1To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 12 January 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the 4th inst on Saturday last. After giving as much consideration as I could to the subject of the election of a President, which I perceived from conversation with some of the members of Congress who were here at christmas was likely to assume a serious form, it appeared to me that the proper line for the federal party to pursue in the case, was, to acquiesce with a...
2To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 31 December 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have recd. a letter from Mr. W. this morning in which he says. “I have made enquiry respecting the declaration of Mr. Adams while in London in Nov. 1783—it seems he thought negociations could be better conducted there than in a foreign country, and observes—‘Here with the most perfect politeness to ministers we may keep them in awe; a visit to a distinguished member of opposition, even...
3To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 1 December 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
What is past and cannot be amended between friends had better be forgotten. Let it be so if you please. I am content. I have since your last reflected upon the policy & necessity of your replying to the answers to your animadversions on the character & conduct of the President, and incline to beleive that it would be wiser to suspend, for the present any further publication on the subject....
4To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 19 November 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the 13 inst yesterday evening. [Altho’ I am not pleased at the facts attached to my name, in your letter to the President, having been brought into public view, without my consent, I can conceive nevertheless what might have prevented you from not requesting it. This supposed reason has weight if the facts could be considered of consequence, still however, in a case...
5To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 12 October 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Wolcott informed me by a letter recd yesterday evening that he was to leave the seat of Government (on a visit to his family) to day. He goes by way of Lancaster & I expect will pass through to New York in which case I pray you to give him the inclosed letter. If any accident should prevent his seeing you, be pleased to send it to him. It will shew you what I think of things here and my...
6To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 4 September 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I recd. this morning your letter dated the 27 Ulto. with the one at first intended for Major Jackson. I sincerely beleive that there is not one of your friends who have paid the least attention to the insinuations attempted to be cast on the legitimacy of your birth, or who would care or respect you less were all that your enemies say or impute on this head true. I think it will be most...
7To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 22 August 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Do you possess enough of the second sight to tell me what our friends have done and intend doing to the Eastward? God forgive me, if I make false calculations about them or deliver myself up too easily to dreams and reveries. I see nothing ex cathedra in that division of Country from which I can augur a determination adverse to the election of the present chief. Johnson says somewhere, in his...
8To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 2 June 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I placed Mr. Stoddert (who acts as Secretary of war under a temporary commission) this morning about 11 o’clock in the chair I have usually occupied; I then formally laid upon his head eight volumes of the “code militaire” by Briquet with Caesars commentaries in French; kept them upon it ’till he was nearly stupified, when I pronounced him duly installed and as well qualified to discharge the...
9To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 31 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose to your care a number of letters for General Wilkinson, which you will be pleased to deliver to him, in case he should arrive at your quarters, previously to your leaving the Army. I am Sir with great respect Your obedient servant ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
10To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 29 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 27. instant. On the receipt of your letter of the 18. instant enclosing one from Lieutenant Yelverton Peyton, a letter of which the enclosed is a Copy was written and transmitted agreeably to your request to Major Jonathan Cass of Wilmington— Enclosed is the Copy of Mr. Peytons letter to you of the 15 May I am Sir with great respect Your obed servant ( LS ,...
11To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 27 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are copies of two letters, which you will be pleased to return. They will convey to you my opinions on some recent propositions. Mr Stoddert who will after the 1st of June, exercise the duties of Secry. of war, asked me to day—if I had directed you & Gen Pinckney to thank the troops or say any clever things to them in the name of the President, on announcing to them the order for...
12To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 27 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have laid your letter dated Head Quarters Plainfield May 23d. instant, before the President. It is thought proper and expedient to suspend raising the Battalion of Artillerists additional to the second regiment of Artillerists and Engineers. You will therefore be pleased to attend to this instruction in the orders you shall issue relative to recruiting for the old establishment. The other...
13To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 20 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
There is no fact more evident to my mind, than the truth of the position, that it is impossible that our public affairs can proceed under the present chief or his antifederal rival without loss of reputation to all the agents. You are right in observing happy those who are released from the fetter. I feel so notwithstanding the wound my personal feelings received in dissolving the chain. The...
14To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 20 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The six additional troops of Cavalry are certainly intended by the Law, transmitted to you, to be disbanded, as well as the twelve additional regiments of Infantry, and would have been mentioned in my letter of instructions, had the Law itself been before me—but the certified copy thereof, was sent, to have a few printed copies struck off. You will please include in the orders, and measures,...
15To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 20 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letters of the 10 May instant. You will be pleased to inform Lieut Blake that his resignation has been accepted and that his pay and emoluments will cease on the last day of this Month— I have no objections to Lieut Wilson being Paymaster to Major Cass’s detachment or to Lieutenant Wollstonecraft being Paymaster to the Second regiment of Artillerists and Engineers—You will...
