511To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 3 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you an extract of a letter just received from Colonel Thomas Butler dated Belle Canton April 8. 1799— and am Sir with great respect Your obedient Servant ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress), enclosing Thomas Butler to McHenry, April 8, 1799 (extract, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
512To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 4 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Lieutenant General Washington having declined agreeably to the condition upon which he accepted of his appointment, any Command whatever of the Army of the United States u⟨ntil⟩ such time as his presence in the Field shall be required for actu⟨al ope⟩rations, or his Services demanded by peculiar and urgent circum⟨stances⟩ it is therefore proper to make such arrangements respecting the...
513To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 30 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
You must be fully aware how liable the Executive is to be misled in forming a just estimate of the character of candidates for military appointments, when it must, so often, depend upon recommendations that may have been obtained by the importunity of applicants, from a desire to oblige some friend, or to avoid creating an enemy or, perhaps given in the hope that the army may serve to suppress...
514To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 1 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are Copies of several letters and papers which were contained in a Dispatch I received open, from the Commanding Officer on the Mississippi and Tombigbee Rivers, T. H. Cushing, addressed to Brigadier General Wilkinson, and afterwards delivered to that General, while he was at Trenton. In the letter marked No. 1. from Major Cushing to Brigadier Genl. Wilkinson dated Camp, Mulberry...
515To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 28 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are copies of letters to General Lincoln and Jonathan Jackson, by which you will see the barracks on Castle Island are to be repaired and a new barrack erected and that the latter is to be employed as a Hospital for sick seamen and marines. I request you will issue such orders, as you may judge proper, to the commanding Officer to prevent such intercourse between the troops in...
516To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, November 25, 1799. Questions the validity of John F. Hamtramck’s statement that a number of officers do not know “the common rules of arithmetic and how to write.” States that if the officers are so illiterate, “it is high time, that the facts be ascertained and a decisive remedy adopted.” Requests that Hamilton “require Colonel Hamtramck to designate the officers who come...
517To 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,...
518To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 19 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 16th inst. this morning. It is out of my power to send you the distribution you ask for, as contained in the report made to me in Decmbr. ulto. by the Commander in chief. The instructions My instructions dated the 4th inst. contains whatever the commander in chief has said on this subject. His answer to my queries omitted entirely assigning any stations to 4...
519To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 5 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
On referring to the return for Cloathing transmitted in your letter of the 22d. August Ultimo, I find that it does not designate the number of the Infantry regiment to which the Troops at each Garrison belong, consequently it will not enable the Storekeeper to make up the quantities for each according to the number of the regiment. I request this omission may be supplied as soon as possible— I...
520To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 15 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Rhea has this moment put into my hands the inclosed, being copy of the contract for Woodbury. This closes the contracts for the state of Jersey. The Cloathing for Jersey is in readiness, buttons excepted which are under way yours will it not be proper to furnish the Lt. Col Ogden with copies of the co ntra cts? ( ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress), enclosing a contract for supplies...
521To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 27 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have laid your letter dated Head Quarters Plainfield May 23d. instant, before the President. It is thought proper and expedient to suspend raising the Battalion of Artillerists additional to the second regiment of Artillerists and Engineers. You will therefore be pleased to attend to this instruction in the orders you shall issue relative to recruiting for the old establishment. The other...
522To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 23rd. instant, respecting an unauthorized expence incurred by Col. Bentley in binding the Hats for the Soldiers of his Regiment. It is certainly by no means agreeable to oppose the admission of such Charges when incurred under the circumstances stated to me, and yet when it is recollected that your instructions to Col. Bentley were pointed and precise...
523To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 28 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is a Copy of a letter from the Accountant of the War Department, containing his information relative to the Claims upon due bills held by the first Regiment— I am with great respect Sir your obt Servt ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress), enclosing William Simmons to McHenry, September 28, 1799 (copy, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
524To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 14 May 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letters and papers. I added to them, but changed nothing, for the train of ideas in both ran in the same channel and embraced the same objects. The speech extenuates nought—recommends proper measures—promises a fresh attempt at negotiation—and declares the principles by which administration mean to be governed, in other words that the President will follow the principles of the...
525To 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...
