1. Section 5 of “An Act making alterations in the Treasury and War Departments” provided “that all purchases and contracts for supplying the army with provisions, clothing, supplies in the quartermaster’s department, military stores, Indian goods, and all other supplies or articles for the use of the department of war, be made by or under the direction of the treasury department” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 279–81 [May 8, 1792]). This act also provided for the creation of the office of commissioner of the revenue, to which Coxe was appointed.

On April 14, 1794, Coxe wrote to Henry Knox: “The Secretary of the Treasury … informed me that he has communicated to you the arrangement for procuring the military naval & Indian supplies in future thro’ this office” (LC, RG 75, Letters of Tench Coxe, Commissioner of the Revenue, Relating to the Procurement of Military, Naval, and Indian Supplies, National Archives).

On July 8, 1794, Coxe wrote to H and referred to “your letter of the 6 of April, requesting me to act temporarily in the War business of the Treasury.” Apparently Coxe was mistaken about the date of his appointment to handle the military, naval, and Indian supplies for the War Department.