Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/308

 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