1To John Adams from James Wilkinson, 24 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
At the particular desire of the Bearer, the Miamis Chief called the little Turtle, I give Him this Letter of Introduction to you; His consequence among the Nations, approximate to one North Western frontier, gave Him pretensions to this distinction, I have deemed it political to indulge Him, and hope the Step may not be displeasing to you.— To the details which I have given the Secretary of...
2To John Adams from James Wilkinson, 26 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
To justify to our Country & to the World, your protection of me at a moment, when numerous & powerful Enemies were combined to destroy me, by implications which dare not meet the light, I profess before God & Man, is among the leading Motives of all my Actions. The Death of General Wayne silenced an investigation, which I had much at Heart, because it would have unfolded Scenes &...
3To John Adams from James Wilkinson, 27 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
With a sense the most respectful, I presume to intrude the documents enclosed on the President’s attention, in the hope that they may serve to amuse a leisure hour. The first is an imperfect register of the trading vessels, which passed our barrier post on the Mississippi during a short period, and is evidential of the progressive population and improvement of our Western Country, which sent...
4To John Adams from James Wilkinson, 24 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received the enestimable Letter, which you condescended to write to me on the 4th of the present month—I am oppressed by your goodness to me, & I fail of utterance, adequate to my sensibilities.— Bound to you by duty, by principle, by patriotism, by gratitude, and all the subordinate Interests & attachments of the human Mind, what can be so grateful to my Heart & my Head as your...
5To John Adams from James Wilkinson, 29 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I take the Liberty to deposite in your Hands, a rude manuscript map, which embraces a part of the Spanish provinces of Louisiana, Texhas, St. Anders, & St. a Fee, in the audience of New Gallicia; & Kingdom of Mexico,— This work, accomplished by deep Intrigue, under heavy pecuniary losses, & six years of perilous Action, may be considered as a foundation of some thing more extensive & more...
6To John Adams from James Wilkinson, 20 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
To justify to our Country and to the world your protection of me at a moment when and powerful enemies were combined to destroy me by implications which dare not meet the light, I profess before God and Man is among the leading motives of all my acting— The death of General Wayne silenced an investigation which I had much at heart, because it would have unfolded Scenes and circumstances...
7To John Adams from James Wilkinson, 18 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
Ensign Peyton of the 1st. Regiment: will have the Honor to present this to you; ill Health obliges Him to retire from this Climate, more dangerous to us, than the swords of our neighbours.— A desire to be made known to you Sir, as natural as it is commendable, imboldons me to indulge Mr. Peytons request. By the medium of this note, and the assurance, that this Young officer is valuable in his...
8To John Adams from James Wilkinson, 13 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
The motives which prompt me to this intrusion, will I hope apologise for it.— Regard to the welfare of an honest Man, & in his station a faithful officer, (who has served under my observation for six Years past, & suffered much in Constitution) induces me to take the Liberty, of, presenting the Bearer Mr. Saml Henly to your consideration, who goes on furlough to his native air of Boston, for...
9To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 29 June 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
[ U.S. Frigate General Greene, June 29, 1800 . In a letter to Wilkinson dated July, 1800, Hamilton wrote: “I have this morning the pl⟨easure⟩ of your public and private letter of the 29 of June.” Public letter not found. ]
10To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 30 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose you an invoice of Medicine & Hospital Stores, intended for the use of the Troops on the Mississippi & Mobile Rivers, which may I hope be purchased & shiped on the Vessel, which — the ordnance & Military Stores, for the sake of Oconomy, dispatch, & accommodation; I am the more particular in this instance, because the Season has been remarkably sickly on our South...
11To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 7 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
At foot you have the Corps designated, to which the Infantry of the frontier Garrisons respectively appurtain; it may be Essential to note, that a Sergeant, Corporal, & eight Dragoons are included in the Return for Fort Sargent— Most respectfully I am sir Yr. Ob. Ser Oswego, the Garrison of, is from the 1st. Regt. Niagara. Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Do. Fort Wayne Do . . . . . . . . . . ....
12To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 15 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Trenton, October 15, 1799. On October 31, 1799, Hamilton wrote to Wilkinson and referred to “your several communications of the 12th. 15. 19th. & 27 instant.” Letter of October 15 not found. ]
13To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 20 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It was not before the last Evening, I had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 12th. Febry: altho the messenger who brought it, delivered me philadelphia Papers, as late as the 8th: Ultimo. I regret the delay but cannot account for it. I wrote you five Days since Fort Washington on the Ohio, & now enclose you a duplicate of that Dispatch, by a confidential half-bred Indian, who will bear...
14To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 13 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It has been suggested both by the pay Master & Majr Genl Pinkney, that a Lt McCall, now of the 3d. Regt & stationed in Georgia is necessary in that quarter as pay Master, I have therefore, for accommodation of the service, ventured to transfer Mr. McCall to the 4th. Regt., which may I hope meet your approbation. In arranging with Mr Swan for the pay of the Troops on the Missippi, I have named...
15To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Genl. Hamilton will find in the “Reglemens pour L’infanterie Prussienne” many substantial principles of duty & of service, inapplicable perhaps to our Modes of thinking & acting, but susceptible of modification. Brig Genl. W. begs leave to refer to the Chapter on “Subordination” in the second Volume particularly—and will be obliged by General Hamiltons attention to the Letter for Lt. Boote. AL...
