1Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 3 December 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
on my arrival at Washington from Virginia I enclosed your note to your friends at Richmond concerning the pay for plaster, to my Son in Boston , with a request that he would procure the plaster & have it sent to Richmond
2To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 17 October 1815 (Madison Papers)
From my own knowledge of Majr. Harris’s charactor and services, and from information received from many officers of distinction, I have no doubt of the correctness of the accompanying narative, and I think his claim to rank, as stated by Genl. Ripley, no more than he is clearly entitled to. His highly respectable standing in society, added to his faithfull and distinguished services, form such...
3Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on a Conversation with Henry Dearborn, 7 October 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
1815. Oct. 7. Gen l Dearborne informs me that the plaister of Paris is brought from the head of the Bay of Funday , where it extends all along the coast Windsor is the nearest town. the price pd to the proprietor for the stone is a quarter dollar a ton; and it is quarried & brought to the water edge for three quarter dollars a ton, so that it costs at the water edge a dollar a ton. MS ( DLC );...
4To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 29 September 1815 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Henry Dearborn. 29 September 1815, Farrese Inn, Green Spring. “Mrs. Dearborn & myself are on our way to Monticello, we intended paying our respects to yourself and Mrs Madison previous to our visit at Monticello, but being anxious to reach the end of our journey while the good weather continues & before the roads became worse, we have concluded to pass on, and to take the liberty of...
5Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 26 September 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
If no new causes of delay occur I we shall set out tomorrow morning for Monticello . I wrote to M r Rodney immediately after I was honored with your friendly letter , and expected on my arrival at Wilmington that he would have Joined me at this place & proceeded on with us, but his official, or professional, ingagements disappointed me of the pleasure of his company. I am now fear that my...
6Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 3 July 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I should not have so long delay’d a reply to your very friendly & polite letter had circumstancies allowed me to mention the time when I could probably have the pleasure of seing you at Monticello . I have Just returned from a visit to my Children in the District of Maine , and I hope Mr s Dearborn & myself shall have the pleasure of seing you in Septem r probably near the end of the month.—...
7Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 27 February 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with peculier satisfaction that I can congratulate you on the happy and honorable termination of a war, that was forced upon our Country, by the impolitic and unjust measures of the British Government. but while I rejoice at the close of the war & at the glorious events which terminated our Military conflicts, I feel the most severe mortification & depression, as a Citizan of...
8To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 26 January 1815 (Madison Papers)
I should not take the liberty of addressing the following observations to yourself; had I not recently heard that the Secretary of War is very unwell. The Court Martial for the trial of Genl. Wilkinson has been in session twenty three days, and for the want of the principle witnesses on the part of the prosecution, no witnesses have yet been examined, the Judge Advocate having declined...
9To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 6 September 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour of inclosing the orders of Govr. Strong, which are as I understand to be considered as a substitute for a compliance with my request for turning out a body of Militia as stated in my Letter of the 5 th Inst. to the Department of War, by the inclosed orders no provision is made for the defence of any part of the District of Maine where the Enemy are now in considerable force....
10To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 17 June 1814 (Madison Papers)
By the request of Genl. Boyd I take the liberty of stating to you my opinion of his conduct at the landing of our Troops in uper Canada near Fort George. On that occasion I had an opportunity of observing the conduct of Genl. Boyd while landing at the head of his Brigade, under a very heavy and galling fire from a large body of British Troops, his conduct & that of Col Scott on that occasion...
11To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 6 June 1814 (Madison Papers)
The Bearer Mr. Eakin late Pay-Master for this District having requested me to say what I know of his character as a Public Officer—I feel no objection to stating that as far as my acquaintance with Mr. Eakin’s Character extends, he has been attentive to the duties of his Office and has been considered as a capable & correct Officer. Such appears to be the genl. Opinion of the principal...
12Enclosure: Henry Dearborn’s Statement Regarding Elias Earle’s Ironworks, 29 March 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
In the early part of the Year 1807 Col Elias Earle of South Carolina proposed to the Secretary of war the establishing of Iron works, with suitable Shops in the Cherokee Nation —on the following conditions viz) that a suitable place should be looked out & selected, where sufficent quantities of Good ore Could be found in the Vicinity of Good streams of water for such establishment, & that the...
13To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 21 October 1813 (Madison Papers)
By the direction of the Secretary of War I am at this place; and having visited the principal posts I consider it my duty, in the absence of the Secretary of war, to state to you the situation of the important posts in the vicinity of this City. The works are strong and extensive, and with suitable garrisons are well calculated for the defence of the Harbour and City; but the number of Troops...
14To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 17 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 8th. Inst. It is peculierly gratifying in my present situation, to be assured that your esteem & regard for me has undergone no change, and that you are persuaded that I shall not lose in any respect by the effect of time or truth. But at my time of life it could hardly be expected that I should quietly acquiesce in so unusual and so unprese[de]nted...
15To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 24 July 1813 (Madison Papers)
From the unequivocal and positive order received from the Secretary of War, (a copy of which I take the liberty of enclosing) I had no option but implicit obedience. My health had so far improved as to enable me to reassume the command on the 26th. of June, of which I notified the Secretary of War. I received a letter from the Secretary of War dated May 27th. in which I was informed that Majr....