526To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 8 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your public letter of the 6 and another (private) dated also on the 6th. The latter this morning. Your instructions are and have been some days with the President. The moment he is pleased to decide so as to enable me to proceed you shall have them. I spoke to him yesterday, on the subject: he had not considered them, and seemed to insinuate the affair need not be hurried. I...
527To 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...
528To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 2 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
A Complaint grounded on the inclosed original papers, was yesterday made to me, against Captain White of the 11th. regiment, who has been recruiting at Dover in the State of Delaware. The papers inclosed are, 1st. A Statement of circumstances, respecting the conduct of Captain White, relative to certain enlistments, which if they can be substantiated, would seem to involve the character of...
529To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 1 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose you a Passport from the Secretary of State intended for the Vessel which is to carry the Ordnance and Military Stores to the Mississippi—You will be pleased to fill up the blanks with your own hand writing and transmit to me a Copy of the Passport, I have the honor to be with great respect Your obed servant— ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; LS , letterpress copy, James...
530To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 8 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It was suggested for your consideration in my letter of the 12 of July, a Copy of which is inclosed to transfer certain troops at Fort McHenry from the Infantry to the Artillery, which I understood was desired. As Cloathing is wanted and cannot be forwarded until it is known whether this transfer is to take place I wish to be informed of the orders you may have given— With great respect I have...
531To 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...
532To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 19 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, March 19, 1799. Encloses “copies of two Letters from General Wilkinson, one dated Novr. 6, the other Decr. 6, 1798.…” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. In this letter James Wilkinson wrote in part: “It is impossible for me to ascertain the Fact, but I have cause to believe that Governor [Manuel] Gayoso [de Lemos], notwithstanding his professions … has held connivance...
533To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 29 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the 26th instant, and answer. I have again considered the present and probable services rendered and that may be rendered by Colonel Stevens, compared them with the duties of the storekeeper at Philadelphia, and superintendant of military stores and the respective compensations received by those Officers; the result of which is, that unless the services to be rendered...
534To John Jay from James McHenry, 10 May 1800 (Jay Papers)
The Secretary of State communicated to me on the 7 th instant, your letter to him, dated the 16 th ulto, transmitting exempli^fi^ed copies of two Acts of the Legislature of the State of New York. The one entitled “An Act to cede to the United States the Jurisdiction of certain Islands, situate in and about the Harbour of New York” the other “An Act, complying with the Act of Congress,...
535Enclosure: James McHenry to Henry Knox, [19 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
An answer to your letter of the 5th instant has been delayed by some degree of ill health on my part. The general disposition it marks accords with the patriotic sentiments you have so consistently manifested. It is extremely regretted that any circumstance should induce you to hesitate about the acceptance of an appointment in which it is not to be doubted your services would be eminently...
536Enclosure: James McHenry to John McHenry, Junior, 20 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
You will no doubt be somewhat surprised to hear that I resigned the office of Secretary of war, the resignation to take effect on the 1st of June, on the 6th instant, and may feel perhaps a momentary regret at my leaving the administration before you had closed your political career. I will mention to you some general circumstances inducing to this event, reserving a more particular detail...
537James McHenry to the Military Committee of New York City, 13 June 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of war, requests the opinion of the gentlemen composing the military committee of New York on the following particulars, with such observations, as they may think proper to favour him with, relative to the defence of the harbour and City. Supposing batteries & block houses to be established at the following points vz. a battery at Sandy Hook, opposite the middle ground; three...
538To George Washington from James McHenry, 29 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
I received, this morning, your letter of the 23d inst. for which I am much obliged to you. I did not in my own mind consider you dilatory in your answer, aware of the nature of your employments, and the incessant interruptions, by company to which you are subject. There are one or two points you mention which I shall say a few words to. The officers of the additional Regiments were put upon...
539To George Washington from James McHenry, 2 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
I was too much hurried with business before leaving Philada to answer your last letter of the 14th of Augt and since my arrival here I have had a bilious fever, and more business than if I had remained in Philada, according to which reasoning I ought not to answer it now. The fact is I perhaps should have suspended the pleasure a little longer, if I had not received to-day the enclosed letter...
540To George Washington from James McHenry, 3 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
You will hardly stand in need of the inclosed paper to convince you of its writers principles altho’ it may be necessary as a proof of his criminal intentions. It is to be laid before Congress to-day. There are some circumstances that would induce a belief that there is more of French in the plot than British; altho’ Chisholm actually had conversation last winter with the British minister on...