The following is an installment of “On This Day,” a new series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary by following the actions of Gen. George Washington, the Continental Congress, and the men and women whose bravery and sacrifice led up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Jan. 5, 1776
Albany, New York
Gen. George Washington received a letter from Col. Henry Knox, whom he had ordered in November 1775 to inventory the Continental Army’s artillery and transport the cannons captured at Fort Ticonderoga from New York to Boston. In this second of two letters, Knox recounts the ordeal of the journey, describing how he hauled the massive guns across frozen lakes and snow-choked roads.
According to the presidential archives at Mount Vernon, few men enjoyed Washington’s trust more than Knox. The Virginian entrusted him with some of the war’s most critical responsibilities and later appointed him to his presidential Cabinet as war secretary.
Their friendship was lifelong, with Washington once writing, “With respect to General Knox there is no man in the United States with whom I have been in habits of greater intimacy; no one whom I have loved more sincerely, nor any for whom I have had a greater friendship.”
Despite his large frame — he was said to weigh well over 300 pounds — Knox possessed a formidable military intellect. Entirely self-taught, he owned a Boston bookstore and gravitated toward engineering and military treatises long before the war began.
Knox went on to play a central role in building an effective American militia and later in shaping the armed forces of the newly independent nation.
From Col. Henry Knox
Sir,
I did myself the honor to address your Excellncy from Fort George on the 17 Ult.—I then was in hopes that we should have been able to have had the Cannon at Cambridge by this time the want of Snow detain’d us some days & now a cruel thaw, hinders from Crossing Hudsons River which we are oblig’d to do four times from Lake George to this Town—the first severe night will make the Ice on the river sufficiently strong ’till that happens the Cannon & mortars must remain where they are most of them at the different crossing places & some few here—these inevitable delays pain Me exceedingly as my mind is fully sensible of the importance of the greatest expedition in this Case—In eight or nine days after the first severe frost they will be at Springfield from which place we can get them easily transported Altho there should be no snow—but to that the roads are So excessively bad Snow will be necessary1—We got over 4 more dble fortified 12 pounders after my last to your excellency—I send a duplicate of the List for fear of miscarriage of the other List,2 General Schuyler has been exceedingly assidious In this matter, as to myself my utmost endevers have been & still shall be use[d] to forward them with the utmost dispatch.
I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect Your Excellencys Most Obdt Hble Servt
H. Knox