1From James Madison to John Armstrong, 27 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
The Enemy having evacuated the City of Washington & no obstacle remaining to a re-union of the members of the Executive there, J. Madison requests that this may take place with as little delay as may be. RC ( DNA : RG 107, LRRS , P-80:8). In JM ’s hand. Docketed as received in the War Department in August 1814.
2From James Madison to John Armstrong, 20 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note to Secy. of War on the proposed consolidation of 8 Regts—30. 31. &c The consolidations proposed are approved. The information for assisting the selection of officers to be retained is extremely scanty whilst the task is both important & difficult. The Secy. of war will suggest the names which appear on the whole most fit to remain in service. FC ( DLC ); Tr ( DLC , series 3). See...
3From James Madison to John Armstrong, 20 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note To the Secy. of War on Govr. Shelby’s letter of Augst. 4 put into the hands of J. M. Aug. 19. The Secy. of War will state his opinion on the case presented by Govr. Shelby. Have not analogous cases of a disproportion of officers, and of mounted volunteers serving as militia been heretofore acted on. Draft ( DLC ); Tr ( DLC , series 3). Draft included among documents dated 16 Aug. 1814 in...
4From James Madison to John Armstrong, 19 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note to Secy. of War, on Genl. Browns letter of Aug. 7. If there be no opposing considerations unknown to me, Col. Miller is entitled to brevet promotion. Majrs. Wood & McRae at least seem to merit attention also. What is best as to Ripley FC ( DLC ); Tr ( DLC , series 3). FC in JM ’s hand; included among documents dated 16 Aug. 1814 in the Index to the James Madison Papers. Maj. Gen. Jacob...
5From James Madison to John Armstrong, 17 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note to Secy. of War on Cushing’s letter & enclosures of Aug. 12. 1814. Cushing seems to view the extraordinary threat of Hardy in its proper light. It was determined before the Secy. of State left the City, that Mrs. Stewart on whom the misbehaviour of her husband ought not to be visited, might be removed to him, whenever Gen Cushing thought no injury could result from intelligence she might...
6From James Madison to John Armstrong, 17 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Where, on what service & under what commission is Genl. Swartwout to be employed? If out of service as the last army Register imports, he cannot be employed without a new appointment. Wanted The number of men enlisted into the Rifle Corps, & not yet furnished with rifles. • The number of rifles on hand, according to the last returns, and the dates of those returns. Draft ( DLC ); Tr ( DLC ,...
7From James Madison to John Armstrong, 16 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note to Secy. of War, on Gaines lette⟨r⟩ of Aug: 7. It ought certainly to be at the discretion of Gaines to cross the Niagara. This may be made prudent by large re-inforcemts. to the Enemy, even after receivg 2000 from Izard’s army. Buffalo & Black rock must also claim his attention; whilst the Enemy are placed so conveniently for enterprizes agst. them. If Izard should be unable by leaving a...
8From James Madison to John Armstrong, 15 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note to Secy of War on a letter of Jennings Dy: Coy. of purchases, and an endorsemt. by the Secy. of War: & on a letter &c. from Genl. Cushing relating to attack on Stonington. As a little time will probably decide as to the force allotted by the Enemy to the Chesapeake, it may be as well not to reject the addl. 500. called out by Govr. Barbour for the security of Richd. & that Quarter. The...
9From James Madison to John Armstrong, 13 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
On viewing the course which the proceedings of the War-Department have not unfrequently taken, I find that I owe it to my own responsibility as well as to other considerations, to make some remarks on the relations in which the Head of the Department stands to the President, and to lay down some rules for conducting the business of the Department, which are dictated by the nature of those...
10From James Madison to John Armstrong, [13 August 1814] (Madison Papers)
If not more than 200 warriors have gone to Detroit with Govr. Cass, the residue with the militia called for will suffice for the expedition recommended by him & Genl. Harrison. The pledges given by them to the Indians employed must be fulfilled of course, & the case with similar ones, submitted to Congs. Govr. Cass may receive the superintending & discretionary power as to Indians &c. wch....
