Henry Knox to Benjamin Lincoln about changing redoubt structure at West Point - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC02437.01760
From Archive Folder	The Henry Knox Papers [0049] December 1782
Title	Henry Knox to Benjamin Lincoln about changing redoubt structure at West Point
Date	23 December 1782
Author	Knox, Henry (1750-1806)
Recipient	Lincoln, Benjamin
Document Type	Correspondence; Military document; Government document
Content Description	Writes that as he has been charged with being the commander of West Point, he must, with General George Washington, determine any changes or additions to West Point "as may tend to give it that solid strength which the nature of the service may require." Discusses some changes he would like made to the structure of the redoubts, which would require timber. To obtain the timber, he needs teams of oxen to pull it, and he is having trouble acquiring the timber and oxen. Asks Lincoln to empower the Quarter Master General to help him in his endeavor.
Subjects	Revolutionary War Revolutionary War General Military History Continental Army West Point (US Military Academy) President Fortification Military Supplies Transportation
People	Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810) Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Washington, George (1732-1799)
Place written	West Point, New York
Theme	The American Revolution
Sub-collection	The Henry Knox Papers
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide Download PDF [draft] West Point 23 Dec 1782 Sir His Excellency the commander in chief having honored me with the command of this important post, it becomes my duty to point out such [struck: defects and remedies] repairs and additions, as may tend to give it that solid strength which the nature of the service may require I have mentioned to his Excellency the General, that it is essential to the existence of the post, that the four redoubts in the superior height should have [strikeout] some proofs, the timber for which can be obtained only by means of the [snow]. Upon an application to the quarter Master for having the effect [they matter] I am informed that he is in his present situation unable to render the [assistance] required. I am therefore with the approbation of [struck: his Excellency] the Commander in chief [under] the necessity of requesting of you that the Quarter Master General be empowered to perform the service above specified, which will take [struck: twenty four] [inserted: forty eight] yokes of oxen forty five or fifty days. I am sir with the highest Respect The honorable your most Obedient General lincoln secetary [sic] War Sevt HKnox

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