51To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 21 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter dated the 5. March on the 11. instant and would have replied sooner to its contents had it been possible to have furnished you with the necessary information & documents required. The enclosed schedule A exhibits the appointments which have been made conformably to the list of names presented by the General Officers with the exceptions noticed in my letter of the 21 of...
52To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 22 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
You will have seen by the News-papers that governor Mifflin has been required to hold in readiness to march certain companies of Cavalry, to assist in quelling the insurrection existing in the State of Pennsylvania. Govr. Howell has also been called upon to hold 8 companies of Cavalry in readiness to March for the same purpose. Would it interfere with your arrangements or be throwing the...
53To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 22 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, March 22, 1799. “I transmit for your information copies of several letters, viz, one from Captain Wm Littlefield dated Fort Wolcott 2nd Feby 1799 and one from General Hamtramck dated Fort Wayne 21st Jany 1799, together with a letter from Edward Livingston Esq. dated New York 9th March, one from John Dover dated Novr. 24th. 1798 directed to Mr Livingston and one from the...
54To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 26 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received this morning your letter of the 23d inst. I shall write to day or to morrow to a Mr. Timothy Phelps a Merchant in New Haven Connecticut to know whether he will undertake to store and deliver the Cloathing to the Quarter Master for the 1. and 2d. District formed in that State and if he will I shall send the apportioned quantity to him as soon as it comes into the public store. I...
55To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 27 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is a letter to the Adjutant General informing him that his presence and aid is considered essential to the due performance of the duties to be fulfilled by you, and placing him under your Orders. On looking over your letter of the 23rd: and my reply, I find I have omitted to approve formally, the numbers which you proposed to designate the new Regiments by. The arrangement of the...
56To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 29 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have to acknowledge your private letters under date of the 14, 18 & 19th inst. All I intended by the observation in my public letter relative to the regimental Paymasters &c. was, that as these were to be Lieutenants, and the 3 additional lieutenants described in the late law, under these characters, had not been, it was proposed they should be appointed. I have no objection to the custom...
57To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 30 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have directed two parcels of Cloathing nearly equal to your requisition of the 19th. Instant, for the Connecticut and New York Recruiting Districts, one addressed to Col. Stevens, the other to Timothy Phelps Esq of New Haven, with directions that they shall be delivered and forwarded agreeably to your Orders. Considering that April is a good month for Recruiting, and that circumstances...
58To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 2 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It being out of my power to send you copies of, you will herewith receive the following original letters from Brig. Gen. Wilkinson, which you will be pleased to return after taking such extracts from them as you may judge necessary. Letter No. 1 dated 6 Decr. 1798 Do No. 2 do 10 Jany. 1799 Do No. 3 Do 31 Jany. Do No. 4 Do 2 Feby. No. 5 Circular letter to the officers commanding posts No. 6
59To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 4 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 2d. Inst. Inclosed is a copy of my letter to Mr. J. Huntington of New London, to the purpose of entering into contracts, to supply rations &c. for the troops to be raised in Connecticut. Similar letters have been sent to J. Jackson Supervisor at Boston for Massachusetts, to Jacob Sheaff at Portsmouth for New Hampshire, and one inclosed to Mr. Elijah...
60To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 9 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April 9, 1799. Acknowledges receipt of Hamilton’s letter of April 8, 1799 . Has directed that “advanced pay” for officers be provided to the regimental paymasters. LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
61To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 11 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Governor St Clair has made a representation to me in a letter dated the 18th of February of which I enclose you a copy, by which it appears that much discontent, and uneasiness has been occasioned by the proclamation of Martial law at Detroit. To give a full view of the subject, I have also enclosed extracts from a correspondence between the Secretary of War and Brigadier General Wilkinson...
62To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 11 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury, has represented to me, in a letter dated the 20th. March ulto., that a Party of Troops, heretofore ordered, to be detached, to assist the Surveyor General in marking the Indian boundary line, conformably to the Treaty of Greenville, had utterly failed to cooperate, and that in consequence, the Northern line has been marked in no other manner, than the boundaries...
