241From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 21 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you My Dear Sir for the military figures you have sent me. Tactics you know are literally or figuratively of very comprehensive signification. As people grow old they decline in some arts though they may improve in others. I will try to get Mrs. Hamilton to accompany in games of Tactics new to her. Perhaps she may get a taste for them & become better reconciled to my connection with...
242From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 21 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 21, 1799. “The suggestion respecting the Cavalry in your letter of the 18th. instant leads to the supposition that the actual raising of the additional troops will be postponed for a considerable time. Though I have no doubt that powerful motives will have influenced this intention; yet I cannot but regret their existence; as well because the body of Cavalry provided for would...
243From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 22 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 22, 1799. Encloses a letter from William S. Smith and suggests that it be forwarded to President Adams for his decision. States: “Let me recall to your mind the establishment of rules of promotion & especially the principle that when the field officers of the new Regiments are once appointed the Routine begins.” ALS (photostat), James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress; copy,...
244From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 24 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 24, 1799. Discusses duties and salary of Ebenezer Stevens. States: “The necessity of a more adequate organisation of our Departments of Military supplies (to which adequate compensation is an essential idea) presses more and more upon my conviction. The details of execution are extremely defective.” Gives examples of defects in supply system and concludes: “These are small...
245From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 25 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I conclude from your letter by todays post, that your own opinion in regard to the raising of a Troop of horse is made up and that you only delay a determination from the necessity of a reference elsewhere. This is a point, which I have so much at heart that I should be sorry any thing should be risked about it. If you think there is the least danger of disappointment, I will write to the...
246From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 25 June[–1 July] 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 25 [ –July 1 ] 1799 . Summarizes the contents of “letters … from Major Rivardi, at Niagara,” which “contain very unpleasant representations of the state of things at that post.” Describes steps taken to meet some of Rivardi’s complaints. States: “It appears by the statement of which a copy is enclosed that debts have been contracted for purposes of the garrison to the amount of...
247From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 27 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It is a pity, My Dear Sir, and a reproach, that our administration have no general plan. Certainly there ought to be one formed without delay. If the Chief is too desultory, his Ministers ought to be the more united and steady and well settled in some reasonable system of measures. Among other things—It should be agreed what precise force should be created naval and land , and this...
248From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 2 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I beg leave to recall your attention to the suggestion contained in my letter of the 21st. of June, respecting the raising mounting and equipping of one of the Six additional troops of Horse together with the Non commissioned Officers of the other Troops—and to request your final direction on the subject. The service of the Cavalry in this Country has never been but imperfectly understood....
249From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 3 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I transmit you the proceedings of a Court Martial in the case of Joseph Perkins, who is sentenced to death for desertion aggravated by very atrocious circumstances. I see nothing to occasion a doubt as to the regularity of the proceedings or the propriety of the sentence. I observe indeed that in this as in a former instance the articles on which the sentence is founded are not specified. But...
250From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 6 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 6, 1799. Quotes from Colonel Thomas Parker’s letter of June 30 concerning lack of clothing for recruits and states: “If any thing remains to be done to accelerate the arrival of the Cloathing I pray that it may be done and that inferior considerations may give way to the necessity of preserving contentment among the troops and maintaining in their eyes the justice and...
251From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 8 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the rules transmitted in your letter of the 2d. instant relative to rank & promotion. They appear to me founded on just principles nor do I know that they can be improved. I will however present to your consideration some observations on two or three points. It seems to me questionable whether the preference given to full Colonels of the deranged Officers over Lt Col Comts.,...
252From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 9 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 9, 1799. “I have the honor to acknowlege the Receipt of your letter of yesterday with the list of some new appointments, in the 7th, 8 & 9 Regts which will be communicated to the respective commandants.… On this subject of Cadets it may be proper to fix some rule. I doubt the present expediency of appointing more than two to each Regiment of Infantry. But it is believed to be...
253From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 10 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 10, 1799. Quotes from Josias Carvel Hall’s letter of June 25, 1799 , concerning the shortage of clothing and states: “I trust that … the deficiencies complained of have been obviated. The continually increasing catalogue is very embarrassing.” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
254From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 10 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 10, 1799. “I send you an Extract of a letter of the 20th June from Col: Hunewell, recommending Eli Forbes Esqr. for Captain in place of Capt. Philips. It was an idea talked of between us though not settled, that the routine of promotion should take effect in ⟨ea⟩ch regiment as soon as the places of field Officers were ⟨ac⟩tually filled. If this rule is to govern it would be an...
255From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 10 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Why, My Dear friend, do you suffer the business of providing to go on as it does. Every moment proves the insufficiency of the existing plan & the necessity of auxiliaries. I have no doubt that at Baltimore N York Providence & Boston additional supplies of Cloathing may promptly be procured & prepared by your Agents & it ought to be done though it should enhance the expence. Tis terrible at...
