To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Lewis, Senior, 28 January 1799
From Samuel Lewis, Senior1
War Department, January 28, 1799. Encloses a “Draft for four hundred and ninety six dollars and seventy Cents, on the Branch Bank at New York—the balance (forty dollars) I have paid into the hands of the Secy of War—the whole amounting to five hundred and thirty six dollars and seventy Cents, agreeably to a Warrant issued from the War Department on account of your Pay Subsistence and Forage for November and December 1798.…”2
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Lewis was a clerk in the War Department.
2. H endorsed this letter: “Jany 31 Answered & Rect. sent.” H’s letter and receipt to Lewis have not been found.
On January 29, 1799, H made the following entry in his Cash Book, 1795–1804: “Cash Dr to Military Service compensation for November & Decr. 536.70” (AD, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
On April 24, 1799, Peter Hagner, principal clerk in the office of the Accountant of the War Department, wrote to James McHenry: “I Certify that there is due to Alexander Hamilton Major General of the army of the United States, the Sum of Eight hundred & thirty nine Dollars and forty one Cents, being for his pay, subsistence & Forage for the months of January, February and March, 1799, including his compensation as Inspector General to the 31 March 1799 agreeably to the act of Congress of the 3rd of March 1799” (RG 217, Records of the General Accounting Office, Department of War Accountant’s Office, Report Book B, July, 1797–May, 1799, National Archives). For the law concerning the pay of major generals, see Section 3 of “An Act for the better organizing of the Troops of the United States; and for other purposes” ( 750–51 [March 3, 1799]).