To James Madison from John W. Forbes, 8 February 1813
From John W. Forbes
New York 8 Feby 1813.
Sir
I have raised a number of Men for the Volunteer Service for Twelve Months with the view of obtaining a separate command, but the late Act of Congress1 being understood to repeal the Volunteer Act and the General Officer commanding this Post having determined to accept no Volunteers after the 1st Instant, have prevented my accomplishing that object.
The number of men required by General Armstrong while commanding here to be raised for a separate command was Three hundred & fifty or Two hundred for a Major to be attached to some Regiment. The latter number has been raised by me as will appear by the enclosed Certificates.2 I have therefore to solicit that I may be attached to the Regiment commanded by Isaac Denison, as Second in command having as I believe raised a sufficient number of Men to entitle me to that situation exclusive of the commission I now hold in the Artillery of this State which I have the honour to enclose. I am Sir very respectfully Your most Obdt Sert
J.W. Forbes3
RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 107, LRRS, F-12:7). Docketed as received in the War Department on 19 Feb. 1813. For surviving enclosure, see n. 2.
1. For the act of 29 Jan. 1813, to which Forbes referred, see , 5:637 n. 3.
2. Forbes enclosed a one-page document consisting of three statements by volunteer recruiting officers testifying that they had raised a total of 193 men to be commanded by Forbes, and a similar statement signed by Forbes himself accounting for an additional 58 men recruited for his command.
3. John W. Forbes had been an artillery officer in the New York militia since 1807. By May 1812 he had been promoted to first major in the Eleventh Artillery Regiment (Hastings, Military Minutes of the N.Y. Council of Appointment, 1:927; 2:1297, 1392).