Later copy. Knox gives advice to General Lincoln, Southern Department Commander: My ignorance of the Country makes me an inadequate judge of your situation, but the numbers you mention you have to oppose the Enemy is most certainly a very serious matter. This it is to hoped will ultimately be remedied but the mean time will probably be very disagreeable. Advises Lincoln to exercise patience. Relates that the right wing of the Continental Army is in New Jersey, while the left wing and part of the second line are east of the Hudson River. Remarks, The Enemy by shipping off so great a quantity of troops have not enough left to disturb our repose much this winter. We are enjoying ease at your expense. I feel a kind of shame in participating of any entertainment at a time when any part of my friends are in a disagreeable situation.

Signed, HK. Discusses his interest in training the militia and asks Lincoln for his opinion on the subject. Writes [t]ell me Sincerely your own opinion, my dear Friend, is the project of the Militia herewith enclosed an utopian plan? If I am not acting under a delusion, as sure as we exist as a republic we must have a strong institution of the sort, or we shall have a standing army which I should exceedingly dislike - For I am [sincerely] impressed with the opinion that under the influences of a standg army the Gloss of Our republic would pass away like snow before a summer Sun. Docketed in Knox's hand.

Later copy. Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. Arrived in Newburgh three days earlier. Was at West Point with the officers of the Army and find them generally much discontented. Says the problems revolve around the issuing of provisions. Says Tomorrow it is proposed to celebrate with a good deal of taste & some pomp, the birth of the dauphin. I am sorry we shall have such a bad sauce to the feast, as the late unfortunate event in the West Indies (the French fleet under de Grasse was defeated by British Admiral Rodney on 12 April off the coast of Dominica).

This document seems to be the last page of a few sentences of a longer letter that has been separated.

Discusses a dispute regarding two officers of the artillery, Majors Perkins and Bauman, concerning the differences in rank within the artillery as compared to that of the general army.