CONGRESS PROMOTES HENRY KNOX TO MAJOR GENERAL FOR YORKTOWN.

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Henry Knox became the youngest Major General in the Continental Army by votes of Congress recorded in this document on March 22, 1782. This 6-page manuscript, signed by George Bond, Deputy Secretary of Congress, is an extract of the minutes and records the votes by individual members of Congress and their state delegations on 4 resolutions. Not all members were present. Numbers present range from 1 from New Hampshire to 4 from Pennsylvania, with no delegation at all from North Carolina. A committee reported favorably on Knox’s promotion, finding it "founded on just principles & report the same as their opinion, namely Brigadier General Knox Commanding Officer of the Artillery being recommended by the Commander in Chief by his letter of the 31 day of October last, to be appointed Major Genl. in the Army of the United States, on account of his special merit and particul[arly] for his good conduct at the siege of Yorktown in the state of Virginia. Resolved/ that Brig. Genl. Knox be & he is hereby promoted to the rank of Major Genl. in the line of the Army and that he take rank from the 15th day of Novr. last." This passed with only New York, Georgia, and South Carolina voting against it. Motions to promote also Generals Moultrie, Clinton, and McIntosh failed. (Moultrie made it later that year. The latter two made it only in 1783 by brevet, McIntosh perhaps not helped by having killed delegate Button Gwinnet in a 1777 duel. Knox (1750-1806), self-educated in artillery and military engineering, was one of Washington’s most trusted generals, gaining early notice for transporting artillery from Ticonderoga in the winter of 1775-76 to force the British out of Boston. He became senior officer in the army, Secretary of War, was a founder of the Society of the Cincinnati, and an active proponent of the Constitution. CONDITION: Very good. Slight losses to right margin, affecting the end of one word as noted above. With a James Spence James Spence Authentication Full Letter of Authenticity.

Item Dimensions: 15" x 10"