1From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 7 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I duly received My Dear Sir Your letter of the 17th of January. Accept my thanks for the remarks it contains on the plan for a Military School. We were extremely alarmed yesterday by the intelligence coming from Philadelphia of an accident to you at a Review. But an arrival here has greatly relieved us. We earnestly desire a contradiction. Affectly & truly yrs. ALS , Pinckney Family Papers,...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 7 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary at War has informed you that the General Superintendence of the Recruiting service is confided to me, as an incident to the Inspectorship. As a preliminary to this, it is requisite to distribute the States respectively into Districts and subdistricts the latter to correspond with the number of Companies to be raised in each State assigning one company to each subdistrict & the...
3From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 13 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, August 13, 1799. “Your several favours of the 10th. of June 12. and 29 of July have been received.… The course is for money and other supplies for the recruiting service to go immediately from the department of War upon application from me. As yet no regular military chest has been established nor have the proper organs of the Staff been appointed.… A more perfect organisation is...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 26 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have heard of your arrival at Rhode Island. On the I wrote you a long letter transmitting all the Instructions which respect the recruiting service &c. Did you receive that letter? Is there any one who would act upon it in your absence? I wish you could make a visit to Trenton convenient. More Organisation is indispensable. Several things of material concern are to be arranged. I shall go...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 1 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Major Bradley of the fourth regiment who has been a long time in the western Country and is now at Staunton superintending a recruiting party requests leave of absence a furlough for the purpose of visiting his family from which he has been absent several years. This officer is within your district, and of course I refer his petition to you. If leave of absence a furlough should be given...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 6 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, October 6, 1799. “… In consequence of your voyage to New Port The Secretary of War lately instructed me to take measures for providing winter Quarters in the vicinity of Harpurs Ferry on the Potowmack for the Eighh Ninth & Tenth Regiments. I have instructed Col Parker of the Eighth, under the direction of the Commander in Chief who has consented to take charge of the matter, to...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 6 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you duplicate of my official letter of the 13 of August. If necessary for me to send duplicate recruiting instructions I will do it upon your intimation— Capt. Massey has some time since been ordered to Norfolk Yr. truly & Affectly. ( Df , in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
8From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 23 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 12th. inst. found me at Trenton, from which place I have recently arrived. The seventh Regt. together with the 5th. & 6th. was destined for Augusta. But I am not apprised how far the arrangements for this object, have been matured, and I believe that it may be most adviseable to quarter those Regiments for the present winter within their respective States. I thought it in...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 24 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The following is an Extract of a — letter recd. from Col: Parker dated Winchester Oct. 16th. 1799— “Four Soldiers deserted a few nights ago; But were all fortunately taken two of them, who were most guilty, I have put in irons, as I think it absolutely necessary to make an example of them. As I do not know where to direct to General Pinckney, I beg Sir that you will order a general Court...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 4 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November 4, 1799. “I send you by way of information an order of the 1st. inst. issued by me respecting the General Disposition of the Army, in conformity with the instructions heretofore received from the Secy. of War. It seemed necessary to have all the regiments thrown into Brigades. The situation of the third and 4th. within different commands created some embarrassment. You will...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 4 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed are a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury and one from the Secretary of War. It would appear from the extract of a letter from Captain Taylor which is likewise enclosed that my letter to Col. Read on the subject must have miscarried. You will oblige me by — giving promptly the necessary directions in the case— With great ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton...
12From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 4 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I expressed to you my wish in conversation that you would be so good as to fix upon and name to me characters for Officers of the Inspector Department within your Command. Inclosed are letters lately received respecting Major Beale for your informa tion Major Campbell you will remember is also a respectable Candidate for Division Inspector. Capt. E. Tay lor is appointed a Brigade Inspector— (...
13From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 8 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November 8, 1799. “I enclose to you a letter from Col. Lear on the subject of winter Quarters that you may take such measures as shall appear to you to be necessary in the case. I do not see that any thing better can be done than to send the tenth regiment to Carlisle where the barracks can easily be prepared for their reception. According to the orders that have been given to Col....
14From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 12 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you the enclosed paper and request that you will which more properly would have been addressed to you. You will, no doubt, inform the Commandant of the fifth regiment where the parties are to be found, in order so that his instructions may reach them— With great respect & Esteem I am Sir Yr. obedt. servt. ( Df , in the handwriting of Ethan Brown and H, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
15From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 18 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Pursuant to a conversation which I had with you while in this city I have concluded to offer to Lt. Izzard the place of Aid de camp in my family. I have mentioned to Mr. Izzard that you will dispense with the form of an application to you as Commanding General of the district. Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. H to George Izard, November 18, 1799 .
