KNOX
KNOX
opened a bookstore in Boston and during the
occupancy of the town by the Britisli his store
was pillaged. He was married, June 16, 1774, to
Lucy, daughter of Thomas Flucker, of Boston,
secretary of the province. On April 19, 1775, he
left Boston in dis-
guise accompanied by
his wife and repair-
ed to General Ward's
headquarters at Cam-
bridge, Mass. He
was engaged in re-
connoitring before
the battle of Bunker
Hill and upon his re-
ports the orders of
Colonel Pi'escott were
Issued. After the
battle he assisted in
planning the defences
around Boston, in-
cluding the redoubt
at Roxbury. The need of heavy ordnance became
of serious concern and Knox proposed to procure
cannon and stores from Fort Ticonderoga and to
transport them to Cambridge on sleds drawn by
oxen. Tliis plan was approved by Washington,
and accompanied by his brother William Knox
he left Cambridge, November 15, arrived at
Ticonderoga after twenty days' journey, and as-
sisted by General Schuyler loaded his sleds with
55 pieces of ordnance, 3300 pounds of lead and
a barrel of flints, and after much hardship and
suffering, reached Cambridge, Jan. 24, 1776, where
he was warmly congratulated by General Wash-
ington. He was commissioned colonel of artil-
lery, Nov. 17, 1775, but his commission did not
reach him until his return from Ticonderoga. On
the night of March 1, 1776, under cover of a
furious cannonade from Knox's batteries on
Cobble Hill, Lechmere's Point and Roxbury,
General Thomas took possession of Dorchester
Heights and compelled General Howe to evacuate
Boston, March 17, 1776. Colonel Knox accom-
panied Washington to New York city and en-
gaged in removing stores and ordnance previous
to the evacuation by the troops. He was among
the last to leave the city and escaped by boat.
During the crossing of the Delaware by Washing-
ton, Colonel Knox superintended the passage of
the army. He was commissioned brigadier-
general with entire charge of the artillery, Dec.
27, 1776, and participated in the battles of Prince-
ton, Brandywine and Germantown. On Nov. 15,
1777, he was sent in company with DeKalb and
St. Clair, to provide for the security of Fort Mer-
cer, which fell after a gallant defence, Nov. 18,
1777. During the encampment of the American
army at Valley Forge he brought his young wife
into camp, May 20, 1778, and she remained with
the army until itsdisbandment. He participated
in the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, behav-
ing with conspicuous gallantry and receiving the
congratulations of Washington. In January,
1781, he was sent by Washington to the eastern
states to represent the suffering condition of the
troops, and on Jan. 14, 1781, he arrived at Boston,
bearing the news of the mutiny of the Pennsyl-
vania line. He was instructed to procure the
necessary ai*ms and ammunition for an operation
against New York, but on account of the neglect
of the board of war, the work progressed very
slowly, and upon learning of the arrival of the
French fleet, Washington marched his army to
the southward and abandoned the attempt upon
New York. General Knox participated in the
siege of Yorktown and was present at the sur-
render of Cornwallis, Oct. 19, 1781. He was com-
missioned major-general, March 22, 1782, and
subsequently with Governor Morris, was ap-
pointed a commissioner to arrange for an ex-
change of prisoners. He was appointed to the
command at West Point, Aug. 29, 1782, and im-
mediately set at work strengthening and com-
pleting the fortifications. As chairman of a
committee of officers, he drew up an address and
petition to congress, giving a statement of the
amounts due the officers and proposing tliat a
commutation of half-pay for life should be made.
In March, 1783, he founded the Society of the
Cincinnati, was its secretary , 1783-1800, and vice-
president, 1805-06. Having been left in command
of the army, in November, 1783, he began the
delicate task of disbanding, and oh Nov. 25, 1783,
upon the evacuation of New York by the British,
Knox, at the head of the American troops, took
possession of the city. On Dec. 4, 1783, Wash-
ington took leave of his officers, and on Dec. 18,
1783, Knox returned to West Point, where he re-
mained in command until January, 1784, when he
returned to Boston and resided in Dorchester. He
was one of the commissioners appointed to treat
with the Penobscot Indians, and to settle the
eastern boundary line of Massachusetts. He was
appointed by congress secretary of war, March 8,
1785, and on the inaugui'ation of Washington as
President, April 30, 1789, he retained him as secre-
tary of war in his cabinet, commissioning him,
Sept. 12, 1789. General Knox retired from the
cabinet, Jan. 2, 1795, the limited compensation of
his office not being sufficient for the support of
his family. He removed to a large tract of land
in Maine, and applied himself to its cultivation.
He died at Thomaston, Maine, Oct. 25, 1802.
KNOX, James, representative, was born in Canajoharie, N.Y., July 4, 1807 ; son of Gen. John Jay and Sarah (Curtiss) Knox. He was graduated at Yale in 1830, and was admitted to the bar in
