New Windsor 24 July 1782 I have been waiting my dear Hamilton, for [struck: favor] [inserted: a] Crisis in the case of [inserted: the intended] retaliation for the murder of Huddy before I answer'd your favor of the 7th of last month. But it [struck: appears not] [inserted: has] yet to have arrived - a Captain of Cornwallis' Army was brought up [inserted: to the Jersey line] by a [struck: mistake] [inserted: mistake] of General Hazens [inserted: in lieu of an unconditional prisoner] as a subject for execution. As this person [struck: was] [inserted: is] of considerable family it was thought proper to let his importance have all the influence possible, to obtain the [struck: gu] [inserted: delivery or] the execution of the guilty [inserted: person] in New York. Sir Guy Carleton in a late letter to the General says "the trial of Lippincot is finished and he shall [insert: soon] forward the proceedings [struck: attended] with some other documents" by which a conclusion may be fairly drawn that the Court martial have not found him guilty from some conversations which I have had with the General on the subject he appears to think that it is impossible for him to [struck: relax] [inserted: recede] from his first determinations, but that he shall not [2] [struck: be hasty in the execution, but exec] put into execution untill every other method has been tried in vain As soon as he [struck: will] receives the [struck: trial] [inserted: proceedings] from Genl Carlton he will probably repeat the demand he made to Genl Clinton that the [strikeout] the guilty [struck: may] be punished before the innocent. [struck: Upon receiving a demand] [inserted: After] [to] this possibly something may [struck: be suggested] [inserted: turn up] to procrastinate the matter still further. You cannot but know that this affair [struck: crea] has created much ill blood between the tories and regular troops in New York and this rancour seems to increase as the matter is protracted, and their fears alarmed. Therefore [struck: a litigation of it is on] [inserted: to agitate it with coming to the ultimate point is in [inserted: our] favor. My sentiments on [inserted: frequent] executions at this [struck: advanced] [inserted: or any other] period are very similar to yours - I am persuaded that after reflexions will convince [strikeout] dispasionate and enlightened minds that executions have been too frequent, under the color of the Laws of the different states [inserted in the right hand margin: and they will hereafter be recited, to sully the purity of our cause ]. In the present case, I am pretty well convinced that, the representations, and the [l]ight in which [3] which the murder of Huddy has been received on both sides the lines will prevent a repetition of the crime and so far render retalitation unnecessary. But yet it will be difficult for the General [struck: to find] circumstanced as he is [struck: with] [inserted: with his own declarations] the resolution of Congress [strikeout] [inserted: on the subject] [strikeout] and the expectations of the people, to find [struck: principles] [inserted: reasons] to [struck: supposing] [inserted: justify] him to the publick for a total suspension of the matter. If it can be done consistently he will be happy, not be obliged to have recourse to a measure, the execution of which must cost him [inserted: grate] pain We have no news. The General has not yet returned from Philadelphia here he has been [strikeout] to make some plans with Comte de Rochambeau - [inserted: however] The affair the West Indies is so important [struck: but far] to [strikeout] affect American operations. I am afraid we shall only be able this year [4] beginning to eat Beef and drink Whiskey. I am my dear [struck: Hamilton] [inserted: Sir] with [inserted and strikeout] compliments to [struck: Madame] [inserted: Mrs Hamilton]. Your affectionate Hble Servant HKnox Colonel Hamilton [docket] To Colonel Hamilton 24 July 1782 [inserted in the left margin of page one] Fortunately for this [sentence struck] [insert: him] [strikeout] [insert: a Captain of the 57 regiment] has since been taken without any terms who probably [struck: will take] be the unhappy sufferer.