61From Alexander Hamilton to James Wilkinson, 23 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I begin now to be anxious to learn that you had received my letter desiring you to repair to the seat of Government, in conformity with an intimation from the Secretary of War, to the end that with the aid of your lights and experience, a general plan for the arrangement of the affairs of the Western army, with an eye to the existing posture of our political Concerns, might be digested and...
62From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 3 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
At length the recruiting for the additional regiments has begun in Connecticut New York New Jersey Pensylvania and Delaware . The enclosed return of cloathing will sufficiently explain to you that it has commenced at least as soon as the preparations by the Department of War would permit. It might now also proceed in Maryland and Massachusettes, and the next post will I trust enable me to add...
63From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 1 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I wait for your instructions concerning the regulations proposed to you with respect to objects of extra expence. As soon as I receive your direction I shall issue orders for having the regulations carried into effect. With great respect I am, Sir If it shall be agreeable to General Pinckney to whom I have written on the subject, it is my wish to employ Major Tousard during the winter, in...
64From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 11 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 11, 1799. Quotes from Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Parker’s “letter of the 3d Inst.” concerning the shortage of clothing and states: “You see how the delay works & how necessary it is to apply an instant remedy.” Copy, in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
65From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 17 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Part of the contents of your letter of the 10 of July last (which has happened to escape a definitive attention) being connected with the subject of that the 7 of Sepr., I shall reply to them together. Previous to the receipt of the last I had drafted rules relating to extra expences which after careful revision I send for your determination. They contemplate, it will be seen, a discretion to...
66General Orders, 6 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Pursuant to the instructions from the Secretary of War, the following additions to the “Rules and Regulations respecting the Recruiting Service,” are to be observed. “None but Citizens of the United States shall be enlisted. Persons not born within the said States, who were within the same on the fourth day of July, 1776, shall be deemed Citizens for the purpose of enlistment. Every person,...
67From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 6 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I return Mr. Patterson’s letter. It is not my intention immediately to withdraw more than Cochran’s & Henry’s Companies. The other troops may remain on the insurgents scene. I should prefer their remaining together. Perhaps the vicinity of Easton may be the best single station. But I am not without apprehension that the Troops may be corrupted by remaining long in a disaffected scene. Is there...
68From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, August 19, 1799. Asks what “the rate of allowance to which officers are entitled for their retained rations” is and how the allowance is obtained. Agrees with McHenry’s decision to defer the appointment of cadets, but thinks that “in the meantime … it will be well to appoint two Cadets to each regiment … to act as ensigns.” States that he has received “Pressing applications” for...
69From 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...
70From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 25 June[–1 July] 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 25 [ –July 1 ] 1799 . Summarizes the contents of “letters … from Major Rivardi, at Niagara,” which “contain very unpleasant representations of the state of things at that post.” Describes steps taken to meet some of Rivardi’s complaints. States: “It appears by the statement of which a copy is enclosed that debts have been contracted for purposes of the garrison to the amount of...
71From Alexander Hamilton to Washington Morton, 23 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
On revising the proceedings of the General Court Martial received from you, I find that it does not appear by them whether two thirds of the members of the Court concurred on the Conviction of Sergeant Hunt. The articles of War (8th of Chapter Administration of Justice) require that two thirds shall agree in cases where death is inflicted, and I am of opinion that this agreement ought to...
72From Alexander Hamilton to Ebenezer Stevens, 26 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 26, 1799. “In consequence of the reference to me by the Secy. of War in the letter which you shewed me, respecting Mr. Mangin’s compensation, I give it as my opinion that you pay him the four Dollars per day for the times of his employment which you have heretofore stated to me.… You have informed me that at the time of employing Mr. Mangin you promised him compensation at the...
73Circular to the Commandants of Regiments, 19 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of War has Determined to appoint immediately two Cadets to each regiment, and he has directed me to request from the several Commandants a special recommendation of two young gentlemen for the purpose. You have nominated different persons, from time to time, as cadets severally: but [it is now wished that you should make a selection of two whom you prefer.] The Secretary of War...
74From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 2 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
A rule respecting the allowance of Barracks and Quarters is wanting. I submit to your consideration the following scale. To a Major General for himself four rooms, for each Aid one room, and a Kitchen. To a Brigadier General for himself four rooms, for his Aid one room, and a Kitchen. To the Inspector General in addition to his allowance as Major General two rooms for officers, and one for his...
75From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 24 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 24, 1799. “… I shall confer with Col Smith on the subject of his Major and communicate the result.… I am of opinion that the hat ought to be delivered with its furniture complete. It will often be no easy matter for the Officers to supply a deficiency; and it is one of those instances in which œconomy will be likely to disgust by the air of excessive parsimony. Will it not be...
