![GATES, Horatio, Brigadier General, Continental Army. Autograph letter signed ("Horatio Gates"), as Adjutant General to Washington, TO COLONEL HENRY KNOX, "Head Quarters," [Cambridge, Mass.], 30 November 1775. KNOX'S DESPERATE SEARCH FOR ARTILLERY](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/1999/NYR/1999_NYR_09178_0190_000(115056).jpg?w=1)
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GATES, Horatio, Brigadier General, Continental Army. Autograph letter signed ("Horatio Gates"), as Adjutant General to Washington, TO COLONEL HENRY KNOX, "Head Quarters," [Cambridge, Mass.], 30 November 1775. KNOX'S DESPERATE SEARCH FOR ARTILLERY
Adjutant General Gate passes on a report from Washington. Knox, a 25-year-old Colonel, had been assigned command of the Continental Army's virtually non-existent Regiment of Artillery. For the American seige of Boston, heavy artillery was desperately needed. "The General desires me to acquaint you that One of The Continental Arm'd Vessells, has taken a large Brigatine Loaded with Ordnance Stores, an Exact Inventory thereof goes by this Express inclosed to General Sc[h]uyler, upon your Application to Him on the Subject directed by Your Instructions, you will do well to have reference to the Inventory above mentiond. But let not that Lessen your Zeal to procure every thing else that you know to be Wanting, especially one more 13 Inch Mortar, with 2 Ten Inch, & Two Brass 8 Inch Howbitzers [sic], if to be convinently Spared."
Much artillery had been captured at Forts Ticonderoga and Crown Point in May. It was Knox who conceived and carried out the transportation of these precious cannon. In early December, having built 42 special sledges, he transported 50 or 60 cannon and mortars from Fort Ticonderoga, and dragged them in a matter of weeks overland to the southern end of Lake George. From there, with remarkable speed, the weapons were dragged south through Saratoga, Albany, Kinderhook, and Claverack, west over the snowy, steep Berkshires to Framingham, arriving in Cambridge on 24 January. This remarkable achievement led directly to the British evacuation of Boston.
Adjutant General Gate passes on a report from Washington. Knox, a 25-year-old Colonel, had been assigned command of the Continental Army's virtually non-existent Regiment of Artillery. For the American seige of Boston, heavy artillery was desperately needed. "The General desires me to acquaint you that One of The Continental Arm'd Vessells, has taken a large Brigatine Loaded with Ordnance Stores, an Exact Inventory thereof goes by this Express inclosed to General Sc[h]uyler, upon your Application to Him on the Subject directed by Your Instructions, you will do well to have reference to the Inventory above mentiond. But let not that Lessen your Zeal to procure every thing else that you know to be Wanting, especially one more 13 Inch Mortar, with 2 Ten Inch, & Two Brass 8 Inch Howbitzers [sic], if to be convinently Spared."
Much artillery had been captured at Forts Ticonderoga and Crown Point in May. It was Knox who conceived and carried out the transportation of these precious cannon. In early December, having built 42 special sledges, he transported 50 or 60 cannon and mortars from Fort Ticonderoga, and dragged them in a matter of weeks overland to the southern end of Lake George. From there, with remarkable speed, the weapons were dragged south through Saratoga, Albany, Kinderhook, and Claverack, west over the snowy, steep Berkshires to Framingham, arriving in Cambridge on 24 January. This remarkable achievement led directly to the British evacuation of Boston.