Henry Knox to President of United States George Washington: recommendations on locations of arsenals and magazines, development of a national arms industry, and return of ordnance, arms and military stores in possession of United States
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Type
Copy of document
Title
Henry Knox to President of United States George Washington: recommendations on locations of arsenals and magazines, development of a national arms industry, and return of ordnance, arms and military stores in possession of United States
Description
Included in this return are some recommendations regarding strategic location of magazines and arsenals across the United States and the importance of developing an arms industry in the United States.
The state of returns he owes to the casual circumstances of the War for Independence. Principal locations: New London Virginia, Philadelphia, West Point on Hudson River and Springfield on Connecticut River in Massachusetts. Describes the important circumstances for location as security from external and domestic enemies, and easy access by water, including the sea. New London is a poor location; perhaps James River with access to sea would be better. Population centers can be dangerous; hence ammunition will be move up the Delaware River. West Point is not a good choice because of easy [enemy] access from the sea. Hence a plan to move to Albany. Land transportation costs make Carlisle Pennsylvania an unattractive location. Recommends that the country have three permanent magazines located in east, middle and southern parts of the country, with subdivisions. United States should possess100,000 arms in its arsenals, with battering and field artillery and ammunition in ample proportion.
Discusses the importance of a national arms industry. Higher costs outweighed by skills developed and security provided. Returns of ordnance and stores and shot and shells are provided for the following:
Springfield Massachusetts, West Point New York, Fort Rensselaer Albany New York, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Carlisle Pennsylvania, Mount Hope Forge New Jersey, Rockaway Forge New Jersey. Balsto Furnace New Jersey.
In Pennsylvania: Durham, Oley, Berkshire, Cornwall, and Mary Ann Furnace, Pittsburg, Fort Franklin.
In Maryland: Johnston's Ferry, Baltimore, Elkton, Turner's Creek, Georgetown
In Virginia: New London, Manchester.
Western Territory [Ohio]: Fort Washington, Fort Hamilton, Fort St. Clair, Fort Jefferson
Principle articles delivered since the last general return dated 7 October 1789. Items forwarded include muskets, powder, musket balls, and pig lead to the following: to the army, to the states of Georgia and South Carolina, to the Southwestern Territory, to the Minister of France for the use of the French Colonies
The state of returns he owes to the casual circumstances of the War for Independence. Principal locations: New London Virginia, Philadelphia, West Point on Hudson River and Springfield on Connecticut River in Massachusetts. Describes the important circumstances for location as security from external and domestic enemies, and easy access by water, including the sea. New London is a poor location; perhaps James River with access to sea would be better. Population centers can be dangerous; hence ammunition will be move up the Delaware River. West Point is not a good choice because of easy [enemy] access from the sea. Hence a plan to move to Albany. Land transportation costs make Carlisle Pennsylvania an unattractive location. Recommends that the country have three permanent magazines located in east, middle and southern parts of the country, with subdivisions. United States should possess100,000 arms in its arsenals, with battering and field artillery and ammunition in ample proportion.
Discusses the importance of a national arms industry. Higher costs outweighed by skills developed and security provided. Returns of ordnance and stores and shot and shells are provided for the following:
Springfield Massachusetts, West Point New York, Fort Rensselaer Albany New York, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Carlisle Pennsylvania, Mount Hope Forge New Jersey, Rockaway Forge New Jersey. Balsto Furnace New Jersey.
In Pennsylvania: Durham, Oley, Berkshire, Cornwall, and Mary Ann Furnace, Pittsburg, Fort Franklin.
In Maryland: Johnston's Ferry, Baltimore, Elkton, Turner's Creek, Georgetown
In Virginia: New London, Manchester.
