Henry Knox’s Contributions, Research Paper Example

What was the significance of Henry Knox’s contributions in the siege at Boston?

Abstract

This paper examines the significant contribution made by Henry Knox, during the revolutionary war siege at Boston.  This was a decisive moment in the history of the Continental army the army was in a state of disarray with General Washington being the newly assigned officer in command.  Henry Knox was a trusted friend and advisor to Washington. Knox was an inspired leader of men, proven in battle and respected by the troops.

Introduction and background

Henry Knox was born in Boston and descended from Scottish-Irish immigrant background. His father was a ship’s Captain. He married Lucy Flader and they remained devoted to one another for life. Lucy being the daughter of a Boston loyalist. Knox established a substantial military career at the time of the revolutionary wars. He achieved particular notoriety at the Battle of Bunker hill where he was observed by General George Washington. The two became trusted friends and allies and Washington later promoted him to the rank of Colonel. He placed Knox in command of the siege at Boston in order to retrieve the captured canons of Fort Ticonderoga.

The siege at Boston

It was Knox who suggested to Washington the important significance of moving the canons from the recently captured Fort Ticonderoga. “During the siege of Boston, Henry Knox suggested to his good friend, George Washington, that the Americans could put the captured cannon of Ticonderoga to good use against the British.” (Awseome Stories, 2010)Washington commissioned Knox to retrieve them and he led an expedition bringing the canons on ox drawn gun carriages to Albany, by way of the west bank of the Hudson River. From there he travelled east through the Berkshires and ultimately to Boston. They managed to move 59 canons and mortars weighing over 60 tons. On arrival at Boston Washington’s army had captured the Heights of Dorchester. Here they placed the canons in a heavily fortified position where they were in range of the British Fleet. This resulted in the British Army withdrawing to nearby Halifax on March 17^th, 1776. “Following the victory at Boston, Knox was sent to Rhode Island and Connecticut to oversee the construction of fortifications” (Hickman, 2010).  Knox continued to have additional military successes and soon became Washington’s chief of artillery. After overseeing the campaign that resulted in moving artillery over the Delaware River Washington promoted Knox to the rank of Brigadier General.

The significance of the siege at Boston

Getting the mortars and canons to the top of Dorchester Heights was nothing short of a miracle and inspirational leadership.  Without getting this fortification and emplacement it is highly unlikely that they would have forced the British out of Boston. This would have resulted in further decline of the continental troop’s morale and increased levels of desertion. The standoff would have continued and ultimately the siege ending in failure. It also strengthened General Washington’s position to make further advances and he now had a senior officer that understood the importance and placement of artillery.  “When the sun rose on the morning of March 17^th, 1776 the British troops were greeted with the sun reflecting off the canons. That afternoon the British agreed to withdraw having gained Washington’s word that they would not be fired upon” (Ohlhous, 2010)

Knox later became the inspiration behind the Springfield Rifle Company “Knox returned to Massachusetts with the goal of improving weapons production. Traveling to Springfield, he established the Springfield Armoury which operated for the rest of the war and became a key producer of American weapons for almost two centuries.” (Hickman, 2010).  When Washington resigned in 1783 Knox became the most senior officer of the continental army.  Congress appointed him Secretary of War in 1785 and he later returned in Washington’s Presidential cabinet “A staunch supporter of the new Constitution, he remained in his post until becoming Secretary of War in George Washington’s first cabinet in 1789. As secretary, he oversaw the creation a permanent navy, a national militia, and the construction of coastal fortifications.” (Hickman, 2010).

On the way to collection of the guns at Fort Ticonderoga the patriots had another coup by capturing the British Brigantine Nancy enroute to London. To their amazement the ship had the following inventory:

• 2,000 muskets
• 105,000 Flints
• 31 tons of Musket shot
• 3000 rounds for 12 lb. canon
• 4000 rounds for 6lb canon

Knox “added this to the inventory with the canons to be transported to Boston” (Brooks, 2007). This was of significant consequence because the army at Boston was running short of ammunition and supplies.  So in addition to the canon this had a big impact in terms of lifting the morale of the men.  “The addition of 55 cannon was a great re-enforcement in those times, and Washington at once began preparations for a bombardment of the city, but circumstances caused him to change his plans, and the guns served a better purpose not long afterward on Dorchester heights. From this time Knox was the constant companion of Washington throughout the war and his warm personal friend and counsellor.” (American Silversmiths, 2010).