11From James Madison to John Armstrong, 12 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note to the Secretary of War on letters from him to Brown of July 19 —and to Izard of July 27. and August 2. with a memorandum of the Secretary on the two last, “that in case the attack on Kingston be rendered impracticable, and that the moment of ascendancy on the Lake Ontario may not be lost, 2000 of Izard’s men may be carried to the west end of the Lake to join Gaines; being landed on the...
12From James Madison to John Armstrong, 10 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
The Instructions to Genl. Brown or Officer commanding on the Niagara subsequent to July 5. do. to the Officer commanding at Sackett’s Harbour do. to Genl. Mc.Arthur, and the Officer Commanding at Detroit. do. to Genl. Izzard subsequent to July 27. do. to Genl. Lewis subsequent to the mission of General Mapes & his associate. Draft ( DLC ); Tr ( DLC , series 3). Here JM canceled the following:...
13From James Madison to John Armstrong, 7 August 1814 (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶ To John Armstrong. Letter not found. 7 August 1814. Described as a one-page draft or memorandum in the lists probably made by Peter Force ( DLC , series 7, container 2).
14From James Madison to John Armstrong, 5 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
If there be occasion for an appt. in the Quarter Masters Dept. Mr Tyler may be commissioned. If no occasion, & he will accept one of the original vacancies in a Company, he may be appointed to it. RC ( PHi : Daniel Parker Papers). Unaddressed; addressee identified based on internal evidence. Septimius Tyler wrote James Monroe on 13 Sept. 1814, repeating his request for a commission in the...
15From James Madison to John Armstrong, 4 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note accompanying a return of sundry Brevets sent filled up and sealed from the Office. The Secretary of War will not in future permit Commissions to be filled up in the Office, until it be ascertained that the appointments are approved. In the Brevets to General Scott and the other Officers who so well merited them, the irregularity could not but be without effect. But when appointments are...
16From James Madison to John Armstrong, 2 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note on Genl. Lewis letter to Secy. W. July 28. 1814. asking whether he is to Judge of the menace of invasion requiring calls for Militia. Genl. Lewis, as other Commanders of Districts, shd. be authorized to call for militia according to the danger threatened. Where the cases are not too urgent they ought to be reported for previous sanction here: When the urgency will not permit this delay,...
17From James Madison to John Armstrong, 2 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
The Secretary of War will cause the supply of ammunition requested to be furnished. If the arrangements of Genl. Winder shd. not have anticipated the other want and the cannon can be furnished, orders to that effect will al⟨s⟩o be given. Draft ( DLC ); Tr ( DLC , series 3). JM labeled the draft: “On a letter from Genl. Stuart, requesting 200 rounds of Grape Cannister &c also a few 9s or...
18From James Madison to John Armstrong, 30 July 1814 (Madison Papers)
It ought certainly to be at the discretion of Izard to accommodate his movements to those of the Enemy, and to his information from the other Commanders. The question as to Col: Drayton appears to be precluded, by the list of original vacancies which includes none of his former rank. Tr ( DLC , series 3). Headed: “Note To the Secretary of War on Izard’s letter of July 19.—asking if he ought...
19From James Madison to John Armstrong, 28 July 1814 (Madison Papers)
The Treaty of Greenville in 1795. may be the basis of the new Treaty, with any improvements which may be eligible under existing circumstances. ______ The former allowances to the Indians may be continued; and if deemed necessary by the Comrs., enlarged. Those suspended by the war should not be made up unless indispensable to keep the Indians quiet; as present supplies will suffice for actual...
20From James Madison to John Armstrong, 27 July 1814 (Madison Papers)
It does not appear that Izard, tho’ the Senior officer of the District has been made acquainted with the plan of operations under Brown, or that any correspondence exists between those officers. It would certainly be advantageous that each should be apprized of the instructions and views of the other; as well as of the movements & forces of the Enemy, and of all material occurrences within...
