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Letter to Henry Knox, Secretary of War, 1792 In the letter to Henry Knox, dated 23 April 1792, legendary revolutionary soldier Daniel Morgan rejects the offer of… » view » |
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Last Letter, 24 June 1826 - pg. 1 2 pages. Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Respected Sir … » view » |
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Last Letter, 24 June 1826 - pg. 2 2 pages. Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC. I will ask permission here to express the… » view » |
[Major General Henry] Knox proudly stepped aside on Tuesday, October 9 [1781] to allow Washington the honor of igniting the bore hole of a heavy siege gun and ceremoniously discharging the first shot from the American battery at Yorktown. The shell was clearly visible as it streaked across the sky and land with precision within the British compound, setting off cheers throughout the American ranks. The Continental artillery corps then continued an uninterrupted stream of fire that produced a relentless, unnerving, and deafening roar. Cornwallis would later recall: The fire continued incessant from heavy cannon, and from mortars and howitzers throwing shells from 8 to 16 inches, until all our guns on the left were silenced, our work much damaged, and our loss of men considerable