16To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 7 April 1813 (Madison Papers)
The good of the service as well as a due regard to my own charactor, induces me to give you a scetch of the present state of affairs in the 9th. Military District. The Act of Congress for improving the organization of the Staff of the Army, and repealing such parts of the former Laws as come within the purview of the new Act, is concidered as displacing the officers who were appointed under...
17To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 22 March 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have recently been informed that intimation had been circulated at Washington that Majr. Wingate my Son in law, Mr. Ilsley, the Collector at Portland and several other respectable charactors at Portland & Bath, had favour’d the Clintoinan [ sic ] faction, and it is feared that the story had reached you. My personal & particular knowledge of the sentiments & conduct of those Gentlemen...
18To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 13 March 1813 (Madison Papers)
As the number of additional Majr. Genels. recently appointed will enable the Executive to select such as may be best qualified for the most important commands, I hope the power will be exercised freely, and in such maner as the public good may require, regarding no other concideration than that of the qualities of the respective officers, and be assured Sir that no one will more readily &...
19To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 14 February 1813 (Madison Papers)
I was the last evening honored with your letter of the 6th. Inst. Why Genl. Smyth has not thought it expedient to request a Court of Enquirey, I am at a loss to conjecture, the method he has prefered, towit, a newspaper defence & Justification, is unusual in such cases, and not calculated to produce a satisfactory result. I had presumed that his friends would advise him to request a regular...
20To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 16 December 1812 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to observe that I concider it of the utmost importance that improvements should be effected as soon as may be in the Staff Departments of the Army, and especially in that of the Quartr. Mastr. Genl. and it is indispen[s]able that the Q, M, G, should be a real man of business, in addition to good talents, general information & integrity, he should be habitually industrious, energetic...
21To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 13 December 1812 (Madison Papers)
I confidently hope that the Campaign that has now closed, has afforded sufficient evidence of the necessary of having a regular Army fully competent for all offensive opperations, from fifteen to twenty additional Regiments, ought in my opinnion, to be raised North of the Potomack, what additional force will be necessary to the South, & west, I have found no opinnion. If an adaquate force...
22To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 24 October 1812 (Madison Papers)
The Secretary of war has undoubtedly informed you of the unfortunate event at Niagara. It undoubtedly originated with two or three indiscreet ardent spirits, whose political and personal feelings could not brook the Idea of having any share of the honour of an effective movement attached to those officers and men that were more immediately under the direction of the U. S. But Genl. Van...
23To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 30 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
Unless the Troops destined for Detroit & Niagara, with those on the Eastern shore of Lake Ontario & Upper St Lawrence, aided by the Naval Preparations, now commencing in that quarter, shall be fortunate enough to penetrate Upper Canada, before winter sets in, we shall have the credit of an unfortunate Campaign. After it become [ sic ] necessary to detach a large proportion of the regular...
24To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 15 August 1812 (Madison Papers)
I was this day honored with your letter of the 9th. inst. having been placed in a very unpleasant situation I have endeavored to make the best arrangements for the ultimate success of our Army, that circumstancies permit, the perticular circumstancies which have occasioned the most unfortunate imbarrasments, were my having no orders or directions in relation to uper Canada, (which I had...
25To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 3 July 1812 (Madison Papers)
Notwithstanding all the objections that have been made to gunboats, they are now call’d for, and I am fully persuaded that they may afford more security and protection to our extensive Seacoast than can be given by any other means we possess. There ought to be at least from sixty to seventy, on the Coast of New England, we have, a great number of ports & harbours with Towns & vilages,...
26To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 26 June 1812 (Madison Papers)
Our political opponents in, and out, of the Legislature, are endeavouring to inspire as general an opposition to the measures of the Genl. Government as possible, how far they will venture toward an open resistence, is uncertain, nothing but their fears will prevent their going all lengths. It is said that they have not received so satisfactory information from New York, as they had expected....
27To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 12 June 1812 (Madison Papers)
As the ultimate question in relation to war must soon be decided, and it may be concidered expedient to appoint a Collector for this place, I take the liberty of observing that as you were pleased to mention to me, the propriety, (if practicable,) of placing the Collectorship in such hands as would render it convenient to restore me to that place, in the event of a short war, I have prevailed...
28To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 6 April 1812 (Madison Papers)
As the principal object of the command, which may be confided to my direction, will probably be the conquest of Lower Canada, it may not be improper for me to Suggest the outlines of what occurs to my mind, in relation to principal points of attack, the probable means of defense, and the necessary force for rendering Success as certain, as the usual exigencies of War will admit; taking into...
29To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 4 April 1812 (Madison Papers)
Having written a letter to the Secretary of War, in which I have expressed a readiness to enter on the duties of my military appointment, I take the liberty, from the conversations that have passed on the subject, of reminding you, that I shall take it for granted, that the office of collector at Boston, will be kept open until war be actually commenced, or abandoned for the present and that...
30To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 21 March 1812 (Madison Papers)
Will not the late discovery of Treasonable intentions, render it expedient to be more cautious, in appointing Federal characters (especially in the Northern States) to the higher grades in the Army. A conciderable portion of Field officers are Federal, and if a still greater proportion of the Genl. officers should be of that description, would not the active supporters of the Government, and...