16From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 21 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November 21, 1799. Encloses “regulations which it is proposed to establish relative to the uniform of the troops.” Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Enclosure not found, but see H to James McHenry, December 19, 1799 .
17From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 23 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose to you a letter which I have just written to Col. Parker. When I shall be informed of your arrival within the limits of your district all correspondence between me and the particular Officers in that district will, of course, cease, unless you should think it proper that I should continue to direct them in matters that relate to the recruiting service. I would request an explanation...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 2 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to a conversation which we had while you were in this city I have directed Lieutenant Walbach to repair to your Head Quarters for the purpose of assisting in preparing a system for the Tactics and police of the Cavalry. It being of importance that this object should be accomplished in the course of the ensuing winter I shall count on your obliging disposition towards me no less than...
19From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, [22] December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The death of our beloved commander in Chief was known to you before it was to me. I can be at no loss to anticipate what have been your feelings. I need not tell you what are mine. Perhaps no friend of his has more cause to lament, on personal account, than my self. The public misfortune is one which all the friends of our Government will view in the same light. I will not dwell on the...
20From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 3 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose to you some papers relative to the exchange of a soldier. As it is It not being unusual to make exchanges where they tend to the benefit of the service, I doubt not you will give the nece and the proposal in the present case being extremely favorable it is my wish, unless some particular objections occur to you, that you would give the necessary such directions in the present case as...
21From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 6 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just recd. the enclosed letter to which I have returned the following answer— “ The whole Your letter of the 20th. of Decr. I have recd. The whole of the transactions therein mentioned having happened within the Sphere of Genl. Pinckney’s command, it is his province to attend to your request—All I can therefore do therefore in this case is to write to Genl. P. & inclose yr. letter to...
22From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 7 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you the Inclosed is the copy of a Letter from Lieutt. Gover which I send you that you may take the necessary steps for apprehending the Deserter of whom he speaks which he mentions when similar cases have occurred under my command I have not allowed stipulations to be made by deserters previous to their delivering themselves up, but have had them tried the by Courts-Martial who...
23From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 17 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you a letter from — Mr. James Mitchell with my reply to it. As the letter appears to complain of the conduct of an Officer of the U States I have thought proper to pay it some degree of attention. W— ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
24From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 18 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secy. of War has Sent to me for Distribution a number of copies of ye. Contract with James OHara, of which I herewith enclose to you Seven for the use of your the Posts within your District— With great consideration & Esteem I am Sir yr. st— ( Df , in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
25From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 25 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been for a considerable time unavoidably absent from this city. Recently returned, I find several letters from you to which I shall particularly attend as soon as objects more urgent which have accumulated in my absence will permit. My cooperation with you towards the Secretary of War in certain particulars will not be delayed. With true esteem &c Df , in the handwriting of Ethan Brown,...
26From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 5 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 5, 1800. States that Thomas Parker has recommended the Reverend William Hill for chaplain. Quotes from James McHenry’s letter of March 3, 1800. Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Thomas Parker to H, October 29, December 19, 1799 (both listed in the appendix to this volume). For Hill, see H to James McHenry, January 2, 1800, note 3 ....
27From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 17 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I now recur to your letters of the 12 of December 9th, 21 & 23 of January & 10 of February. Instructions for the Officers of Inspection will form part of the general system in preparation. In the mean time they will perform the duties which they executed in our war with Great Britain; that is they will in aid of the respective general Officers see that all the Regulations concerning the...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Nathan Rice, and William S. Smith, 18 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The proper measure of the pace is a matter of primary importance in the Tactics of the Infantry. The establishments of different Nations differ in this particular. For example—Our pace is two feet English measure. That of the French is two feet French or about 26 Inches English. That of the English is 30 of their Inches, measuring in each case from heel to heel. This is rather capricious. The...
29From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 26 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have consulted the Secretary of War on the subject of the relative rank of the Field officers. I find that the rules are applied within a regiment as well as between different regiments contrary to what was originally contemplated. In this, I understand our late Commander in Chief has coincided. This operation in particular cases is to be regretted. But perhaps it will work kindly upon the...
30From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Nathan Rice, and William S. Smith, 26 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is a plan of the Formation of a Regiment for Exercise or Battle, of which I request your mature consideration, and that you will favour me as early as may be with the result of your reflections. The more careful and particular your criticism, the more will it oblige me. ADf , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. In the margin of this letter H wrote: “Two copies as in the original...