### *Gen. Henry Knox to the Continental Congress, Feb. 12^th^, 1787.*

His Excelly

The President of Congress.

\[Letter of Board of Treasury respecting troops\]

Board of Treasury

> February 6th 1736. \[1787\]

Sir: We request the favor of Your Excellency to lay before Congress, a
copy of Proposals which have been submitted to the consideration of this
Board by the Secretary at War, on the subject of Subsisting, Clothing
and Paying the Troops directed to be raised by the Resolves) of Congress
of the 20th of October last, together with the Correspondence of this
Board with the Secretary at War, and Messrs. Robert Morris and Jeremiah
Wadsworth on the above subject.

Previous to our receiving the enclosed Proposals we had advertised a
Public Contract for Subsisting the Troops on the present Establishment
for the Current Year; but being precluded by the present State, as well
as the future prospects of the Public Resources from fixing a precise
period for the payment of the Supplies to be furnished under this
Contract, we proposed in our Advertisement, that the persons offering
Proposals should fix not only the price of the Ration, but the term of
Credit to be given to the Public. In consequence of this Advertisement
we have received only one proposition for Subsisting the Troops, and
that confined to the five Northern States. Copy of this Proposal we do
ourselves the honor of enclosing.

Colonel Wadsworth, who has lately been in this City has had a personal
Conference with the Board, on the subject of the proposed Contract; but
did not chuse to engage in it without conferring in person with Mr.
Robert Morris on this subject.

As we are informed by the Secretary at War, that about Two hundred and
fifty Men are already Recruited under the present Establishment, in the
States of Massachusetts and Connecticut; and that there is every
prospect of their numbers encreasing daily, we esteem it our duty to
embrace the earliest opportunity of submitting to the consideration of
Congress, the principal outlines of the Contract, which has been in
contemplation and to request their sentiments on the same, that we may
know as soon as possible, whether we can with the sanction of Congress,
enter into the Contract in question on the principles we have the honor
to communicate.

We have the honor to be, etc.,

Samuel Osgood

Walter Livingston

Arthur Lee

> War Office, 12th. February 1787.

Sir: I have the honor and great satisfaction to inform your Excellency
and Congress that the rebellion in Massachusetts is in a fair train of
being speedily and effectually suppressed.

General Lincoln to whom was committed the force employed by the
government of Massachusetts on this occasion has been so obliging as to
inform me of his operations, the substance of which is contained in the
enclosed papers.

> I have the honor to be, etc.,\
> H Knox

His Excellency

The President of Congress.

\[Letter of Secretary at War on raising troops\]

> War Office, Feb. 12th. 1787

Sir: I have the honor to inform your Excellency, that the legislatures
of the States respectively, on which were apportioned the troops by the
requisition of Congress of the 20th of October 1786, have passed laws
complying therewith, and have appointed the commissioned officers
accordingly; excepting the State of Maryland, from which no information
has been received.

In Massachusetts, Connecticut and Virginia, the recruiting service has
commenced, on means furnished by those States, respectively: But, New
Hampshire and Rhode Island, have not been able to furnish any monies for
this purpose, therefore, in those States, the recruiting service has
been suspended, until the board of treasury could devise other means,
for carrying into execution the orders of Congress. No contracts have
yet been formed for either clothing, rations, or other objects of the
establishment.

The number of recruits in Massachusetts amount to about 180, and in
Connecticut to about one hundred. No advice has been received on this
head from Virginia.

Although these troops were designed for the frontiers of the United
States, I have conceived that the critical state of the public stores,
at Springfield, in Massachusetts, required every exertion to give them
protection. Accordingly I have directed Colo. Jackson, senior officer of
Massachusetts, and Colo. Humphreys of Connecticut, to march their
recruits to Springfield. A copy of their orders on this subject are
enclosed.

But the late success of General Lincoln, in dispersing the insurgents,
may render it unnecessary to march the recruits, from Boston, to
Springfield, especially as it will retard the recruiting service, and be
attended with expence. I shall therefore countermand the orders given to
Colo. Jackson on this point; but, as Colo. Humphrey\'s recruiting
service cannot be injured materially, by changing his rendezvous to
Springfield, and as there axe no continental guards there, I shall
continue his orders of the 9th instant, in their full force, unless
Congress should please to direct otherwise. I conceive that there will
be the highest propriety in protecting the Stores of the United States,
with their own troops, particularly in a country where such deep
commotions have lately existed.

I have the honor to be, etc.,

H Knox

### Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1787.