1From Alexander Hamilton to Jonathan Dayton, [after 21 December 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
An Accurate view of the internal situation of the UStates presents many discouraging reflections to the enlightened friends of our Government and country. Notwithstanding the unexampled success of our public measures at home and abroad—notwithstanding the instructive comments afforded by the disastrous & disgusting scenes of the french Revolution, public opinion has not been...
2From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 31 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to send you the arrangement which has been proposed by General Wilkinson and approved by me; subject to a negative from your Department, previous to his Departure. This mode has been adopted to accelerate his return. In a few instances, transfers of Officers from one Regiment to another are made in order to avoid as much as possible the separation of Officers from men. But...
3Enclosure: General Wilkinson’s Proposed Arrangement of Officers, [31 October 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
First Regiment Field & Staff John F. Hamtramck Lieut. Col. Commandant Thomas Hunt 1st Major – – – – – – 2d. Major Lieut. Robert Semple Adjutant Lieut. Yelverton Peyton Paymaster Lieut. Joshua S. Rogers Quarter Master John Elliott Surgeon – – – – – –
4From Alexander Hamilton to Nathan Rice, 31 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your several letters of the twenty third of September and of the fourth and eighth of October. No particular rules were laid down for the government of the Colonels and Majors in the arrangement of relative rank as it was supposed that they wod. naturally take into consideration all circumstances which, in a military point of view, give one man the preference to another. Former...
5To Alexander Hamilton from Caleb Swan, 31 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Trenton, October 31, 1799. “The Express was on the point of departure with Money for the 8th. & 9th. Regiments, when Major Bradley arrived here and informed me that Mr. Bent Pay Master to Coll. Parkers Regiment was on the way to this Place and would be here on saturday Evening, which induced me to Suspend Sending him, as he would probably have missed the Pay Master on the Road and therefore in...
6From Alexander Hamilton to James Wilkinson, 31 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In order to enable you to regulate your requisitions upon the contractor for supplies of provisions, I give it as my opinion that the recruits which you may expect to reinforce your command, and which will arrive at Pittsburgh will be, in all May, Eight hundred, and in each successive month one hundred more, till your command shall be complete. Of their progress afterwards you can best judge....
7From Alexander Hamilton to James Wilkinson, 31 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The copious explanation which have been had between us in conversation on the subjects of your several communications of the 6th. of September 12th. 15. 19th. & 27 instant will abrige the observations naturally connected with the plan which has been adopted as the result and which forms the object of the present instruction. This plan, as you know, has the same basis with that which has been...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Parker, 30 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have this moment Received your letter of the 21st Instant Inclosed in one from the Commander in Chief. I Cannot Recollect any expression in my letter which I Conceived Coud induce you to Suppose that I meant to Build Barracks instead of Hutts. I think I Informed you that As there was not a Sufficiency of Timber on the public ground for Huting or Covering the whole of the Troops I had...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 30 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I recur to your several letters of the 19 of September 5th. 22d and 25th of October. The characters which have been brought into my view most prominently as proper for the Office of Deputy Pay Master General, within my command, are Major Huntington of the 13th Regiment and Capt Williamson of the Dragoons. I am well satisfied that each of these Gentlemen is qualified for and worthy of the...
10From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 29 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
General Wilkinson has furnished me with the inclosed estimates of the cost of the Water Battery Barracks & Magazine, which have been undertaken at Loftus’s Height. And he gives it as his opinion by analogy, but without detail, that the cost of the fort proposed to be erected at the same place will about equal the sum of these Estimates say 16000 Dollars. I send you an estimate, which I have...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 27 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Inspector General is entitled to the pay and emoluments of a captain. The expression is general. It is not stated in the law whether the emoluments of a captain of cavalry, or those of a Captain of Infantry shall be the rule of allowance. In a case of this kind the construction must be governed by the particular situation of the officer, and the nature of the service in...
12To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 27 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Since writing the enclosed letter to you yesterday, I have received a letter from Colo. Parker, and one from Mr. Mackey, Agent for the War Department at Harper’s Ferry; stating the impracticability of procuring plank &c. sufficient for covering the huts intended to have been built for three Regiments at Harper’s Ferry. In consequence of this information I have again written to Colo. Parker,...
13To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 27 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
To my official letters I refer you for my communication, with Colo. Parker. I have no conception however, that such difficulties as are ennumerated in his and Mr. Mackie’s letters, can exist in the erection of simple Hutts, (such as served us last war); and so I am about to inform the former. I am averse to the seperation of the 8th. 9th and 10th Regiments under any circumstances which exist...
14To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 27 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 27, 1799. On October 31, 1799, Hamilton wrote to Wilkinson and acknowledged receipt of Wilkinson’s “several communications of the … 13th. 15. 19th. & 27 instant.” Letter of October 27 not found. ]
15To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Burbeck, 26 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Michilimackinac [ Territory Northwest of the River Ohio ] October 26, 1799 . “… I beg leave to inform you that this Vessel is the last that can possibly come forward to this Post this year, and was expected would bring forward the Clothing for this Garrison, but not one article has arrived. The Winters here are very long and severe—and the want of Woolen Overalls, Shirts and Shoes will be very...
