1From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 3 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
By Special direction of the Commander in Chief and in conformity with the views of the Secretary of War, I am to desire that you will as soon as may be repair to the Seat of the General Government, where when arrived, you will take the orders of the Secretary at War. Previous to your departure, you will constitute a Deputy, who must act as Paymaster to the Western Army, and with whom you will...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 14 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I perceive by your letter of the 9th inst. that a difficulty has occurred in the paymt. of the troops, in respect to the provision which requires the warrant of the command. Genl. It is my opinion that it is upon the whole expedient that the chief of each Branch of the departt. of Supply and Pay should be stationed at the Seat of Governmt., and that he should have a Deputy with each Army or...
3From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 21 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Agree I request that you will furnish Lieutenant Philemon Charles Blake of the first Regiment and Lieutenant James Richardson Richmond of the second Regiment each with the bounty money for two full companies to be applied to recruiting for those Regiments respectively. Lt. Blake is ordered to Wilmington in Delaware where upon his arrival he is to give you notice. You will either require him to...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 22 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Having forgotten the circumstance, known to me when at the head of the Treasury Department, that forms of Muster and Pay Rolls had been prescribed by the Comptroller of the Treasury, I instructed the Assistant Adjutant General to devise forms of those documents and to transmit them to the several commanders. You will find herewith the forms thus prescribed with a letter from the Adjutant...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 23 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I regret that I did not find in your letter of the 19 instant information that you were sending a supply of money for bounty and Pay to the additional Regiments. The Secy of War tells me that he had instructed you to report an estimate of what might be requisite and that he would sanction the advance. In my letter, to which yours is a reply, I request that two months pay may be forwarded. To...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 28 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letters of the twenty fifth of this month—As it is matter of necessity to resort to the conveyance of the Mail you ought certainly to be secured from loss in case of accident or of robbery or of accident, and you may be assured that no effort will be wanting on my part to shield you from injury in such an event—It will be well howev for you however, to endeavour to settle...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 30 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I could wish am anxious that the forms of muster and pay rolls with the requisite instructions, should be forwarded to the several regiments as speedily as possible, in order that there may be no obstacle hereafter to the regular pay of the troops arising from the want of those rolls— With great considn I am, Sir ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
8From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 1 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you the following Postscript to a letter which I have received from Major Jackson— “I have heretofore given directions to have the companies in my battallion mustered the first day in each month, weather permitting. I am informed by Captain Lemuel Gates that the Pay Master General has Arrived at Head Quarters and has given him different directions. I wish for your influence that the...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 1 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Lieutenant Fergus who is stationed at Fort Johnstone in North Carolina has received marching orders—Major Hoops, in his letter of the 30th of August, writes to me as follows—“Lt Fergus is at Fort Johnstone N Carolina with twenty six men who, he says, are very much in debt, and that he has become responsible—He wishes some of his pay.” I know not whether any money is due to these men—On this...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 3 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I am favored by with your letter of the 2d. Inst. From what I have heard of the character of Major Stevenson I have reason to think as well as from the character you have received of him I am under fully persuaded that the choice would be well bestowed—but as he at present belongs to a Regiment destined to form a part of General Pinckney’s command, I would ad suggest to you, the propriety of a...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 4 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In conformity to with your recommendation I have, provisionally, appointed Lt. Rogers to act as Pay master, to the office with the — annexed to the Cavalry with the emoluments annexed to the Office until the situation of the Officers shall make it practicable for to elect one in the established way—You will therefore consider him as such, and take measures accordingly. You will forward to him...
12From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 12 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Trenton , October 12, 1799. Quotes from Thomas Parker’s letter of October 6, 1799, concerning pay of the troops. States: “I would thank you to accelerate as much as possible the advances which you contemplate to the several regiments. There are some newly appointed officers in the four old regiments who stand in need of money to carry them to their posts. This is the case likewise with some...
13From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, [14 October 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
I send you an account of pay &c due to myself my Secy and Assistant Secretary down to the last of September inclusively which I request you to put in a Train of Adjustment without delay in order that the money which is wanted may be received. The last item not being within the establishment may require the sanction of the Secy of War to whom I have written on the subject. It may be proper to...
14From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 14 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have to request that you will forward furnish to the Persons appointed to act as Paymasters to the detachments Recruiting parties at Benington and Wilmington all arrears of pay that may be due to the officers assigned to those stations, together with an advance of one months pay for two complete companies at both places. each place. With great consn I am, Sir ( Df , in the handwriting of...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 14 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
There is a recruiting detachment at Staunton under the Superintendence of Major Bradley, and that officer informs me that they are in great want of a supply of bounty money. I have to request that you will forward without delay such a sum as shall be sufficient, with what has been already sent, to make up the bounty for four complete companies. With great consn. I am, Sir ( Df , in the...
16From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 17 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Lieutenant House is offered the appointment of Pay Master to the first regiment of Artillerists, and Lieutenant Meminger that of Paymaster to the second regiment of Artillerists. Each is instructed to signify his acceptance to you, and to enter immediately upon the duties of his office. I must request that no time may be lost in making the payments due to these regiments. You will have to...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 19 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It appears by a return just received from of Capt Bruffs Company of Artillerists that it consists of Fifty one non commissioned officers & privates—exhibiting only a deficiency of fourteen to complete the company. And it is represented that the bounty money has been exhausted. I think it probable that bounty money for a complete company may have been furnished. But even if this has been the...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 24 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The post of this morning brought me a letter from Col Parker of which the inclosed is an extract. I trust his inference must be an erroneous one, as you gave me clearly to understand that with regard to arrears the money would be sent forward upon estimates without waiting for the regular Rolls in the forms of your office and that this would suffer no delay. My assurances have conformed to...