63To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 11 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April 11, 1799. Acknowledges receipt of Hamilton’s letters of April 8 and 9, 1799 , and notes that the contents of the letter of April 8 “will be duly weighed and attended to,” but that until a “more perfect” system for supplying the troops is adopted, the existing system, as outlined in his letter to Hamilton of March 21, 1799 , will remain in effect. States that he is ready...
64To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 12 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
By referring to a list of appointments to the old regiments of Infantry, sent you some time since, you will find the names of the Captains to the respective Companies directed to be added to each of these regiments by the “Act to augment the army of the United States and for other purposes” passed 16. July 1798. I also transmitted to you the 8th. of March Ult. a list of the names of all the...
65To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 13 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April 13, 1799. “The enclosed copy of a letter from Lieutenant Colonel Strong dated the 23rd: of January ultimo. was intended to have accompanied the papers referred to you in my letter of the 11th. instant.…” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; LS , letterpress copy, James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress; ADf , James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress. David Strong...
66To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 15 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April 15, 1799. “I have received your favour of the 13th instant. The arrangement of sending the recruiting money, in the first instance to the Regimental Paymasters, instead of through an Agent to them, avoids a Commission of One per Cent generally to the Agent for paying the money to the Paymaster, and doubling the Accounts for the same object in the Accountants Books. Hence...
67To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 16 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April 16, 1799. “I have received this morning your two letters dated the 15. instant.… Several Officers appointed to the new Regiments had expressed uneasiness upon the ground of not receiving their Commissions. I know however the uneasiness among some of them proceeded from another cause. They were apprehensive they were to receive no pay ’till called into actual service,...
68To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 17 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In my letter to you of the 4th February last, after intimating the disposition proposed, by the Commander in Chief, for the existing regiments of Artillerists, and Engineers, I added “You will therefore give effect, to the aforesaid disposition, and so arrange the Companies of Artillery, that those belonging to the same regiment or Corps, may form contiguous Garrisons.” I had written to Major...
69To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, [17] April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April [ 17 ] 1799 . “I have occasionally thought of the plan for the providing and issuing military supplies, submitted in your letter of the 8th inst. It strikes me, that the additional assistants to the Purveyor and Superintendant of Military Stores which it proposes, will tend to facilitate both purchases and deliveries; and the powers assigned to the Inspector General and...
70To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 22 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
As the recruiting service, for the twelve regiments, immediately to be raised, for the service of the United States, is on the eve of its commencement and injurious delays to the same may be occasioned, from the difficulty or perhaps impracticability of procuring qualified musicians promptly by enlistment; I think it proper to advise you, that each Captain will be permitted, if he cannot...
71To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 23 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I wish you ⟨to⟩ state to me 1st. The rule which in your opinion will be the least exceptionable, whereby to determine the relative rank of the Field Officers of the new regiments, and the reasons for prefering the rule. 2d. Whether any objections have occurred to you, which ought to induce any alteration in the general rules of promotion suggested by the General Officers in the Commander in...
72To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 24 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter dated the 23rd: instant advising me, that you entertain doubts, whether you can act upon, (by approving or otherwise) Sentences of Courts Martial, referred to you, from the Department of War, in cases, in which the Court has been instituted by that Department, through other organs than yourself. That there is a peculiar delicacy in inflicting punishment upon...
73To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 26 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
A question has arisen, respecting appointments, to a part of the Army establishment, on which I have to request your opinion, as soon as convenient, viz: Is it within the authority of the President, to appoint, the Officers, to the additional batalion, to the second Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers, directed to be raised by “an act, for the better organizing of the troops of the United...
74To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 27 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April 27, 1799. “I have considered the arrangement and distribution of the two Regiments of Artillerists and Engineers submitted to me … and approve of the same. You will be pleased to cause the said arrangement and distribution so far as it relates to your command to be carried into immediate effect.…” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. H to McHenry, first letter of...
75To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 29 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Has it struck you, that it will be proper, notwithstanding the Commander in chief of the army has formally declined taking any agency or responsibility in its affairs until a certain state of things shall occur, for you to correspond with him, as the Chief, and give him such information from time to time relative to your comand as will enable him when he may enter upon actual service to...
