421To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 2 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, Trenton, November 2, 1799. “I received this morning your letter of the 31st Octbr. ulto. enclosing and submitting for appraisal, a project of a new arrangement of the officers of the four old Regiments of Infantry. The books and records of this office being packed up, it is out of my power to make any comparison between the project and the order in which these officers stand in...
422To George Washington from James McHenry, 8 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to be obliged to communicate to you, that a malignant fever, has again not only made its appearance, but some progress in this unfortunate City; and that an attack of my old bilious complaint, at present confines me, and prevents me, from making preparations, for removing my family, and the Office. The enclosed copy of a late letter, to the President of the United States, will...
423To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 17 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The President has been pleased to make the following appointments. viz— Thirteenth Regiment Joseph Trowbridge Surgeon. Timothy Peirce Mate John Spaulding ditto Fourteenth Regiment Charles Blake Surgeon Luther Stearns Mate Josiah Dwight ditto Fifteenth Regiment. Oliver Mann Surgeon Jonathan White Mate
424To John Adams from James McHenry, 27 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose the Proceedings of a General Court Martial, held at the City Hall, of the City of New York, by order of Major General Hamilton, for the trial of such persons as should be brought before it, on the 16th. day of April 1799. At this Court Richard Hunt a Serjeant in a Company of the 2d. Regiment of Artillerists, and Engineers, commanded by Captain Still and stationed at West Point, was...
425To John Adams from James McHenry, 12 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honour to receive, this morning, your letter of the 7th of July inst. It is very certain, Sir, that nothing was more remote from my thoughts, than to bring into comparison, the re l ative importance of the Navy and Army; and I believe, I shall never take the liberty, to call upon you to decide, what I flatter myself, it is impossible can ever happen, any dispute between Mr...
426To George Washington from James McHenry, 6 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have received to-day your letter of the 3d inst. which contained the agreeable account of your safe arrival at home, and the objects with which you are surrounded. I am not sorry to hear that you have found so immediate employment; for altho’ I wish the hammering business was over and the smell of the oil gone I do not think either so great an enemy to happiness as having nothing to do. I...
427Enclosure: James McHenry to George Washington, 10 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
It appears by a letter from the President, dated Quincy Octr. 22. 1798, that it will not be in his power to be in Philadelphia ’till near the time fixed upon for the meeting of Congress. In order however to prevent any injury to the public service, as it respects officering the troops, directed to be raised by the late acts of Congress, he has written to me as follows: “If you, and the...
428To George Washington from James McHenry, 3 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
The crisis, and almost universal wish of the people, to see you at the head of the armies of the United States, has been too strong to be resisted, the President has yielded to causes so powerful and nominated you accordingly, which has been unanimously confirmed to-day by the Senate. Thus you are again called upon by all voices, to fill a station which all think you alone qualified for at...
429To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 3 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are regulations adopted by the President of the United States, relative to military rank and promotion. The Commander in chief, to whom they were submitted, made no objection to take upon himself, to determine the relative rank of those officers who had not been in service. I have therefore prefered leaving this point as it stood originally. I shall transmit to the Commander in Chief...
430To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 11 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just recieved a letter (of which the enclosed is a Copy) dated the 5th. instant from General Knox. I request you will attentively consider, the subject of it; and favour me with your opinion thereon. I am Sir, with great respect your obedt. hble servant LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For an explanation of the contents of this letter and its enclosure, see the...
431To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 14 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that I forwarded by yesterdays mail the letters for Major Adlum and the Commanding Officer at Fort Mifflin, which were enclosed in your letter of the 10. September instant— I am Sir with great respect Your obedient Servant ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; LS , letterpress copy, James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress).
432To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 10 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 10, 1799. “… I should prefer for the present, to continue the distribution of the command of the troops of the United States, as declared in your instructions dated the 4th. of February ultimo. If hereafter, without reference merely to the Artillery, and upon general considerations, it should be found convenient to annex Maryland to General Pinckneys district it will be...
433To John Adams from James McHenry, 26 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to submit a letter just received from Robert Gilmore Esquire, Chairman of a Committee of Gentlemen charged with the general superintendance of, and disbursing of Monies, for the Fortifications erecting at Baltimore, for the defence of that City and Harbour. The representation made so far as it goes, appears to me strictly correct:—The fact that a Committee consisting of...
434To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 1 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Mr. Allen respecting Litchfield as a good recruiting rendezvous and Lt. Beebe as a good recruiting Officer to be employed in that place. Will you give the request your attention in making your arrangements. I am D Sir Yours ( ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress), enclosing John Allen to McHenry, March 25, 1799 ( ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
435To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 25, 1799. “… I transmitted last Tuesday by a Mr: Jones (lately appointed Consul at Orleans) a Duplicate of your letter to General Wilkinson.… For the present I should not incline to give the Indians any encouragement on the subject of their illegal Sales, or respecting the possibility of a treaty to repurchase &c. Let us see a little more of the development of the plot of...