16To Alexander Hamilton from Nathan Rice, 26 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
As by your favour of the 19th ultimo I am requested to select & nominate two persons, whom I should prefer to be appointed Cadets. I now do myself the honor of solliciting that appointment for Mr Edward Le Britton Wilson whom I have named before & Mr Joseph Stickney—a very genteel young man of the Town of Worcester in the Common Wealth—as the two whom I prefer. With great esteem I am Sir yr...
17To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 26 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 21st instant, enclosing a letter to Colo. Parker, which I have forwarded to him, and at the same time repeated my instructions for hutting the Troops, in conformity with the idea which you originally suggested. I presume that the impression made on your mind by Colo. Parker’s letter, respecting Winter Quarters for the three Regiments, must have been...
18To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, Trenton, October 25, 1799. “I this morning received your Letter, dated the 23d. instant.… Entertaining the same opinion I request, you will accordingly give such orders as you may deem proper, and expedient, for the comfortable accomodations of both regiments at as little expence as possible, and without a purchase of Land.… The orders on the subject should proceed directly...
19To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I this moment received your letter of the 24 ~ instant containing one to the Pay Master General. I have sent it to him with an earnest injunction that no time be lost in complying with your expectations, and desired him to engage an express to carry the money to the appropriate officers should he think it best so to do. It is certainly my wish to keep the Troops regularly paid, and to do every...
20From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 25 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Lt. Campbel Smith has made a representation to me on the subject of some claims which he has pending in the Accountant’s Office, and has requested the interposition of my opinion. Thinking it due to him as an Officer now under my command I trouble you with this letter. He states that he has claims of two kinds—One for services rendered for more than two years as judge advocate previous to the...
21To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 25 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived at this place this afternoon from Rhode Island, via Paulus Hook. Mrs: Pinckney has sustained the fatigue of her Voyage & Journey better than I expected. She is however much tired, & I shall not be able to leave her tomorrow; but I trust she will be so much recovered as to enable me to pay my respects to you on sunday. If that should not be the case, I will wait upon you the first day...
22To Alexander Hamilton from Nathan Rice, 25 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to your directions, in conjunction with my Majors, I have proceeded to examine the claims of the officers of my regiment, and the result thereof will appear by the inclosed list which I have taken the liberty to make. It would be difficult to state to you, all the principles which governed us in the arrangements, in the application of some which we considered it our duty to...
23Enclosure: Proposed Arrangement of the Officers in the 14th Regt., [25 October 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
Captains No 1 John Hastings 8 2 Ephraim Emery 1 3 Simeon Draper the 9th 10 4 Thomas Chandler 2 5 Phineas Ashmun 3 6 Nathaniel Twing 4 7
24From Alexander Hamilton to Nathan Rice, [25 October 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the fourteenth instant, and am apprehensive that the quantity of land contracted for will hardly furnish the timber necessary for hutting and fuel. It is not my intention however to give further directions on the subject, as you are acquainted with the local circumstances, and can therefore best determine. I have requested Mr. Miller the Assistant Quarter Master...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Nathan Rice, 25 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 25, 1799. On November 6, 1799, Rice wrote to Hamilton : “In reply to your favours of the 19th. & 25th permit me to observe, that from the knowledge I have as yet obtained of the Gentlemen I can not fully recommend one for so important an office as that of Depy Pay Master General.” Second letter of October 25 not found. ]
26From Alexander Hamilton to Ebenezer Stevens, 25 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
If the Owner of the ground adjoining you will take Eight hundred pounds (£ 800) for sixteen acres including a parcel of the wood land and lying on the water the whole breadth, you will oblige me by concluding the bargain with him & I will pay the money as soon as a good title shall appear. If he will not sell a part at this rate, I request you to ascertain whether he will take Thirty pounds an...
27To Alexander Hamilton from Caleb Swan, 25 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Trenton, October 25, 1799. “The secretary of war handed me your letter of the 24 instant, this morning with an authority in writing to employ an express to take money to the 8th and 9th Regiments. I am puting the business in train, and the day after tomorrow shall send the best clerk in my office, on my own horse to accomplish it. By this mode I may expect a regular account of the money on...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Gibbs, 24 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your very improper letter of the 30th. of September. This is not the first instance of my life in which good offices on my part have met with an ill return. When you were informed, that The Commander in Chief (who, aided by General Pinckney & myself, made in the first instance the nomination of Officers for the twelve Regiments) had presented your name for the place of Lt Col...
29From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 24 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 24, 1799. The description of this letter in the dealer’s catalogue reads: “Refers to ‘the evils which attend the delay of money—Among the rest the keeping of the Troops out of Winter Quarters to suffer the rigours of the advancing season.… If the contentment and attachment of the troops are to be aimed at, there must be a material change in the plan which has hitherto been...
30From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 24 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The post of this morning brought me a letter from Col Parker of which the inclosed is an extract. I trust his inference must be an erroneous one, as you gave me clearly to understand that with regard to arrears the money would be sent forward upon estimates without waiting for the regular Rolls in the forms of your office and that this would suffer no delay. My assurances have conformed to...