***Gen. Henry Jackson to Gen. Henry Knox, Jan. 21^st^, 1787***

[Boston January 21, 1787]{.underline}

[Copy of Letter from General Henry Jackson to Henry Knox]{.underline}

Jan'y 21, 1787

My dear Harry,

I \-\-\-- you to the News lately for the particular situation of the
Insurgents & their adherents, they are most cursedly frightened & wish
themselves to the devil.-

Mr. Singleton\[?\] & Mr. Fesanden\[?\] came here yesterday to request
that the Troops may be stopped from marching, & they would \-\-- his
Excellency that the Court, on Tuesday next would meet with no
interruption - and represented the consequences that would take place
provided the expedition went forward - but they were too late in their
application. - yesterday morning at dawn of day, the Troops from this
Town & its vicinity Massachusetts we had a very long storm of Snow,
other detachments were to join them on the road & this division had
order to\[o\] late last night at Sudbury, where quarters were provided
for fifteen hundred more - the whole command is 4,000 men making six
Companies of Artillery - Capt. Lothrup\[?\] is gone a Volunteer with the
Artillery Company from this Town - besides this Company, the Town's
proportion of men for this force was 90 - they were obtained in a few
hours, without the least difficulty.-

The whole Command are enlisted for one month from the day of marching,
and it is the determination of government if the Insurgents do not
appear in the field, to find detachments thro every part of the
Counties, attended with proper civil officers, & apprehend the principal
leaders in the late disorders, or send them out of the State - in this
Town, every class of people appear engaged in this business, & I believe
any Sum could be furnished to hurl forward this expedition if
necessary - I assure you it's more like the year 75 than anything I have
seen since - you remember how we used to enjoy ourselves in those happy
days-

Our friend Gen'l Lincoln went off in high spirits, he desired to be
remembered to you, his Command is very respectable & he stands high in
the estimation of his friends & the people everywhere - Some people talk
candidly that he will certainly be in the Chair next year - of this, I
will tell you more after Election-

In your letter which I rec'd last night you said,-"you are not to be
concerned in any internal commotion without orders from me or Congress,
nor are any of your Officers"- as to the Troops, I never had an idea of
it, unless by your orders, as I considered myself not in the least
degree under the direction of the government, & should never have
attempted to have moved them without proper authority for that purpose.

I am exceedingly embarrassed and disturbed in consequence of your saying
that none of my officers must be concerned in this situation - in the
early part of that business Gen'l Lincoln applied to me to attend him as
A.D.C. or Military friend and for Doctor Custis to go with him in the
Hospital line - which I consented to & they are all gone on with him.-
What to do, or how to act, I know not - to find in eagerness\[?\] on
after them, would cause an alarm, as everyone would be inquiring the
reason for their leaving the detachment & it would please them in every
\-\-- & complaining situation - there will be no fighting - no one will
appear to oppose Gen'l Lincoln - & I think it will be best to let them
continue. I dare say it will never be known - they are of no service to
one in the Country, as I attend to this business wholly myself - I wish
for a flourishing trumpet long and to reach you to know how to act
before I sleep -

I have recruited 130 men, and I have ordered 6 or 8 of my Recruiting
Officers to Camp on the flanks of Gen'l Lincoln's command, & enlist as
many of them as they can, the General has promised me every assistance
in his power, he will furnish me with drums & fifes to beat up in his
Camp - I am satisfied I will pick up a number of them -

my best respects to Mrs. S \-\--

my love to Lucy & your dear family

I am with service

your affectionate

H Jackson

Gen'l Knox

**Henry Knox papers \[Massachusetts Historical Society\]**