Appealing on behalf of a Continental Army officer for reimbursement

Лот 180
28.01.2025 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Место проведенияВеликобритания, London
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ID 1360896
Лот 180 | Appealing on behalf of a Continental Army officer for reimbursement
Оценочная стоимость
$ 2 000 – 3 000
KNOX, Henry (1750-1806). Manuscript document signed ("H Knox") as Secretary of War, "War Office} [Philadelphia,] 14 February 1791.

Six pages, 321 x 196mm, (partial fold separations along left margin, mild chipping to right margin of third leaf). Loosely bound at left margin with period ribbon (lower ribbon detached). Encapsulated.

Henry Knox pleads the case of a veteran officer of the Revolutionary War seeking reimbursement after using his own funds to support and supply his regiment. Knox's details a claim for reimbursement from Anthony Walton White, who after serving very briefly on Washington's personal staff early in the war, served as a dragoon commander for much of the war. Part of his service attached him to the "southern army," in 1780 where "he found the Quartermasters, Forage masters and commissaries either captured by the English troops or destitute of resources to supply the men and horses under his command … That to prevent adding to the calamities of War by obtaining by plunder or sword from the inhabitants, the articles essential to … the troops, he raised on private loan, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for support and comfort of his troops." Unfortunately for White, the vouchers that were supplied by the paymaster were 'mislaid,' which leaves the Memorialist without relief unless he obtains it from the justice of his country." That said, White offered transcriptions of two receipts for the aforementioned $150,000, declaring further that none of the funds were used for his own "private purposes whatever…" In his report, Knox agreed that "it would be proper if Congress should grant the prayer of the memorialist, that the said sum should be passed to the credit of the memorialist at its specie value, on the final settlement of his public accounts either with the state of Virginia or the United States."

[With:] WOLCOTT, Oliver Jr. (1760-1833). Autograph letter signed ("Oliv: Wolcott") to Egbert Benson, "Treasury Department, Comptroller's Office" [Philadelphia], 30 January 1792. One page, bifolium, 247 x 202mm. Docketed on verso. Wolcott comments on White's case, observing "If I rightly understand the nature of Mr White's claims, they can only be adjusted in consequence of explanations to be received from himself. I shall therefore preserve the papers on file in this office, until Mr. White shall call for a settlement."

By the early 1790s his creditors were pressing White for repayment forcing him to sell much of his property "He scrambled to find a way to remain solvent, petitioning Congress to repay him for his financial contributions to the army during the revolution and seeking a salaried position in government. He estimated his personal contribution to the war effort at $150,000 and petitioned Congress for repayment, but was denied in 1790, 1792, and 1793. In the fall of 1793, he complained to John Marshall that his service to the nation had seemingly earned him only 'a denial of justice from the legislature & base ingratitude from those individuals who experienced my friendship when they were in the greatest distress.'"1

Provenance: Anthony Walton White — by descent to the consignor.

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1Chris Rasmussen, "Creating a Local Notable: Brigadier General Anthony Walton White of New Brunswick. New Jersey Studies: an Interdisciplinary Journal 10:1 (Winter 2024), 14-15.
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