Western Territory [Ohio]: Fort Washington, Fort Hamilton, Fort St. Clair, Fort Jefferson
Principle articles delivered since the last general return dated 7 October 1789. Items forwarded include muskets, powder, musket balls, and pig lead to the following: to the army, to the states of Georgia and South Carolina, to the Southwestern Territory, to the Minister of France for the use of the French Colonies
year created
1793
month created
12
day created
16
author
sent from location
War Department
recipient
sent to location
Philadelphia
in collection
in image
notable person/group
George Washington
Henry Knox
Secretary of War
President of United States
notable location
War Department
New London Virginia
Philadelphia
West Point on Hudson River
Springfield on Connecticut River in Massachusetts
New London Virginia
James River Virginia
Delaware River
Albany New York
Carlisle Pennsylvania
Fort St. Clair
Fort Hamilton
Fort Jefferson
Fort Franklin
Western Territory
Ohio
Fort Washington
Maryland
Johnston's Ferry, Baltimore, Elkton, Turner's Creek
Pennsylvania
Durham
Oley
Berkshire, Cornwall
Mary Ann Furnace
Pittsburgh
notable item/thing
brass ordnance
howitzers
traveling carriages
iron beds
mortars
ammunition
shot
cannisters
grapeshot
iron shot
shells
powder
power horns
musket cartridges
lead
flints cylinders
caps
paper cartridges
muskets
swords
carbines
pistols
ammunition boxes
handspikes
oil
gun worms
bayonets
hand saws
bullet pouches
carbine rods
gun rods
scales and weights
rammerheads
lint stocks
port fire stocks
sheep skins
laboratory chests
ladles
rope
copper hoops
salt petre
fuzes
copper ladles
emory
tin lanthorns
buckles for pouches
clasps
wheels for four pounders
fronts for pouches
wheels for four pounders
wagon wheels
traveling forges
wagon boxes
slow matches
grind stones
chests for iron gun mounting
casks
empty cases for 6 pounders
copper laboratory kettles
large screws
large screw plates
brass gun mounting
port fires
gun locks
iron hooks and thimbles
iron chains
gun slings
drum sticks
fifes
iron stoves
iron pots
spokes
blacksmith bellows
beck iron
boring mill
auger
amourers tools
bench vises
damaged stores
jockey caps
camp kettles
coal house
backs for traveling forge
implements
military stores
drum
iron chest
brass mortars
round shot
strapt shot
flannel cartridges
paper cartridges
garrison carriages
caps
cylinders
stands of arms
French muskets
English muskets
ramrods
sponges
spunges
bayonets
scabbards
limbers
oil cloths
sulphur
white lead
spanish brown
thread
flints
waist belts
frogs
powder measures
funnels
screw bits
haversacks
lead aprons
drudge boxes
tubes
fuze sets
shell hooks
kit ladle
common spikes
slings
keys linch pins
bridge barrels
cap square keys
tackle block
springs
wooden wads
packsaddle
horsemen's swords
fire balls
smith's vise
hair pouches
stands of colors
sets of mounting
common searchers
sword blades
straps for tompions
hand grenade shells
musket formers
toggles for drag ropes
wooden marlin spikes
copper ladles
brass belt buckles
park stakes
tins for strap shot
coffins for false fires
boxes loose grape
woods for case shot
woods for strap shot
common spikes
copper pans
seale beams
sets weights
rope
washers
iron gin blocks
blacksmith bellows
wooden wads
crucible
powder trays
copper hook for magazine
mallets
trumbels
carcasses
bayonet scabbards
hammers
size board for cannon shot
truck carriages
flannel cartridges
musket cartridges
iron ordnance mounted
brass mounted
ladles
priming wires
rawhides
gunners belts
bridge barrel
chizzel
mallet
guards
bar shot
cannon balls
cartouche boxes
sergeant's sword
bridles
camp kettles
eye wedges
adzes
bayonet blades, frogs, sockets
brushes
book cases
brass pistol barrels
britch wenches
bullet nippers
buttons
belt buckles
sand bags
braces
buff belts
blocks for horseman's caps
bridle bits
bellows pipes
ball patterns
blind bridles
buckles for halters
drawers
drawing knives
desks
drills
cannon wads
barrel scrapers
box handles
breast plates
cannon drifts
copper pump
espontoons
frows
grenadier match pipes
hatchets
hinge for spears
hoe
horse chains
hand vise
hay rake
ivory mouth piece
wrought iron
desk furniture
black lead
cocks with pins
triggers
needles
nose caps
oil stone
pistol locks
stirrup
fire tongs
andirons
ox shoes
handcuffs
pincers
rivets
regulation books
rifle sights
star shot
sand blocks
smith's hammers
spindle for laithe
standard cases
shell hooks
silk division colours
scale dishes
stoves
horsemen's spears
watering pot
tinman shears
New French gun locks
new Dutch gun locks
tomahawks with handles
hogshead
back chains
chain links
iron pestle and mortar
pump iron
stove plates
fire buckets
horse shoes
pine table
iron weights
damaged stores
polishing wheels
anvils
polishing wheels
handbill hooks
shoemaker's hammers
shovels
brickmaker's flasks
shoemaker's lasts
lastmaker's tools
plaisterers tools
handsaws
shoemaker and saddler benches
branding irons
spatulas shod with copper
stone mason tools
garrison carriage
traveling carriage
cannonade
rockets
kitt brush
stove match
fuze engines
copper hoops
turner's tools
felling axe
twine
earthen jug
harnessmaker's bench
paint
writing desk
grooving plane
square
bevel
double irons
brand U.S.
center bits
bow saw
ordnance carriage
light infantry cartridge boxes
cooper's cross
nail tool
buttress
cold chisel
smith's tongs
smith's punch
caulking iron
bugle
rasp
drawing knife
scalping knives and scabbards
buck shot moulds
flannel
sweet oil
limbers six pounders
tarpaulins
garrison flag
blunderbusses
notable idea/issue
national arms industry
strategic locations of arsenals and magazines in United States
document number
1793121600055
page start
105
Item sets
Transcribe this document
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (41 pages) | NOP01 (506 pages) | Collection: Third Congress: Transcribed Confidential Reports and Other Communications Transmitted by the Secretary of War to the House of Representatives, 3d Congress, 1st Session, 1793, Vol. II [3C-B2] (RG 233) {M1268, roll 14} | M: 1268, R: 14, p. 105-145 |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Henry Knox | War Department | [n/a] |
| Recipient | George Washington | Philadelphia | [n/a] |