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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02437.03980 |
| From Archive Folder | The Henry Knox Papers [0085] July-September 1788 |
| Title | William Knox to Henry Knox about the location of Congress and military matters |
| Date | 2 September 1788 |
| Author | Knox, William (1756-1795) |
| Recipient | Knox, Henry |
| Document Type | Correspondence; Government document; Military document |
| Content Description | William, attending business in Henry's absence, transmits two letters from Lucy Knox (possibly GLC02437.03976 and GLC02437.03979). Notes that Congress recently addressed the question of its permanent location. Six states were in favor of New York, while four were in favor of Philadelphia, "so the question was lost as seven states are necessary for the decision." Discusses military matters: Royal Flint's clothing contract with [the War Department?]; Joseph Howell's appointment as Commissioner of Army Accounts; correspondence with Arthur St. Clair and Josiah Harmar; business with William Duer; Jeremiah Wadsworth's departure for Hartford, etc. Discusses news from Europe. Mentions "...the [British] prohibition of the wheat from this Country on account of the Hessian Fly." Notes that one of Henry's cows is missing and Caesar, possibly a slave or servant, has been searching for her. |
| Subjects | African American History Revolutionary War General Continental Congress Congress Government and Civics Washington, D.C. Politics Military History Military Supplies Military Uniforms Clothing and Accessories Finance Merchants and Trade Commerce Contract Frontiers and Exploration Global History and Civics Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Indentured Servant |
| People | Knox, William (1756-1795) Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Harmar, Josiah (1753-1813) St. Clair, Arthur (1737-1818) Wadsworth, Jeremiah (1743-1804) Duer, William (1747-1799) Flint, Royal (1754-1797) Howell, Joseph (1750-1798) |
| Place written | New York, New York |
| Theme | Government & Politics; Creating a New Government; Government & Politics; Merchants & Commerce; Agriculture; Foreign Affairs; African Americans |
| Sub-collection | The Henry Knox Papers |
| Additional Information | The "Caesar" Knox mentions may be Caesar Lloyd Cummings. Caesar Lloyd Cummings (d. 1792), one of six civilian employees in the War Department, was a free black man. He worked as the department messenger. (At least one source indicates that Cummings had served there since the Board of War's creation in 1777.) However, as he was employed by the War Department and not the Knox household, it is uncertain whether this Caesar is, indeed, Caesar Cummings. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |