Alexander Hamilton Papers
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To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 12 February 1800

From James Wilkinson1

Triplicate

New Orleans Feby. 12th 1800

Sir,

After a variety of difficulties and disappointments which will be detailed to you in a moment of more leisure, I arrived in this city yesterday at noon & have been well received, the ordinance Brig is here in safety and will proceed on her voyage up the river for Loftus’ Heights without unnecessary delay, but altho’ the attempt will be made, on a ground of œconomy, to accomplish the deposit of the cannon and public stores, immediately from the transport, yet as the practicability of the measure appears problematical, I shall make provisional arrangements, should the plan be abandoned, for lighters to receive the cargo, and convey it to its destination.

I have no direct information from our posts, but hear of no misfortune except the death of Lieut Lovel,2 which will delay the payment of the Troops, until the Paymaster may appoint some other officer to this service & send forward bills for the purpose, which should be expedited, as the Troops will soon be more than a year in arrears; and for the office, I will beg leave to name Lieut. William R. Boote, heretofore recommended to you for Paymaster to the 3rd Regiment.3

I shall leave this place tomorrow or the next day, and will write you again soon after I reach my Head Quarters, in the mean time it may suffice to say that the Spanish Government instead of offering opposition to our mode of transport, appears disposed to furnish us every necessary aid. I hear generally that our force is concentred at Loftus’ Heights, that the troops have recovered health, and that peace and harmony prevail every where, except in the Quarter of Mr. Bowie’s4 usurpations, who seems disposed for mischief, and should in my opinion, be driven out of our Territories.

With most perfect consideration and respect, I am Sir,   Your obedient servant

Ja: Wilkinson

Major General
Alexander Hamilton

LS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

1For background to this letter, see Wilkinson to H, December 15, 22, 1799; January 20, 1800.

2John M. Lovell, a lieutenant in the First Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers, who had been the acting paymaster at Natchez, died on October 24, 1799. See Caleb Swan to H, January 4, April 21, 1800 (letters listed in the appendix to this volume).

3Wilkinson to H, December 18, 1799 (listed in the appendix to this volume).

4William Augustus Bowles, a native of Maryland, was a Loyalist who fought with the British during the American Revolution. After the war, he became an adventurer and freebooter, and he spent much of his life among the Creek Indians in Florida. From 1798 to 1803 he led three filibustering expeditions against the Spanish in Florida.

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