James Madison Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-02-02-0009

To James Madison from James Riddle and Others, [ca. 8 October] 1809

From James Riddle and Others

[ca. 8 October 1809]

Sir

A representation has been forwarded to the Sec’y at war, praying that Lieutenant Small1 who Commands the Garrison in this Place may be bro’t to a court martial for his barbarous and inhuman Conduct towards his Soldiers and his abuse of the Inhabitants of the town.2 Reposing Unlimeted Confidence in you, Sir, as the Supreme Executive of the Nation and as Commander in Chief, of the Military We in behalf of the Citizens, pray your Attention to the Memorial to the Sec’y of war And hope immediate Steps will be taken to bring Mr. Small to the Punishment his Villianous Conduct Merits. We are Sir, with the most cordial approbation of your Conduct as P. U. S. Your obt. fellow citizens

Sign’d &ca.   James Riddle
[and seven others]

RC (DNA: RG 107, LRRS, R-256:4). Undated. Postmarked Pittsburgh, 8 Oct.

1. Francis Walsh Small of Louisiana was commissioned an ensign in 1806, was promoted to second lieutenant in 1807, and resigned from the army in 1810 (Heitman, Historical Register description begins Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, from Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903 (2 vols.; Washington, 1903). description ends , 1:892).

2. A memorial from the inhabitants of Pittsburgh to Eustis, dated 4 Oct. 1809, complained of Small’s mistreatment of his men and was accompanied by eighty-seven signatures (DNA: RG 107, LRRS, C-633:4).

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    Madison Papers
    Title
    To James Madison from James Riddle and Others, [ca. 8 October] 1809
    Author
    Riddle, James
    Recipient
    Madison, James
    Date
    8 October 1809

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To James Madison from James Riddle and Others, [ca. 8 October] 1809,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-02-02-0009. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Presidential Series, vol. 2, 1 October 1809–2 November 1810, ed. J. C. A. Stagg, Jeanne Kerr Cross, and Susan Holbrook Perdue. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1992, p. 6.]