76From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 29 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The completion of the works in the vicinity of our City proceeds heavily. Some embarrassment is understood to arise in the War Department from the Question of Appropriations. I beg to be informed whether the sum appropriated by the Legislature of this State will come in aid of the Operation. Limited as that sum is, nothing upon a large scale can be undertaken in reference to it. Its Agency in...
77From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 7 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 7, 1799. “… Col Smith … recommends as his Major … Theodosius Fowler Esqr.… I do not find among the p⟨apers before⟩ me any list of the Officers of the Additional Troops of C⟨avalry⟩. Will you be pleased to have it transmitted? I promised Mr. Jones your C⟨lerk⟩ a memorandum of the number of printed copies of oat⟨hs⟩ and weekly returns which it would be expedient to ⟨send⟩ to the...
78From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 10 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 10, 1799. “I send you an Extract of a letter of the 20th June from Col: Hunewell, recommending Eli Forbes Esqr. for Captain in place of Capt. Philips. It was an idea talked of between us though not settled, that the routine of promotion should take effect in ⟨ea⟩ch regiment as soon as the places of field Officers were ⟨ac⟩tually filled. If this rule is to govern it would be an...
79From Alexander Hamilton to John J. U. Rivardi, 2 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, October 2, 1799. “… I have been, for some time, engaged with General Wilkinson in forming a plan respecting the disposition of the western army generally which will include the posts in your quarter. It is part of this plan that the garrison of Niagara be reinforced, to consist at present of two companies of infantry and half a company of artillerists. Some doubts have been suggested...
80From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 8 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Nothing can be more desireable than a well digested plan for connecting the different parts of our Military System, in regard to the procuring and issuing of supplies. I send you the outline of a scheme for that purpose. It is important that this, or a substitute more eligible, should be without delay established. It is particularly essential that the channels through which supplies are to...
81From Alexander Hamilton to John F. Hamtramck, 9 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It has been determined to make the following disposition of the first Regiment of Artillery. One batalion to be attached to the Western army, another to garrison the posts in Georgia & South Carolina, a third to garrison the posts in North Carolina Virginia and Maryland—the remaining one to be annexed to the troops in the field within the limits of Major General Pinckney’s command. The...
82From 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...
83From 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...
84From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Parker, 21 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 10 instant, by reason of my absence at Trenton, was not received till the 19th. Its contents are somewhat embarrassing. A leading feature of the plan for Winter Quarters which in conformity with arrangements with the Department of War was indicated by my instructions to you is that Timber for hutting and wood for fuel should be found on the premisses. The additional...
85From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have communicated to Col Bentley your resolution as expressed in your letter of the 30th of Augt in respect to the late appointments for his Regiment. But the occasion claims from me some remarks, as due to my own opinion of propriety and the good of the service. I cannot doubt that the practice of your Department, as to the filling of vacancies in new corps, previous to your coming into it,...
86From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 26 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have reflected, as you have desired, on the most proper principles for regulating the relative rank of the field Officers of the twelve additional Regiments. It is always prudent, when no special reasons dictate a deviation, to adopt for cases of this kind a rule which steers clear of comparison of personal merit and avoids the danger of wounding the pride of any of the parties concerned....
87From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 18 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
You will be pleased to receive herewith a statement of the articles of supply requisite for a Regiment of Infantry. It is necessary that the full quantity, including what has been heretofore forwarded, should be transmitted as fast as possible. With all the diligence that can be made, it is not probable that they will arrive too soon. After the proportion, which was indicated in the first...
88From Alexander Hamilton to Ebenezer Stevens, 24 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I understand from the Secretary of War, that in the capacity of Agent for the War Department I am to look to you for the Duties usually performed by the Quarter Master General, Clothier General and Commissary of Military Stores. I shall look to you accordingly for these services, and therefore shall direct all returns relating to the proper objects to be made to you, in the Expectation that...
89From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 29 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to acknowlege the receipt of your letter of the 25 instant inclosing a warrant for the execution of Serjeant Hunt. I have reflected carefully on the point submitted to our joint consideration, and upon the whole I incline to the side of Forbearance. The temper of our country is not a little opposed to the frequency of Capital punishment. Public opinion, in this respect, though...
90From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 30 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
On a subject, not very familiar to my experience I thot it well to consult others (one at a distance) which has occasioned a delay in fulfilling the object of your letter of the 24th of June respecting regulations for issuing straw, fuel &. I send you herewith the result of my enquiries and reflections. In regard to fuel, the late improvements in the construction of chimneys by Count Rumford,...