256From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 11 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 11, 1799. Quotes from Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Parker’s “letter of the 3d Inst.” concerning the shortage of clothing and states: “You see how the delay works & how necessary it is to apply an instant remedy.” Copy, in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
257From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 12 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The contracts which have been made for the supply of the troops on the sea board have contemplated a small scale of issues, where to be worth the undertaking, the price must be high. Accordingly in most of the States the price is much greater than it ought to be. It has occurred to me as possible to reduce it. It is in the option of the Government to station its troops where it will. It is not...
258From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 17 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 17, 1799. “Power has been given to the Inspector General to appoint a Secretary. For some time I have employed in this Capacity a person, who is a mere copyist, with an allowance less than the law authorises to be given to the Secretary. But I have now appointed as permanent Secretary, Thomas Y How of Trenton in New Jersey. The Kind of person required for this station, and who...
259From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [17 July 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
I perceive by your letter of the 16th. that mine of the 12th has not been rightly understood. Its principal object was the supply of the present year. This it aimed at cheapening by exciting a competition among the actual Contractors , on the ground that the troops, while not required for actual service, might be stationed collectively where the supply was cheapest, as at Brunswick or Trenton...
260From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 22 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The information respecting the causes which have interfered with the supply of Cloathing contained in your letter of the 10th. instant received on Saturday is in train to be communicated by a circular letter. I am glad to find that so much progress has been made. If the Contractor delivers in two thirds of the daily quantity he promises, and the articles are expeditiously forwarded, it will...
261From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 22 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to send you an abstract of the returns of the Troops under my command so far as they have been received. They are not complete & from the imperfection of the forms very far from satisfactory. In some instances it is not possible to distinguish with certainty to what regiments the men belong which has prevented the abstract being digested regimentally. This will be remedied as...
262From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 22 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The return lately sent me shews strongly the want of system of your Agents. Instead of an equal apportionment, while some Regiments are altogether without certain articles, others have a full or very ample supply of them. This appears particularly as to Muskets, Cartouch boxes, Knapsacks & Canteens . With regard to some of these articles, indeed, I know that orders have been given for supplies...
263From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [29] July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I return you enclosed your draft of a letter dated the 25 instant to the several contractors &c with a paragraph at foot which is submitted to be added for reasons that itself will announce. The doubts you mention are natural. They had occurred to my mind. But considering that the Public is entirely free as to the stationing of the troops, I think that both in candour and good policy the...
264From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 29 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to acknowlege the receipt of your letter of the 25 instant inclosing a warrant for the execution of Serjeant Hunt. I have reflected carefully on the point submitted to our joint consideration, and upon the whole I incline to the side of Forbearance. The temper of our country is not a little opposed to the frequency of Capital punishment. Public opinion, in this respect, though...
265From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 30 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In the list of additional appointments, which you lately transmitted to me, I find the names of several persons as Captains and first Lieutenants in the 9th. 14th & 15 Regiments who were not before officers of those Regiments. Whether I have been in any instance accessory to a circumstance of this nature, I do not now recollect, but be this as it may, I am sorry that it has happened. For as it...
266From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 30 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
On a subject, not very familiar to my experience I thot it well to consult others (one at a distance) which has occasioned a delay in fulfilling the object of your letter of the 24th of June respecting regulations for issuing straw, fuel &. I send you herewith the result of my enquiries and reflections. In regard to fuel, the late improvements in the construction of chimneys by Count Rumford,...
267From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 31 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to transmit the proceedings of two General Courts Martial in the cases of Capt. Frye & Doctor Osborne with transcripts of general Orders containing my opinion concerning them. You will observe the ill use which has been made by Capt. Frye of a correspondence with you, and my remark on that point. It is understood that this circumstance had weight with the Court. With great...
268From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 31 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
You will see my Dear friend in the case of Capt. Frey the evil tendency of correspondence by the head of the War Department with inferior officers, when there is a superior. For a thousand good reasons it cannot be too carefully avoided. Perhaps a sudden emergency where the superior officer is in a situation that recourse to him might defeat the object is the only exception. Yrs. truly ALS ,...
269From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 5 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
If there be any thing in my general order lately sent you, which imputes to the Secretary of War ignorance or inattention, I agree with you, my Dear friend, that it ought not to have been there. I add that if done with design it would be a very culpable indecorum. But if it does bear this construction, I have very clumsily executed my own intention. And I give you my honor that so far from...
270From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 13 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It is now time to take measures for the establishment of the additional Regiments in Winter Quarters. It has been already determined to dispose of them in four bodies and the positions generally have been designated. These positions will of course be adhered to, unless alterations shall become expedient from considerations relative to the comparitive prices of rations at different places. It...