16To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 16 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have recieved the following directions from the President of the United States —“I request you, to transmit copies of the Law, for reducing the twelve regiments to Major Generals Hamilton and Pinckney, and also to the Commandants of Brigades, with orders to the Major Generals to make immediate arrangements reducing those regiments on the 14th day of June.” In compliance therewith, I do...
17To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 16 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter dated the 5th inclosing a Copy of a Letter to you dated the 4th instant from Colo. Taylor, stating that delays & embarrassments arising from what appears to have been a reluctance in the proper Officer to take up the Business, have prevented a final settlement for monies expended for public Service by the Officers of the 13th Regiment whilst on...
18To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 15 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose you an appointment for Nathaniel Baldwin as a Cadet in the twelfth Regiment of Infantry—A Warrant was sometime since forwarded to him dated in December last. But he having produced Certificates of his having done the duty of Cadet since the first day of July last, it has been thought proper to issue the enclosed. You will direct him to transmit his former appointment to this Office—...
19To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 13 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honour to communicate to you, that on the 6th instant, I requested of the President of the United States permission to resign the office of Secretary for the Department of war. To the above request, I added a proposition, that my resignation be considered, as to take place on the 1st of June next, in order that I might be for a short time in a convenient situation, to explain to...
20To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 12 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Pusy I presume is known to you by an introduction from the Marquis de la Fayette, of course he needs none from me. I mention him to you for the purpose only of bringing him to your recollection. He is in my opinion the best informed and best instructed Engineer in the U.S. and highly qualified, by his attainments and actual experience to give the soundest ideas relative to the most proper...
21To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 8 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to enclose you a Copy of a Contract entered into by Elijah and Simon House for ye supply of rations in ye. State of Connecticut— I am Sir Your obed Servant ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress), enclosing Army contract with Elijah and Simon House, October 4, 1799 (copy, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress). A note on the cover of the LS from James McHenry reads:...
22To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 8 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 5th. instant respecting the resignation of Captain Thomas Chandler of the 14. Regiment of Infantry. On recurring to the files of ye Office I find a letter from you of the 9. January Ulto. on ye same subject which in the hurry of business was omitted being attended to— You will be pleased to inform Captain Chandler that the President has accepted his...
23To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 7 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose you copies of Contracts entered into with William Colfax Robert Colfax and Alexander Richards for the supply of Rations in the States of New York Rhode Island Massachusetts Vermont and New Hampshire—the Connecticut Contract shall be forwarded to morrow— To the best of my recollection they have been twice before sent— I am Sir Your obed Servant ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of...
24To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 5 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose you two letters from E. B. Dayton to his brother the senator. It would seem, from the representations made to me, and these letters, that the demands of Col. Smith greatly distract the contractor; that he is kept in a state of uncertainty how long any orders requiring the issue of fresh or salt provisions is to be continued, that consequently it is out of his power to make...
25To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 5 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 2d. instant enclosing the resignations of Lieutenants Noyes and Hinman of the 13 Regiment of Infantry— You will be pleased to inform them that their resignations have been accepted, and that their pay and emoluments will cease on the 15th. instant. I am Sir with great respect Your obed servant ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
26To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 5 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The Gentleman to whom the within letter is addressed was in March 1799. appointed a Second Lieutenant in the first regiment of Infantry. No information of his acceptance or non acceptance has been received at this Office. It appears that he was recommended by you and Mr. Egbert Benson. Be pleased to have this letter conveyed to him I am Sir Your obed servant ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Libary of...
27To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 3 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 1. instant Dr. Samuel Davis of Ballstown was on ye. 14 September last notified of his appointment as Surgeons Mate in the twelfth Regiment of Infantry no information of his acceptance has been received at this Office. I enclose you an appointment which has been made out for Doctor William McIntosh as an additional Surgeon’s Mate you will perceive that he has...
28To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 29 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The friends of Pierson Green a private in Captain Henrys Company in the Second regiment of Artillerists and Engineers having applied to me for his discharge on account of his being disqualified for active service I directed him to be examined by Doctor Gillasspy formerly Surgeon of the 3d Regiment of Infantry who has given the following Certificate: “Philada. April 24. 1800 I certify on...
29To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 29 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
On the 15 August last I received from you the proceedings of a Court Martial in the case of Lieutenant Kreemer of the first regiment of Infantry; the sentence of which was a dismission from the service of the United States. These proceedings were accordingly laid before the President who on the 18 September approved of the Sentence and directed the same to be carried into effect If I recollect...
30To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 24 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose you a letter from Samuel Annin and sundry depositions tending to prove that Joseph Cross a Private in Captain Faulkners Company 11. Regiment was under the age of 18. Years at the time of his enlistment—You will take such order therein as to you may appear proper. I am Sir with great respect Your obed servant— ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress). There is an "X" mark in the...