76To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 30 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department [ Philadelphia ] April 30, 1799 . “The Governor of the North Western Territory Arthur St. Clair Esquire being ex-officio , Superintendant of Indian Affairs within the said Territory he is to be respected as such by all military Officers within the sphere of his Jurisdiction, you will be pleased therefore to direct the said military Officers to respect him as such, and to cause...
77To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 3 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 3, 1799. “… The cloathing for New York, New Haven & Trenton is packed up and will be immediately forwarded.… That for Pennsylvania is also ready to be delivered. To guard against a failure in the quantity of coats wanted for Massachusetts, I have obliged the Purveyor … to get made up in the most expeditious manner 640 Infantry coats … to be divided equally between the two...
78To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 9 May 179[9] (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 9, 179 [ 9 ]. “I have this morning received your letter dated the 7th. instant.… I shall direct a list of the Officers of the Regiment of Cavalry, to be made out, and sent to you. I desired Mr. Francis to inform Coll. Stevens, that I intended he should be allowed at the rate of 1000 dollars per annum for his services. This is the Salary of the Storekeeper in this City, who...
79To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 9 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
A foriegner (an irishman) was lately enlisted at Lancaster, by Captain Matthew Henry of the tenth regiment of Infantry, and shortly after deserted. This occurrence has led me to reflect, that it will be well, to avoid as much as possible, the enlistment of foriegners. The third article of the rules and regulations, for the recruiting service, expressly gives a preference to natives, for...
80To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 10 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 10, 1799. Encloses a letter from William Macpherson “relative to the positions proper to be maintained … by the regular troops, in the Country late the scene of insurrection and disaffection.” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For background to this letter, see McHenry to H, March 13, 1799, note 12 , March 15, 1799 . Macpherson to McHenry, May 3, 1799 (copy,...
81To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 10 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 10, 1799. “… I should prefer for the present, to continue the distribution of the command of the troops of the United States, as declared in your instructions dated the 4th. of February ultimo. If hereafter, without reference merely to the Artillery, and upon general considerations, it should be found convenient to annex Maryland to General Pinckneys district it will be...
82Enclosure: [List of Cavalry Officers], [10 May 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
John Watts Colonel Virginia Solomon Van Rensselaer Major New York John Taylor ditto Virginia James Taylor Captain James V. Ball ditto Richard Willing ditto Pennsylvania Benjamin Williamson ditto New Jersey John B. Armistead
83To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 11 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
If the new recruiting instructions have not been forwarded to the several Officers who are inlisting men for the regiments of Artillery and four old regiments of Infantry, whose names & places of rendezvous are contained in the list some time since sent you, I would suggest the propriety of your transmitting them as early as possible together with the law making an alteration in the ration....
84To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 11 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Lieutenant General Washington in a letter dated the 28th. of January ultimo observes— “In speaking of the Cavalry I must observe, that in specifying their uniform it was intended that their breeches should be of leather and consequently buff instead of white. This I doubt not will strike you as being most proper on every account, and in that case no time should be lost in correcting the error...
85To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 18 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 18, 1799. “The enclosed papers are, No 1 a copy of a letter from Major D. Bradley, No 2 a copy of a letter from Colo Hamtramck, No 3 a copy of a letter from Colo Strong No 4 the Speech of Kesas, Nanqui, Okia, Abeeway & Machibas Kisegan, lately returned from Philada., and Cotowaso, pesoto, and peswas chiefs of the Chippiewa, Ottawa, and Potowatomie nations, No 5 My answer to...
86To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 21 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 21, 1799. “The house of Panton and Leslie, of Pensacola, had several trading establishments, for supplying the Indians with goods, within that part of the territory of the United States, lately evacuated by Spain, agreeably to Treaty. As these Gentlemen established, and carried on their trade with the Indians, under the protection of Spain, they expect their agents, will be...
87To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 23 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received yesterday your two letters of the 18. and 21. instant. You will see by the enclosed schedule No. 1. the quantity of Clothing Arms accoutrements &c. which has been ordered for the several regiments. Money for the recruiting service and pay and forage for the Officers has been forwarded as is mentioned in Schedule No. 2. It is to be understood that the whole Clothing for no one...
