General Henry Knox Revolutionary War Hero

How is it possible that a single person's actions could change how the world is shaped today? General Henry Knox was one unknown hero of the Revolutionary War who came as an individual and influenced an entire group of people. Henry Knox was the first Secretary of War under the command of President George Washington, one of the few known American Revolutionary War heroes. According to Jack Kelly, author of “Band of Giants: The Amateur Soldiers Who Won America’s Independence,” “Knox was really responsible for the patriots’ first victory when they forced the British out of Boston.” He even served as the first trusted secretary of war and advisor to President Washington for the new United States.

In 1750, Henry Knox was born in Boston to Mary

and William Knox. Both his parents being pioneers from North Ireland, Henry grew up as the seventh of ten siblings. His father, William Knox, was a shipmaster who carried on trade with the West Indies. His father passed at the early age of fifty due to stress and difficulty of providing for his family. Henry had to drop out of school and become the sole provider/supporter of his mother. He took residence as a clerk in a Boston bookstore. In 1770, he opened his own bookstore, having been witness to the Boston Massacre. He specialized in military books so as to educate people on how to protect themselves.
As early as 1772, Knox became a member of the Boston Grenadier Corps.

He volunteered in 1776 at the Battle of Bunker Hill, under the command of General Ward. He was in charge of the colonials around Boston. Soon after, in 1775, George Washington arrived in Boston to take command of the army. There he met with Knox, developing a strong friendship, and soon after, promoting Knox to position of chief artillery officer of the Continental Army because of his knowledge on artillery. Knox gave Washington the idea to use the cannons that they had claimed from the recently capture Fort Ticonderoga. He was tasked by Washington to retrieve and transport the cannons to Boston. He moved the heavy artillery over 300 miles of winter terrain with the use of ox-drawn sleds. In 1776, the cannons were used to force the British out at Dorchester Heights, the key to Boston, which was successfully executed, winning victory for

Americans.
Soon after, Knox joined Washington to defend New York, but was soon forced to retreat due to their low amounts of troops, supplies, food, etc. On Christmas night, Washington, directed by Knox, made his famous trip across the Delaware River. His artillery cut down the Hessians, achieving yet another American victory at Trenton. By congresses order, he was promoted to brigadier general. Without his assistance with crossing the Delaware River, Washington could have possibly never won his armies much needed victory. As well, in August of 1776, Knox took part in the Battle of Long Island. He accompanied Washington in the retreat into New Jersey. In the next key encounter with British Forces, Knox’s part was equally important, helping America receive yet another victory in 1777, at Princeton, New Jersey.
Instead of retreating to the America’s quarters in Morristown, N.J., Knox was given a commission; he was sent to Massachusetts to raise a battalion for the artillery. He was tasked with creating artillery, which he completed in Springfield. This, in turn, became something very valuable to the Americas in the production and repair of the arms for the remaining years of the Revolutionary War. Without Knox, who knows if the America’s could have survived yet alone achieved victory without the assistance of General Henry Knox? Following the campaigns of 1777 and 1778, Knox stayed by Washington's side.
Furthermore, between the failures at Brandywine and Germantown, Pa., to the American’s victory at Monmouth, N.J., Knox came of a significant importance. He performed so well that all Washington could say was, "No artillery could have been better served than ours." To further his significance, in October of 1781 in Yorktown, Va., Knox was especially important. The British were forced in siege due to how well Knox's strategic placement of artillery devastated the British forces. 8 day after open-fire, the British general, Charles Cornwallis, was forced to surrender. Knox, at the age of 31, was rewarded the second star, making him the youngest major general in the army at that time.
With the war over, Knox was put in command of the military reservation at West Point, N.Y. Soon after, Washington retired in December of 1783, appointing Knox as the commander in chief until the army was disbanded 6 months later. In March of 1785, Knox was made secretary of war in the Confederation government, retaining that post even in Washington's first presidential cabinet. Eventually, he retired to a much needed life in 1794 to a beautiful estate that his wife had inherited in Maine. He lived out the rest of his days as a cattle-raiser, ship-builder, and brick-maker. He passed away on October 6th, 1806.

In conclusion, General Henry Knox was one of the few unknown heroes of the Revolutionary War.

Without his assistance, who knows how the world would have turned out today? He was a key component in winning victory for Americans against the British at Dorchester Heights, the key to Boston. He also successfully executed the trip across the famous Delaware River, winning another victory for the American’s at Trenton. He was even tasked with raising a battalion for the artillery for the Americas, which was used for the remaining years of the Revolutionary War. As well, Knox’s helped win against the British in Yorktown, Va., when his strategic placement of artillery devastated the British forces. General Henry Knox was an important part of the American Revolutionary War and deserves recognition for his great courage and

actions.