Description:

Henry Knox
Department of War, November 10, 1794
Henry Knox LS Re: Cannons, Gunpowder & Iron Balls, Dating From Time of PA Whiskey Rebellion
LS

A 1p manuscript letter signed by former Revolutionary War commander Henry Knox (1750-1806), then in his role as U.S. Secretary of War, as "H Knox / Secy of War" at center right. November 10, 1794. Department of War, [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.] Secretarially inscribed on laid watermarked paper. Expected wear including toning and flattened transmittal folds. A few contemporaneous ink smears or small blots. Isolated chipped edges and scattered minor areas of loss have been professionally silked; areas of loss only affect a few words. Else very good. 8.125" x 12.5." Provenance: Ex-Paul Richards, 1971.

Secretary of War Henry Knox addressed this directive to Samuel Hodgdon (1745-1824), his former Revolutionary War subordinate and longtime friend, who had been presidentially appointed as superintendent of military stores five months earlier, in June 1794. Knox requested a formal inventory of military arms and supplies from Hodgdon, probably in light of current affairs. The Whiskey Rebellion - enflamed by farmers protesting the 1791 excise tax on whiskey - had flared up in western Pennsylvania over the summer of 1794, with violence suppressed by federally activated militia. Knox probably wanted an accounting of available supplies to dispatch to that region.

In full:

"Department of War
Nov.br 10 1794

Sir,

Please to transmit me immediately a list of the Cannon which have been mounted and arms repaired under your orders - and also of as-[--] the ammunition and Salt Petre comprehending Lead, Iron Balls & arms repaired &c. Accoutrements, Camp equipage of all sorts received by you -

I am Sir
With great Respect
Your obedient Servt.

[signed] H Knox
Secy. of War

Samuel Hodgdon Esq."

Hodgdon's reputation as an unreliable purveyor of military stores puts his ability to provide Knox with accurate information in question. Samuel Hodgdon had a long track record managing military stores, fulfilling numerous roles as principal field commissary, deputy commissary general, and commissary, between the Revolutionary War and the late 1780s. From March 1791 to April 1792, Hodgdon served as the first presidentially appointed Quartermaster General. Though he thus had significant experience, Hodgdon's performance as Quartermaster General was criticized by the military commanders whom he was duty-bound to supply. Hodgdon faced accusations that he was incompetent and unnecessarily abstemious.

Interestingly - just a month before Secretary Knox wrote this letter to Hodgdon, on October 8, 1794 - Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton wrote Secretary Knox complaining about Hodgdon's management of military stores being sent to western Pennsylvania. This followed an exasperated letter that Secretary Hamilton had sent Hodgdon directly, throwing up his hands at the utter lack of available supplies.

By mid-November 1794, 150 whiskey insurrectionists in western Pennsylvania had been apprehended by federal authorities. Knox had only six weeks left to his tenure as Secretary of War; he would be succeeded by Timothy Pickering in late December 1794.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.125" x 12.5"
  • Medium: LS

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