To George Washington from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 20 July 1780
From Brigadier General Henry Knox
Camp Precaness 20th July 1780.
Dear Sir
Mr Faesh is so deeply impres’d, with a beleif, that the disafected, will set fire to his furnace, if he shall cast shot, or shells, that he declines to cast those articles, unless the continent, will indemnity for any loss he may incur in consequence, or provide him with a guard. I have endevor’d to convince him to the contrary, but without effect. I humbly submit to Your Excellency, the propriety under the circumstances stated, of sending the guard for the time requested. I am with the highest respect and Attachments Your Excellencys Obedient Servant
H. Knox
ALS, DLC:GW. The docket in part reads: “from Genl Knox inclosing a letter from Mr Fash, requesting a guard of 24 men—16 ordered at the request of Major Shaw.” Samuel Shaw was Knox’s aide-de-camp.
John Jacob Faesh’s letter to Knox of this date, written at Preakness, N.J., reads: “I would imediately proceed to the Execution of Your Order for making the Shott & Shells contained in Your List, but the present State of the Country in the Vicinity of the Furnace is Such, that I have the highest Reason to believe, that I Shall not be able to proceed in it with Safety, a Number of the Emissaries of the Enemy are in that part of the Country, and already threaten Destruction, to any Works employed in Manufacturing Military Stores, I therefore cannot think of executing this Work without a Guard of at least an Officer and 24 Men, untill Such Time as that part of the Country is Cleared of the Villains that now infest it, without the Security of Such a Guard, the Works would be put to a Risque that I cannot hazard, and the Public would be made liable to a Disappointment, which I believe You’ll not think prudent, I must therefore begg the favour of You to represent this Matter to His Excellency General Washington in Such manner as You judge most proper” (DLC:GW).