Life and Correspondence of Henry Knox; Major-General in the American Revolutionary Army (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 Excerpt: ...Point, 21 Feb. 1783. "I received the report signed by you and Colonel Ogden, copies of which have been distributed to the different parts of the army. The business, instead of being brought to a close, seems more remote from a decision than it was before the application to Congress. The complex system of government operates most powerfully in the present instance against the army, who certainly deserve every thing in the power of a grateful people to give. "We are in an unhappy predicament indeed, not to know who are responsible to us for a settlement of accounts. "Posterity will hardly believe that an army contended incessantly for eight years under a constant pressure of misery to establish the liberties of their country, without knowing who were to compensate them or whether they were ever to receive any reward for their services. It is high time that we should, now we have a prospect of peace, know whether the respective States or the whole, aggregately, are to recognize our dues and to place them upon such principles as to promise some future benefit. Much has been said about the influence of the army: ... it can only exist in one point, that to be sure is a sharp point, which I hope in God will never be directed but against the enemies of the liberties of America.... "It will take much time to change or amend the present form of government: must our accounts, therefore, remain unsettled until this shall have been considered and decided upon? I think not. "My sentiments are exactly these. I consider the reputation of the American army as one of the most immaculate things on earth, and that we should even suffer wrongs and injuries to the utmost verge of toleration rather than sully it in the least degree. But there is a point be...