September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/6/2023
Datelined Valley Forge 23 May 1778, Knox writes Colonel Hooper, Asst. Q.M. General at Easton, in response to a letter and "four stallions," for which he sends a receipt and notifies Hooper that he has sent "a person" to Allentown with directions to bring on all the artillery at that place and asks Hooper to provide horses, guns, wagons "and anything in your way he may have occasion for..." Signed at bottom "H. Knox BG Artillery." An interesting letter written shortly after the treaty of alliance with France, the beginning of professional training at Valley Forge under Von Steuben, and just a month before the Battle of Monmouth. Best known as Washington's chief of artillery, Knox (1750-1806) later served as Washington's Secretary of War. Self-educated in military science, in good part due to his business in the book trade, he became competent in artillery, engineering, and fortification and was responsible for bringing captured British artillery from Ticonderoga to Boston, forcing the British evacuation of the city. His influence on the early American army would be hard to overstate. JSA letter of authenticity. CONDITION: Very good. Foxing on reverse to one panel. Partial separation on fold.