Knox, Henry, as Secretary of War

11 letters signed ("HKnox"), 18 pages written (12 3/4 x 8 in.; 324 x 204 mm), War Department [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania], 1 April - 1 September 1791, eight of which addressed to Samuel Hodgdon, two to William Knox, and one to Captain Pratt; one letter with 3 areas of corrosion due to damp repaired affecting, but not obliterating, 5 words, the remainder quite clean, formerly folded with slight soiling at folds. Tan half-morocco clamshell box.

one letter with 3 areas of corrosion due to damp repaired affecting, but not obliterating, 5 words, the remainder quite clean, formerly folded with slight soiling at folds
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Provisioning for Saint Clair's Expedition, a fine cache of letters which could have provided key evidence in the Congressional inquiry into Saint Clair's Massacre, the birth of the concept of Executive Privilege.

Refusing to recognize American claims to the area northwest of the Ohio River, the Western Confederacy of the Miamis, the Shawnee, and the Delaware continued to harass settlers and travelers in the region, until President Washington and his Secretary of War Henry Knox, decided to use force to pacify the region. Though Washington wanted Saint Clair to move north in the summer of 1791, logistics and supply problems slowed his preparations and the expedition did not start until October. Samuel Hodgdon (1745-1824), the recently appointed Quartermaster General, was in charge of supplying the expedition. Hodgdon was an old friend of Knox who had chosen him for the position, but Hodgdon was a merchant and had no experience with supplying an army. He tried to save money by reusing materials left over from the Revolutionary War. He supplied pack saddles too large for the smaller horses used in the west, he failed to supply bells or hobbles for the horses, he procured fewer than 100 poor-quality axes and only one grindstone for 1000 troops. When the expedition finally met with the Western Confederacy, near Fort Recovery Ohio on 4 November, the army suffered, in proportional terms, the worst defeat that U.S. forces have ever suffered in battle, with only 48 soldiers (of 1000) escaping unharmed.

Saint Clair held Hodgdon responsible for the disaster, and asked to be court-martialled so that he could clear his name, but Washington denied him a court-martial and forced his resignation. The House of Representatives began its own investigation, the first ever undertaken of the Executive branch, and they sought certain documents from the War Department. The President, in meetings with his cabinet, refused to divulge any papers that the public good required them to keep secret, the first instance of the doctrine of Executive Privilege.

The present documents appear to be among those central to the case, as they are letters from Knox to Hodgdon on crucial issues of supply, showing that Knox was a micro-manager and Hodgdon was not entirely responsible: (1 April) "I request that you would immediately make the necessary enquiries for the purchase of the articles contained on the inclosed list. As the public will pay for the articles upon delivery it will be justly expected, that the price shall be at the lowest rate. Two tents to be made, one of each sort described in the list, and a saddle with holst[er] is for the cavalry to be lodged in this office — upon which decision will be made whether it would be best to advertise for a public contract for the said articles." (9 June) "If there should be any deficiencies inform me thereof and the articles wanting shall be forwarded. I shall order a sufficient number of Knapsacks for all the troops marched forward to be painted and striped ..." (23 June) "... Acquainted as you are with the objects of the campaign and furnished as you are with the means, I possess the highest confidence that no part of the necessary preparations will languish ..." (7 July) " ... I am decisively of the opinion that the purchase of the pack horse is greatly preferable to hiring of them ... The contractor is to deliver the provisions on the line in which the army shall operate, of course he must be at the expence and trouble of the transportation. I hope, for the public interest, as well as his own, that there will be no deficiencies of his agents from any cause whatever. But in case there should be, I rely upon it that you will administer the proper remedies — but there must not be any interposition on your part, unless in case of extremity, you will then interfere upon the orders of the Commander in Chief ... " (20 July to William Knox) "You will immediately ship 2000 thorough gun stocks to Mr. Hill of New York, in order to be sent from thence to Westpoint, each of these stocks must be packed so that none be transported but what are perfect. ..."

The final report of the Congressional committee sided largely with Saint Clair, but neither the committee nor the House took any further steps.