2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
KNOX, Henry(1750-1806) was a trusted friend and advisor of General George Washington, and was appointed to command the Continental army's artillery in November 1775; it was Knox who overcame incredible difficulties in getting the pieces of artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to force the British to evacuate Boston (March 1776). From then on he was with Washington nearly every major engagement of the war, including the crossing of the Delaware to take Trenton, the winter of 1778-79 at Valley Forge, and the final victory at Yorktown. His suggestions led to the establishment of a military academy at West Point and he was a founder of the Society of Cincinnati (1783). He served as secretary of war from 1785-94, afterward retiring to an estate in Maine, where he lived in great style. He died of complications after swallowing a chicken bone. Manuscript Letter Signed “H. Knox” as Secretary of War, 1p. folio, October 6, 1792, addressed to Captain James Stephenson, pertaining to military movement, and reads in part: “...You will, with all the recruits of your company, march...to Hagerstown...Maryland, leaving your Ensign to recruit in case you have not your complete men which is to be ninety five noncommissioned and privates. On your arrival...take in charge the recruits of Captains Carberry and William Lewis...annex them to your command and march to Pittsburg [Pa.]...” Good. This movement was most assuredly in response to the civil unrest casued by the Government establishing an execise tax on whiskey in 1791. This problem eventually led to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794.
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