To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 3 May 1799
From William S. Smith
East Chester [New York] May 3, 1799. “I have been honoured with your Letter of the first of may; having always understood that Capt Church tho’ honoured by the appointment of being your Aid De Camp, intended, with your permission to recruit his Company; I mentioned to him, when in Town last, that the money & recruiting instructions, were ready for him, when it was convenient for you to spare him, & for himself to proceed; I have however no particular wish that he should perform this duty, unless it should be pointedly agreable to you, as I conclude you cannot at present spare him, I take the liberty of requesting your influence with the war-office that the 6th. section of the act for the better organizing of the Troops of the United States,1 be executed as promptly as possible.…”
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Section 6 of “An Act for the better organizing of the Troops of the United States; and for other purposes” states in part: “That when any officer shall be detached from a regiment to serve as an aid to a general officer … the place of such officer in his regiment shall be supplied by promotion or new appointment, or both, as may be requisite …” ( 752 [March 3, 1799]).