21From James Madison to John Armstrong, 18 July 1814 (Madison Papers)
Wanted copies of the instructions to General Brown, for carrying into effect the plan of operations, agreed on in the Cabinet on the 7th. of June. Copies of the instructions to General Winder on his taking command of his Military district, and since. The Secretary will let me see the requisitions of Militia to be placed between this place and Baltimore before they go forward. Tr ( DLC , series...
22From James Madison to John Armstrong, [6 July 1814] (Madison Papers)
Noted to the Secy. of War. July 6. 1814 on the reported plan for 90 odd thousd. Milit[i]a. The reference to the Military Districts as places of service is liable to two remarks the one that the reference is in some respects too vague, the other that in other respects, they are too restrictive. Distr: No. 1. illustrates both Remarks, the first by its great extent & numerous objects the second...
23From James Madison to John Armstrong, 2 July 1814 (Madison Papers)
In analogy to the arrangement yesterday decided on in reference to this City & Baltimore and with a view to a systematic provision agst. invading armaments, the Secretary of war will digest & report to the President, corresponding precautionary means of defence, in reference to the other more important and exposed places along the Atlantic Frontier; particularly Boston, New York, Wilmington...
24From James Madison to John Armstrong, [21 June 1814] (Madison Papers)
The taking of Soldiers for the Navy, is a disagreeable circumstance in several respects: but an efficient State of the Navy is so essential even to land operations on the Canada frontier that it seems unavoidable occasionally until a sufficiency of Seamen can be obtained, for which every exertion is doubtless made. The expedient of volunteers adopted by Genl. Izard, as a diminution of the...
25From James Madison to John Armstrong, 20 June 1814 (Madison Papers)
General Wilkinson it appears, addressed an application to the P. on the 6th. ult: for an opportunity of securing testimony wch. may be lost by the casualties of the campaign. This is reasonable; and may be effected by depositions taken in the usual mode a Judge advocate attending on the part of the public. Give the proper instructions for the purpose, & let the Genl. be informed that his...
26From James Madison to John Armstrong, 19 June 1814 (Madison Papers)
The apparent objections to the proposed establishment of a post, so distant, are very strong. Much weight however is due to the concurring opinions of Govr. Clarke and General Howard; both men of Judgment and possessed of many advantages for a correct exercise of it in such a case. RC ( PHi : Daniel Parker Papers); draft ( DLC ); Tr ( DLC , series 3). Draft includes JM ’s heading: “Note on a...
27From James Madison to John Armstrong, 18 June 1814 (Madison Papers)
Besides the tendency of the proposed attempt for removing the Indians North of the State of Ohio, to disquiet them, there are other objections to the measure. It may have a like tendency in its bearing on other Indians connected with the district given in exchange: And what merits particular attention, the territories contiguous to this district, whose peace and security might be affected,...
28From James Madison to John Armstrong, 18 June 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note on this note of the Secy. of War covering letters of Col. Croghan to Capt. Sinclair of May 26. As the order to Majr. Holmes required a resort to his superior Officer Col. Croghan, and as Capt. Sinclair was ordered to communicate with the latter, it might have been better, to have conveyed the orders to Majr. Holmes thro’ Col. Croghan, than vice versa, as well as to have apprized Col:...
29From James Madison to John Armstrong, 15 June 1814 (Madison Papers)
The Secy. of War will send To save time & copying, the letters & instructions & orders from the War Dept. may be sent in the record or the retained draughts. Draft ( DLC ); Tr ( DLC , series 3). Maj. Gen. William Henry Harrison set out for Cincinnati from Washington on 22 Dec. 1813 (Esarey, Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison, Indiana Historical Collections, 2:610). For Maj. Gen....
30From James Madison to John Armstrong, [3 June 1814] (Madison Papers)
J. Madison requests a consultation with the Heads of Department on Tuesday next at Eleven OClock. June 3. 1814. The object is to decide on the plan of campaign which our means, miltary & naval, render most eligible. In the mean time the Secretary of War will cause to be made out & send over, RC ( PHi : Daniel Parker Papers); draft ( DLC ); Tr ( DLC , series 3). RC cover bears Armstrong’s note:...