Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

Reluctantly Accepting a Commission as Brigadier General

With reluctance, Israel Putnam informs Knox that he will accept his appointment as a brigadier general despite concerns regarding his advanced age, his health, and his family. He insists that the appointment be temporary and that he be able to retain his current position in the civil department.

1792

05

07

Philadelphia

Rufus Putnam Collection

Henry Knox

Rufus Putnam

President [Washington]

Philadelphia

advice and consent of the Senate

military line

private affairs

situation of my family

advanced age

state of health

honor of this appointment

duties of a soldier

temporary appointment

civil department

I have been this day honoured with your letter of the fifth inst. notifying me "that the president of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate has appointed me a Brigadier General." I have not the remotest wish to enter again into the military line. My private affairs and situation of my family all forbid it and my advanced age as well as state of health I fear will render me unable to perform the duties of a soldier with honour to myself and advantage to the service. The respect I owe to the President of the United States and the distressed situation of that country I now call mine obliges me to accept the honour of this appointment. But in justice to myself I must observe that provided however that I hold my rank from my commission in the late army, that I consider it a temporary appointment which I propose to resign as soon as the service will permit, and in the meantime that i retain my present office in the civil department.

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