Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 1565-450, for Charles Mc Knight, [Blank]

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
General Hospital
McKnight, Charles
B. L. Wt. 1565-450-Phys. & Surg. Issued Sept. 25, 1790 No papers
CONTENTS

MISS ROSALIE FELLOWS BAILEY 1 EAST 93RD STREET NEW YORK
Aug. 1, 1935.
Veterans' Administration Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Dr. CHARLES McKNIGHT (M'Knight, MacKnight) served during the Revolutionary War, at various times as Surgeon, Senior Surgeon, Surgeon General, Chief Physician and Surgeon and Chief Hospital Physician. He was born in 1750 and died in New Jersey and died in 1791 in New York City.
According to Congress' reorganization of the Hospital Department of the Army on Sept. 30, 1780, the officers who held positions then established were entitled to provisions of land.
As Dr. McKnight was then appointed Chief Hospital Physician, he was entitled to provision of land.
I would appreciate your informing me whether he obtained any such land bounties? And if so, when? and where was the land situated? As he served continuously throughout the war, he might have received several land bounties? I would like as much information concerning them as you have.
In case these land bounties were not distributed until after his death, they might be recorded under the name of his widow, Mary Scott Litchfield McKnight (who died in 1796) or of his only son, John Morin Scott McKnight.
Sincerely yours,
Rosalie Fellows Bailey
ROSALIE FELLOWS BAILEY.

MISS ROSALIE FELLOWS BAILEY
1 EAST 22ND STREET NEW YORK
Sept. 5, 1935.
Veterans' Administration Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
I should like to obtain the complete Revolutionary War record of DR. CHARLES McKNIGHT (M'Knight, MacKnight), Jr.
see over To the best of my knowledge it is as follows: 2) April 1st, 1776 he wrote to Gen Washington, as a Surgeon of the Putnam Hospital near Boston. When and how did he obtain this appointment? Could it have been in connection with a Pa. or N.J. regiment stationed in New England? For he was born and brought up in New Jersey but at the commencement of the war was studying medicine under Dr. Wm. Shippen in Phila. 3) June 13 & July 4, 1776 he wrote to Gen. Washington, as a Surgeon stationed in New York (presumably this means New York City). Had he been transferred? and when? and to what division? 4) July ___, 1776 to December ___, 1776, he was surgeon of the Penn. Battalion of Flying Camp, according to Heitman's Hist. Register, p.373. The exact dates are not given. Was this a battalion in the Middle Army or an individual corps? I have found no official record of this appointment. Does it not conflict with: 5) his letter of Nov. 13, 1776 to Gen. Heath concerning the sick at the Kills (around Fishkill, N.Y.) under the General Hospital. Letter of Gen. Heath, Peekskill Dec. 3, 1776, in which he calls Dr. McKnight "my principal Surgeon". When was he transferred to Gen. Heath's command? 6) What did he do between Dec. 1776 and April 1777? 7) April 11, 1777 he was appointed Senior Surgeon of the Flying Hospital of the Middle Department. I have found no official record of this appointment. It is so stated in Toner's Medical Men of the Rev., (published 1876), p.89. It is his rank shown on the certificate of membership in the Society of the Cincinnati, signed by Gen. Washington, which we still have in our possession. Have you any record of how long he served in this capacity? 8) Feb. 21, 1778 he was appointed Surgeon General of the Hospital in the Middle Department, appointment recorded in

the Journal of the Continental Congress.
How long did he serve in this capacity? He was stationed at Fishkill on Dec. 6, 1779 but I do not know whether still in this position.
9) Aug. 14, 1780 is the last date on which he served as a surgeon in the Rev., according to the records in the adjutant general's office. I do not know in what capacity he served up to this date, which seems to conflict with: 10) Aug. 1, 1780 to Sept. 30, 1780 he acted as Surgeon General of the General Hospital, according to a letter of the Commissioner dated May 20, 1788, based on the Office of Accounts, Hospital Dept. I can find no record of his appointment as such in the Journal of Congress. Did the General Hospital cover the hospitals in all the armies, not just in the Middle Dept.?
On Aug. 12 & Oct. 16, 1780 he was stationed at West Point.
11) Oct. 1, 1780 to Dec. 31, 1781 he was Chief Physician and Surgeon, according to the same letter quoted above. I can find no appointment as such by the Continental Congress.
12) Oct. 6, 1780 to Jan. 3, 1782 he was Chief Hospital Physician, according to Heitman's Hist. Register, p. 373. The medical department of the army was reorganized by Continental Congress on Sept. 30, 1780 when three chief hospital physicians were created and also one chief phys. & surgeon for each army. On Oct. 6 Dr. McKnight was appointed by Congress as one of the three chief hospital physicians, but I do not find record of his appointment as Chief Physician and Surgeon and do not know in which army he held this position. He was entitled to a land bounty, and on Sept. 25, 1790 he received same, as a physician and surgeon in the Gen. Hospital.
13) Did Dr. McKnight serve during the balance of the war? A descendant is under the impression that he was quartered at Plum Point near New Windsor at the time of the encampment of the army there in the winter of 1782-83. If this is correct, what position did he have? and for how long?
1) (omitted above) Aug. 17, 1775 is the date on which he commenced serving as surgeon in the Rev., according to the records in the Adjutant Gen.'s office, but the date of commission is not shown in their records. Have you it?
Dr. Charles McKnight married Mary Morin Scott, widow of Lt. John Litchfield, and daughter of John Morin Scott, Brigadier General of N.Y. State Militia and Secretary of State of New York--on April 22, 1778 according

MISS ROSALIE FELLOWS BAILEY
1 EAST 93RD STREET NEW YORK
9/2/35.
to the family record, but we do not know where the ceremony was performed.
Have you any record of where Dr. McKnight was stationed at that time? Presumably he was still Surgeon General of the Hospital, Middle Dept.
Have you the records of the leaves of absence? Is should like to know if he obtained a leave of absence from the army at this time. Possibly the record would even be detailed enough to state that it was granted to him in order that he might marry, or words to that effect?
As I am publishing a memoir of Dr. McKnight and his descendants, I would appreciate having his record confirmed and complete. You will notice many gaps in the above list and also several inconsistencies. Any information you can give me, or suggestions as to the reasons for the inconsistencies, and places for further research, would be greatly appreciated by me.
Sincerely yours,
Rosalie F. Bailey
ROSALIE FELLOWS BAILEY.