Henry Knox to Samuel Osgood Exchanging Pleasantries And, in Particular, Discussing Soldiers Pay, 30 December 1783

Download or read book Henry Knox to Samuel Osgood Exchanging Pleasantries And, in Particular, Discussing Soldiers Pay, 30 December 1783 written by Henry Knox and published by . This book was released on 1783 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Knox writes to Osgood, a Continental Congressman. Thanks him for the disinterested attention he has paid Knox in several instances. Assures Osgood he prizes their friendship highly. Reports that George Washington has instructed him to dissolve several corps and reorganize the soldiers whose terms have not expired into an infantry and artillery. Writes, This business has been painful on account of discharging the officers and soldiers at this [severe] season without pay, and in many instances the men are miserably clad. Refers to an instance in summer of 1783 when officers petitioned Continental Congress for land west of the Ohio River (the Newburgh Petition was presented by men who, in many cases, had not been paid for their service in the Continental Army, and they asked for land as payment). Asks if the petition has been considered. Discusses rumors that he may be appointed to take the place of Benjamin Lincoln (presumably as Secretary of War). In a post script, writes I think the pay & other emoluments of a major general, in a separate department, exclusive of any encumbrances... would not be an unreasonable expectation,- and that would satisfy me.