tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post7976861050004893617..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: “Large promises had been held out to Knox…”Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-51530957497681658592012-04-04T16:04:04.979-05:002012-04-04T16:04:04.979-05:00We think of Knox as an artillery officer now, but ...We think of Knox as an artillery officer now, but in the early 1770s he was in a grenadier company, so the undocumented appointment might have been for an ordinary infantry position with the possibility of rising. That would have shortened the training period, at least. But still, no paper trail.<br /><br />Of course, this story might have been based on nothing more than, "Well, young man, if we could be <i>sure</i> you'd support the royal government, I could speak to Gov. Gage and see whether there were any openings—"<br /><br />"Please don't trouble yourself, sir." <br /><br />In that case there would be no paper trail, but also no concrete opportunity for Knox to turn down.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-2169821397030317162012-04-04T15:39:13.097-05:002012-04-04T15:39:13.097-05:00In every fanciful story, there's a grain of tr...In every fanciful story, there's a grain of truth.<br />It is possible that the Fluckers could have got him an appointment as a Royal Artillery officer, but it would have cost them a lot politically either here or in England. <br />Artillery officers were appointed to the Royal Artillery by sponsorship of the politically influential, which I don't think the Fluckers on their own could have managed. They just didn't have enough "juice". <br />If the story were true, that they really intended to send him to England for this purpose, Knox would have had to enter as a sponsored cadet at Woolwich Arsenal in England, and, once he had completed his studies and passed his exams, he would have been promoted by seniority only.<br /> As far as I am aware, the purchase system did not generally apply to the artillery or engineers, but, I have been wrong before. There were always exceptions in Georgian armies. <br />But I rather doubt the Fluckers would have seen Henry Knox as a good catch for their daughter, since he would spend the next several years in a military academy, graduating with a low rank, waiting for promotion.<br /> He then would be sent to any number of postings in the Empire, emphasing the motto of the Royal Artillery , "Ubique" (everywhere).<br />Nice idea, but I doubt it happened.rfullernoreply@blogger.com