436To George Washington from James McHenry, 28 December 1798 (Washington Papers)
I received two letters from you on your route home respecting my young freind Mr Custis, and one under date of the 16th inst. written at Susquehannah. Your ideas relative to the distribution of the general officers and their respective duties and commands correspond perfectly with my own. I hope no untoward circumstance will intervene to prevent their being carried into execution, and that I...
437To John Adams from James McHenry, 5 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of War in conformity with the orders of the President has the honour to offer the following observations and suggestions relative to the objects of the Presidents letter of the 15th Ulto. With respect to the speech. It appears adviseable that it should be chiefly if not wholly confined to the foreign affairs of the country giving to these with France the primary and prominent...
438To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to request that you would be pleased, to give the necessary orders that the Cadets in the fortifications on the Sea Board, and at West Point may receive the same allowance of fuel ⅌ month as is granted to the Lieutenants, agreeably to the regulations established by this Department— I am Sir with respect Your obed servant ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
439To John Adams from James McHenry, 30 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of War begs leave to sub mit to the president certain facts and considerations which respect the situation of his department. 1. That the appropriation for the Salary of Clerks in the War Office is Four thousand and forty Dollars. 2. That this Sum was for a certain time thought sufficient for Seven Clerks. 3. That finding it inadequate to their support it became necessary in...
440To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
This is sunday, and I shall employ, a part of it, in returning my acknowledgments for the candor, friendship and sincerity which is evidenced in your letter of the 25th instant. In answering to your questions I shall follow your own order. You ask in the name and in behalf of the officers who have been appointed, and of the army intended to be raised, what keeps back the commissions and...
441To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 11 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April 11, 1799. Acknowledges receipt of Hamilton’s letters of April 8 and 9, 1799 , and notes that the contents of the letter of April 8 “will be duly weighed and attended to,” but that until a “more perfect” system for supplying the troops is adopted, the existing system, as outlined in his letter to Hamilton of March 21, 1799 , will remain in effect. States that he is ready...
442To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 19 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, June 19, 1799. “I received this morning your letter of the 17th instant. I have ordered two thousand dollars to be forwarded to the Paymaster of the 12 and an equal sum to the Paymaster of the 13th Regiment.… There has been also delivered to the Paymaster of the Tenth Regiment One thousand five hundred and forty four dollars and fifty cents.…” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of...
443Enclosure: James McHenry to John Adams, 31 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I respectfully take the Liberty to state to you my recollection of the substance and incidents of the conversation which passed between us on the evening (the 5th instt) preceding my Resignation of the Office of Secretary for the Department of War. I dined on the same day with Mr Nicklin, and was at table when informed that my Servant waited at the door to see me. He brought me a Note which...
444To John Adams from James McHenry, 6 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour to recieve by this mornings mail your letter dated Quincy Augt. 29 Ulto. In making out the commissions for General Knox Pinckney & Hamilton, I shall follow the order you prescribe, and date Gen. Knox’s on the first day, General Pinckney’s on the second, and General Hamiltons on the third. You observe to me “There has been too much intrigue in this business, both with General...
445To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 16 October 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
You will see by the enclosed, the steps I have taken, and the information and the aid which I expect to derive from the Major Generals in case it is approved. I know not how all this is to end, and feel perfectly tired of the uncertainty in which so many important measures are kept fettered and involved. I hope you will approve of this exposition, and the propriety of my fortifying or...
446To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 10 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The enclosed list of Officers for the Troops to be raised in the State of North Carolina, has been approved of by the President and was received from him on the 6th. instant. I have written to the several Gentlemen therein named informing them of their appointments—A Copy of my letter is herewith transmitted I have the honor to be with great respect Your obedient servant ( LS , Hamilton...
447To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 18 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is a Copy of a letter dated to day from the Secretary of the Navy relative to a Guard for certain french Prisoners arrived at Baltimore in the Montezuma—I pray you to pay the most immediate attention to the request it contains With great respect I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedt servant ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; LS , letterpress copy, James McHenry Papers,...
448To John Adams from James McHenry, 18 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I inclose the warrants, for holding two military courts, one, a General Court Martial on Captain Thomas Lewis, the other, a court of Inquiry, on the conduct of Captain Edward Miller, together with the proceedings, sentence, and opinion of the Court. At a period, when the army is to be greatly augmented, it is desireable to establish, the best principles for its police; I was therefore induced,...
449Enclosure: List of Field Officers, 3 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
As the Letters from the Colonels and Majors do not exactly agree with the records of the War department, it has been thought proper to annex to such of them as were in service during the late War, the time of their entering and quitting the service as entered in the Books and settlements of the Office. Lieutenant Colonels John Smith Captain 1 April 1778 deranged 1 Jany 1783 James Read Captain...
450To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 29 January 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, January 29, 1799. “Until your instructions can be made out defining the extent of your Command you will be pleased to require the proper reports to be made to you by the Garrisons at New York and West point and to exercise such superintendance over the same as may consert with military rules and usage and to make from time to time the necessary communications to this...