Henry Knox Orders All Brass-Mounted Muskets Put into Serviceable Condition — 1793 War Department Letter Signed
Original War Department letter signed by Major General Henry Knox (1750–1806), George Washington’s chief of artillery during the American Revolution and the first United States Secretary of War.
Dated May 30, 1793, the letter is addressed to Samuel Hodgdon, Revolutionary War Commissary General of Military Stores and former Quartermaster General of the United States Army. Knox issues an urgent and direct order:
“You will immediately have all the brass mounted muskets put into order agreeably to your estimate and proposal.”
The letter concludes with Knox’s bold signature, “H Knox.” Its reverse retains Hodgdon’s contemporary filing docket identifying the subject as “brass mounted muskets” and recording its 1793 receipt.
This order was issued during a formative period in American military history. The young federal government was then organizing and arming the Legion of the United States for operations in the Northwest Territory. Under General Anthony Wayne, the Legion would defeat the Native confederacy at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in August 1794, establishing federal control over much of present-day Ohio.
As Secretary of War, Knox supervised the Army, frontier defense, federal arsenals, military contracts and the acquisition and repair of arms. His direction to place all available brass-mounted muskets in order provides an unusually tangible glimpse into the practical work of equipping America’s first permanent national military establishment.
Samuel Hodgdon was uniquely suited to carry out the order. During the Revolution he served as Commissary General of Military Stores, overseeing arms, ammunition and military equipment. President Washington appointed him Quartermaster General in 1791, and he remained closely involved with the management of federal military stores.
The document is written in a War Department clerical hand and personally signed by Knox. It should properly be classified as a letter signed rather than an autograph letter signed.
An exceptional association document connecting two architects of America’s early military-supply system, with unusually desirable firearms content.
Condition: Original folds, expected toning, minor spotting and water staining along the lower edge and lower-left area. Light edge wear. Text and docket remain legible, and Knox’s signature is strong and unaffected.
Original War Department letter signed by Major General Henry Knox (1750–1806), George Washington’s chief of artillery during the American Revolution and the first United States Secretary of War.
Dated May 30, 1793, the letter is addressed to Samuel Hodgdon, Revolutionary War Commissary General of Military Stores and former Quartermaster General of the United States Army. Knox issues an urgent and direct order:
“You will immediately have all the brass mounted muskets put into order agreeably to your estimate and proposal.”
The letter concludes with Knox’s bold signature, “H Knox.” Its reverse retains Hodgdon’s contemporary filing docket identifying the subject as “brass mounted muskets” and recording its 1793 receipt.
This order was issued during a formative period in American military history. The young federal government was then organizing and arming the Legion of the United States for operations in the Northwest Territory. Under General Anthony Wayne, the Legion would defeat the Native confederacy at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in August 1794, establishing federal control over much of present-day Ohio.
As Secretary of War, Knox supervised the Army, frontier defense, federal arsenals, military contracts and the acquisition and repair of arms. His direction to place all available brass-mounted muskets in order provides an unusually tangible glimpse into the practical work of equipping America’s first permanent national military establishment.
Samuel Hodgdon was uniquely suited to carry out the order. During the Revolution he served as Commissary General of Military Stores, overseeing arms, ammunition and military equipment. President Washington appointed him Quartermaster General in 1791, and he remained closely involved with the management of federal military stores.
The document is written in a War Department clerical hand and personally signed by Knox. It should properly be classified as a letter signed rather than an autograph letter signed.
An exceptional association document connecting two architects of America’s early military-supply system, with unusually desirable firearms content.
Condition: Original folds, expected toning, minor spotting and water staining along the lower edge and lower-left area. Light edge wear. Text and docket remain legible, and Knox’s signature is strong and unaffected.
