Letter to the Secretary of War

Item

Type

Letter, Type Undetermined

Title

Letter to the Secretary of War

Description

Letter to Secretary Knox regarding the rank of Adjutant General and Inspector of the Army. Also discusses army discipline. Cannot discharge duties without higher rank in Army.

year created

1792

month created

05

day created

17

sent from location

Cincinnati County of Hamilton

recipient

in image

note

Cited in Knox to Sargent, 07/23/1792.

cited note

Cited document addressed to the War Office

notable person/group

Henry Knox
Winthrop Sargent

notable location

Cincinnati County of Hamilton

notable item/thing

extreme haughtiness and severity
uniform conduct in the respect of an army
public interests might suffer
difficulties and hazards
conferring rank upon your adjutant general
freedom of the suggestion
important appointments should be endowed with rank
afforded me infinite satisfaction to have conversed with you upon this subject
conduct should seem fair
Levy officers
made the experiment last campaign
presented to the troops under the favourable impression of possessing the full confidence and esteem of the commanding general
mortifications and discouragements to combat
ambition in the profession of arms to exceed the narrow limits of mere duty and evince to the world that I deserved the notice
friendship of the Secretary at War
[Secretary of War]
arduous service it would be my province to come forward under the direction of the commanding general
introduce a new system of discipline or add to the old in order to render our army efficient against the enemy
they will have to fight
exacted by an officer without rank
soldiery must lend to prostrate subordination and discipline
extremely gratified by your friendly private letter
merit and possess you approbation and affection has been amongst my first and most ardent wishes since I have had the honour of being known to you
anxiously desirous of service for the war in this country
important duties to which you kind influence has appointed me cannot with honour and fidelity be discharged without high rank in the army

notable phrase

extreme haughtiness and severity
uniform conduct in the respect of an army
public interests might suffer
difficulties and hazards
conferring rank upon your adjutant general
freedom of the suggestion
important appointments should be endowed with rank
afforded me infinite satisfaction to have conversed with you upon this subject
conduct should seem fair
Levy officers
made the experiment last campaign
presented to the troops under the favourable impression of possessing the full confidence and esteem of the commanding general
mortifications and discouragements to combat
ambition in the profession of arms to exceed the narrow limits of mere duty and evince to the world that I deserved the notice
friendship of the Secretary at War
[Secretary of War]
arduous service it would be my province to come forward under the direction of the commanding general
introduce a new system of discipline or add to the old in order to render our army efficient against the enemy
they will have to fight
exacted by an officer without rank
soldiery must lend to prostrate subordination and discipline
extremely gratified by your friendly private letter
merit and possess you approbation and affection has been amongst my first and most ardent wishes since I have had the honour of being known to you
anxiously desirous of service for the war in this country
important duties to which you kind influence has appointed me cannot with honour and fidelity be discharged without high rank in the army

document number

1792051740001

page start

1

Transcribe this document

Document instances

In image In source Location in source
[view document] (5 pages) AKK09 (5 pages) Collection: Henry Knox Papers. [microfilm] R: 31, P: 94

Document names

Type Name Location Notes
Author Winthrop Sargent Cincinnati County of Hamilton [n/a]
Recipient Henry Knox [unknown] [n/a]