character; but his health is now, and has been for a year past, much impaired,--which would prevent his acceptance of the Company, even did his Heart again Thirst for millitary Glory-- and the Subaltern Officers are much Distressed, some of whom are gone from have left the State; it is therefore out of my power at present to recommend a person from among them that would accept, & Do honor to the Appointment, as I have not had an opportunity to advise with any of them; but will endeavour to as soon as possible, & acquaint you by Capt. [undecipherable] who leaves this Town in Ten days, for Philadelpha
It is a very unpleasing and Delicate Task to draw the dark side of a persons character, but Sir, as you have, in Confidence, Requested this of me Respecting Lieut. S_____ I will give it you in a few Words. he was an officer who served with Tollerable Reputation in the army; Tho, I never thought him very Enterprising-- and since the
War
War [undecipherable] he has rather fallen into the Habbits of [undecipherable]. This I have from good Authority, I seldom see him myself, as he Resides in the South part of the State--[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
Major Franks has left this Town yesterday morning; Colo. Danl. Tellinghart has undertaken to supply the Company &c--- I will attend to the Cloathing when it arrives--
I am with much EsteemD Sir your obed. Humb. SertJereh Olney.
Henry Knox Esquire--Secretary at War
[along lower left margin]To Genl Knox, Secy of War13th April 1791