88To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 23 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The President thinks it highly expedient, that no time should be lost in selecting proper characters to officer the twenty four regiments of Infantry, the regiment and Battalion of Riflemen, the Battalion of Artillerists and Engineers and the three regiments of cavalry which may be raised in pursuance of the act giving eventual authority to the President of the United States to augment the...
89To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 24 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Letters similar to the enclosed have been transmitted to the Senators of each State from New Hampshire to Maryland, and to Generals Washington Pinckney and Davie for the States of Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia. Messrs Watson and Lawrence find it difficult, if not impracticable to co-operate in the object of this letter from the distance of their places of residence from each...
90To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 25, 1799. “I enclose you the Proceedings of two Garrison Courts Martial.… The rules and Articles of War, do not it is supposed, require, a reference to the Secretary of War, or to the President in any instance, of the proceedings of a Garrison Court Martial, for approval or otherwise. It is only the Sentence of a General Court Martial, when capital, that is to be with the...
91To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 25, 1799. “… I transmitted last Tuesday by a Mr: Jones (lately appointed Consul at Orleans) a Duplicate of your letter to General Wilkinson.… For the present I should not incline to give the Indians any encouragement on the subject of their illegal Sales, or respecting the possibility of a treaty to repurchase &c. Let us see a little more of the development of the plot of...
92To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 27 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] May 27, 1799 . “I have this moment recd. your letter of the 24th and several enclosures, among the latter a letter to Lt Col. Hamtramck which I return for your reperusal. You will recollect, that the troops in Tenessee and on the Georgia Frontier are within Genl Pinckney’s command. Your letter to Hamtramck extends his authority to the troops in Tenessee. Will you be pleased to...
93To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 28 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 28, 1799. “I have received your letter dated 25th instant. The experiment of enlisting none but native citizens or naturalized foreigners at present in our army, I am much disposed to have fully made. The criterion of the latter to be either a residence in this country anterior to the revolution to be proved to the satisfaction of the recruiting officer, or a certificate of...
94To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 29 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Complaints having been made, relative to the enlistment of apprentices, for the army of the United States, I have been led to reflect on the propriety, or even general policy of such enlistments. Young men of respectable families, and handsome properties, are not infrequently bound apprentices, to learn a profession, or be initiated in some lucrative trade, art or mystery, it could only be in...
95To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 30 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Troops in Tenessee have never been considered as forming any part of the North Western army, or the Commander of the Western army as having any controul over them. It was necessary to the success of the objects to be accomplished in Tenessee, and the quick transmission of orders that this should be so. There is no position, which it is possible for a general to assume in the North Western...
96To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, [4 June 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
I think the information contained in the inclosed letter from Mr Patterson intitled to attention. The writer stands high in the opinion of Mr Sitgreaves, and I have always heard him spoken of as a man of honour and veracity. He was a candidate for one of the Regiments. Be pleased to return me the letter. Yours Affely ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; ADfS , James McHenry Papers,...
97To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, [6 June 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
Since my confidential letter to you, inclosing one from Mr. Patterson, relative to stationing some troops at Easton, I have had verbal information, which shews, if not an absolute necessity for, yet that the stationing troops there would produce immediate salutary effects, upon the disorganizing inhabitants in that neighbourhood. I would advise therefore, if no important objection exists which...
98To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 15 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, June 15, 1799. “Your observations relative to my agent for procuring supplies and the Superintendant are but too well founded. The last has so strong a supporter, that I cannot see when or how I am to get rid of him. As to the Purveyor, I have for some time been reconnoitring for an assistant to him whose talents and activity joined to mercantile knowledge would supply his...
99To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 15 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, June 15, 1799. “I received by yesterdays mail, three letters of the 12, and by the mail of this morning, two letters of June 14th instant.… The idea is undoubtedly correct respecting the keeping an extra supply of Clothing at the remote posts. It is not unknown to you, that from circumstances which I could not controul, even the quantity of Cloathing necessary for the old...
100To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 18 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Officers have been appointed for six additional companies of cavalry. It is not however deemed expedient, at present, to enlist for, or mount the Cavalry. I submit it, to your consideration, whether these Officers, may not be usefully, and properly employed, untill called into their appropriate service, by being attached to the Infantry companies, as well to assist in recruiting, as in...