Knox was later responsible for the founding of the US Navy and establishing the Military Academy at West Point.  “Knox later sanctioned the American navy and promoted the creation of a military academy at West Point.” (Puls, 2010).

Conclusions

Henry Knox was an outstanding military leader with a strong relationship with General George Washington.  Some have made comparisons with the relationship that General Lee had with Stonewall Jackson in the later Army of North Virginia (American Civil War).  Knox was a great military campaigner and understood the importance of logistics and use of artillery in support of armed incursions.  Knox was a very honourable man and there are many examples that demonstrate his high degree of ethical and moral behaviour. “When he and Lucy were forced to leave Boston in 1775, his home was used to house British officers who looted his bookstore. In spite of personal financial hardships, he managed to make the last payment of 1,000 pounds to Longman Printers in London to cover the price of a shipment of books that he never received.” (Fact Index, 2010).

The amazing thing about Knox is that he received no formal military training but had an acute eye for strategic manoeuvres within military campaigns. This particularly with the logistics and use of artillery pieces.  “Knox taught himself military science so skilfully that, despite his lack of battlefield experience, Congress appointed him a colonel in charge of the Continental Artillery in 1775.” (History Central, 2010). Knox gained most of his military training from reading books, earlier having owned a bookstore in Boston, he would have been well aware of the value of conducting research from other military campaigners.

What is equally astounding is the depth of coverage of Knox. He fought in nearly all of the major campaigns throughout the period of the American revolution. He became Washington’s most trusted advisor throughout the military campaign “Knox became Washington’s trusted adviser and friend. He organized the American artillery and fought in the battles in and around New York in 1776. It was under his supervision that Washington’s troops crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776, to attack the Hessian soldiers in Trenton. For this he was rewarded with a commission as Brigadier General.” (Callahan, 2010). When Knox later became the Secretary of War he sought to put the relationships of Native Indians on an improved footing by the establishment of treaties. “he negotiated treaties based on the premise that Native American tribes, as the prior occupants of certain territories, possessed rights of the soil and that their lands could only be acquired legally through treaty or purchase. His implementation of these treaties, however, proved inconsistent. Knox authorized use of military force in the Northwest Territory to coerce land cessions from the Ohio Valley Indians.” (Shmoop University, 2010).It was ironic that after such victorious campaigns Knox later died from choking with a chicken bone that pierced his intestine “In 1793 he had begun to build his house, Montpelier, at Thomaston, Maine, where he speculated unsuccessfully in the holdings of the Eastern Land Association; and he lived there until his death on the 25th of October 1806” (NNDB, 2010).

Works Cited

American Silversmiths. (2010). Henry Knox. Retrieved 10 8, 2010, from American Silversmiths: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~silversmiths/makers/silversmiths/121084.htm

Awseome Stories. (2010). Artillery Transport from Ticonderoga. Retrieved 10 8, 2010, from Awseome Stories: http://www.awesomestories.com/assets/Artillery-Transport-from-Ticonderoga

Brooks, N. (2007). Henry Knox: A Soldier of the Revolution, Major-General in the Continental . New York: Cosimo Inc.

Callahan, N. (2010). Major General Henry Knox . Retrieved 10 8, 2010, from American Revolution: http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/KNOX.HTM

Fact Index. (2010). Henry Knox. Retrieved 10 8, 2010, from Fact Index: http://www.fact-index.com/h/he/henry_knox.html

Hickman, K. (2010). American Revolution: General Henry Knox. Retrieved 10 8, 2010, from About.com: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/army/p/knox.htm

History Central. (2010). Henry Knox. Retrieved 10 8, 2010, from History Central: http://www.historycentral.com/bio/nn/Knox.html

NNDB. (2010). Henry Knox. Retrieved 10 8, 2010, from NNDB: http://www.nndb.com/people/103/000163611/

Ohlhous, H. C. (2010, 1 27). Gen. Henry Knox Trail. Retrieved 10 8, 2010, from Hmdb.org: http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=26921

Puls, M. (2010). Henry Knox: Visionary General of the American Revolution . New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Shmoop University. (2010). Native American History. Retrieved 10 8, 2010, from Shmoop University: http://www.shmoop.com/native-american-history/henry-knox.html