16To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 12 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
After a variety of difficulties and disappointments which will be detailed to you in a moment of more leisure, I arrived in this city yesterday at noon & have been well received, the ordinance Brig is here in safety and will proceed on her voyage up the river for Loftus’ Heights without unnecessary delay, but altho’ the attempt will be made, on a ground of œconomy, to accomplish the deposit of...
17To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 12 August 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have your favor by Van Ranselear & shall support his Views with my utmost Ingenuity, tho tis a difficult case & our Secty is I fear rather timid. He may however be held on the Rolls on the ground of expediency, until the Legislature meets, & then the glaring propriety, not to say necessity, of the establishment, will certainly give us a remedy even among Demons or Idiots. I am sorry to press...
18To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 24 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The Bearer of this Letter Mr. Fletcher of New England, has made a short speculative vissit to the Territory, and can detail to you whatever may affect the national Interests or local concerns in this quarter. He is a Man of sense and I regard Him, because He admires, respects, & loves you. I beg you to bear in Mind, that my continuance here will depend much on the Secretary of the Navy, for I...
19To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 2 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Indisposition Sir has prevented my seeing you, since the day before the last. I have a terible Cold, caught I know not how. If the Ministers report be correct, & it accords with my own information, & that of the adjutant Generals Office—the 1st. and 2d. Regiments want each two Mates, and the 3d. and 4th. each one, to compleat the Establishment, which should I humbly conceive be appointed, &...
20To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 28 July 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I discredited a rumour at the Havanna, that our auxiliary force was disbanded, because I could find no reason to justify the measure, & it was not until my Arrival at Norfolk the 13th. Inst: that this unlooked for Event was confirmed. The expression of my regret & disgust on this occasion, might under the consequences which have ensued, produce doubts of my sincerity. I therefore will wave the...
21To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 6 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honor to submit to your Consideration, a rough delineation of the Maritime Coast of the United States, and those parts of the interior of our Country, which lay contiguous to the Dominions of Great Britain and Spain, as far North as the “Saut de St. Marie,” with the intention to exhibit to you, at one View, the Military posts occupied at this time by the several Powers, and such as...
22To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 18 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In my Letter of the 21st. Ultmo., I communicated to you my intention, to transfer Capt. Shaum Burgh to the 3rd. Regt., the public Service being materially Interested in that such Measure, and I will now ask your approbation of this proposition, if compatible with your views; I will also request of you to arrange Lt. Boote to the Pay Masters Office of the same Regiment, & will take on myself to...
23To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 6 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here on the 3rd Inst. & expect to Embark on the 10th. directly for the port of your residence. I have Offered two & would have given four hundred do⟨l⟩lars for a passage in the Sloop which bears this as she is reputed a good sailer, but find myself excluded by a band of Kentuckeans, who anticipated my application. Contrary to my expectations I do not find an armed Vessel in port, &...
24To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 7 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose you for consideration, an Account of my necessary Expences, since I left my Head Quarters on the Mississippi agreably to your Orders, with vouchers to support them—The Acct marked private is to evidence that I have not charged all my Expences for subsistence, indeed a variety of minute expences are omited, & I have made no charge for personal indulgences—yet the sum...
25To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 21 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Letter respecting Hamtramck & Lt Claiborne, has come to Hand & is the last I have received from you. I left Phila. the 16th. Inst, arrived here the 17th. & shall sail Tomorrow in the Vessel intended for me, requiring so much time for equipment. From some conversation with the Secy of War, the Day before I left Phila. I fear the proposed organization of the four old Regts: will be cut up,...
26To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 3 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Balise, Mouth of the Mississippi, July 3, 1799. “I reached this place the 30th. Ultimo where we are detained for a Wind to pass the Bar.… Immediately after my Arrival At New Orleans, I droped you a line by a Sloop, bound directly to New York, and I send this by the Schooner two Brothers bound to Baltimore. I am on Board the Willm. of Charlestown bound to London, to touch at the Port of your...
27To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 25 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived at this place on the 22nd. inst. and find our military concerns, as far as my observation has extended, in good order; I am making up a report, in detail, which will be transmitted over land to you, and in the interim I send this letter to New Orleans, to take its chances by sea, in order to apprize you, that the Officers of the 3rd Regiment, on this station, having named Lieut....
28To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 15 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Soon after writing you from Baltimore on the 21st Ulto. I discovered that Capt Geddes, who commands the vessel in which I sail, had been deceived in his calculation of time necessary to prepare for Sea, and he did not leave Baltimore until the 29th, nor reach this place until the 9th Inst., where the Store Brig had been waiting for us more than two weeks. Capt. Geddes found it necessary to...
29To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 7 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote you on the 27th Ulto. over land, via Fort Washington agreeably to the enclosed duplicate, which was accompanied by the papers and documents therein mentioned. I avail myself of a safe opportunity to New Orleans, to send this to our Consul there, Mr Jones, with directions for its transmittal by sea, for your satisfaction and that of the Executive. The garrisons of Fort McHenry and...
30To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 12 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Trenton, October 12, 1799. On October 31, 1799, Hamilton wrote to Wilkinson and referred to “your several communications of the 12th. 15. 19th. & 27 instant.” Letter of October 12 not found. ]