19From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 25 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Lt. Simmons is appointed Paymaster to the regiment of Cavalry, and you will do business with him in that character as soon as he shall have executed the necessary bonds— With great— ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
20From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 27 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Inspector General is entitled to the pay and emoluments of a captain. The expression is general. It is not stated in the law whether the emoluments of a captain of cavalry, or those of a Captain of Infantry shall be the rule of allowance. In a case of this kind the construction must be governed by the particular situation of the officer, and the nature of the service in...
21From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 30 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I recur to your several letters of the 19 of September 5th. 22d and 25th of October. The characters which have been brought into my view most prominently as proper for the Office of Deputy Pay Master General, within my command, are Major Huntington of the 13th Regiment and Capt Williamson of the Dragoons. I am well satisfied that each of these Gentlemen is qualified for and worthy of the...
22From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 31 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The letter, herewith sent, from the Asst. adjt. General states facts—The employment additional Clerkship was matter of absolute necessity, and compensation is conceived to be due. Under these circumstances of the military at the time, the aid of Officers could not be more extensively called in, and if it could have been done an extra compensation would with propriety have been expected as...
23From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 31 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I understand that the Account of Mr. Brown Ast. Secretary has been sanctioned at the War Office, and that the accountant has been instructed to pass it. You will be pleased to have send on a check for the money as soon as possible, and any receipt which the forms of office may render necessary will be immediately given— With Great consideration ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How,...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 1 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November 1, 1799. “When I was at Trenton I considered it as perfectly understood between you and me that those officers of the old regiments to whom arrears of pay are due should receive the sums to which they are entitled immediately from your hands. I have been since informed that you decline this and refer the officers to their regimental Paymasters. They are of course left...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 2 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose to you a letter for Lieutenant Campbell Smith appointing him Paymaster to the troops at Staunton for now under the command of Captain Brock. It is more most consistent with my general plan to appoint on such service an officer who is distinct different from the Corps with which he is to act one who has the command of the party. You will be pleased, before you do business with Lieut...
26From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 12 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I wish you to send me a statement of the money which you have advanced for to the troops both for pay and bounty since the date of your last statement to me on the subject. I have written to Captain Williamson desiring him to repair immediately to Philadelphia agreeable to the request in your letter of the ninth instant. Enclosed are the Accounts and receipts— With great consideration ( Df ,...
27From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 13 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
There have been pressing Applications to me from various quarters for supplies of recruiting money. The service is at a stand from the want of this article, and thus the most favorable portion of the year is suffered to pass away. I have made early and pressing applications on the subject. Had these been properly attended to, there would have been no ground of complaint. Should subsequent...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 14 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you an extract from a letter of the ninth of this month which I have just received from Colonel Rice. Representations of the kind [have successively come to me from various Quarters.] They give me both pain and mortification. The delay in transmitting the necessary supplies of money [is attended with every disadvantage. It has become a subject of special Inquiry by the Commander in...
29From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 19 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have recommended Mr. Brooks to the Secretary of War as Lieutenant in the corps of Artillerists and Engineers. If he should receive this appointment it will be agreeable to me that he officiate as Paymaster to the troops at Staunton. You will therefore, after obtaining the sanction of the S of War, take the preparatory measures with him as soon as possible. and send him immediately to that...
30From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 4 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Since Lieut. Smith declined acting as Pay Master to the troops at Staunton I have recommended another person for the place. I know not whether an appointment has yet been made—Captain Brock nominates mentions, Lieutenant Merewether Lewis as well ca fitted for the Post—If an appointment has not yet been made I should suppose Lt. Lewis to be a very fit suitable character— ( Df , in the...
31From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 5 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letters of the fourth of October, and of the fourteenth and twenty sixth of November. Lt. Col. Burbeck commands the first regiment of Artillerists and Engineers. He is now at Michillimackinac, but will be stationed at the future Head Quarters of General Wilkinson upon the Ohio. Major Tousard commands the Field battallion to be stationed during the Winter at Harper’s ferry....
32From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 2 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just received a letter from Col. Parker in which he calls my attention to the case of Mr. Davidson—It appears that this gentleman made advances to the Captain Bishop’s company at the request of Colonel Parker He must undoubtedly be secured from loss—The honor and interest and honor of the govt are concerned in it. It is of importance that persons who from laudable motives act in make...
33From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 11 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have recd. a letter dated Decr. 1st. from Capt. Brock who succeeded Major Bradley in the command of the recruiting parties at Staunton, Virginia, in which he mentions that they are entirely destitute of money for the purpose of carrying on the recruiting Service. I wish you therefore immediately to forward to the Agent at Staunton bounty money sufficient for the recruiting of one Company,...
34From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 15 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The section of the Act of the 3 of March 1797, to which you refer in your letter of yesterday, is so obscurely and indefinitely worded, that it is impossible to give it a precise or even a very reasonable interpretation. On this ground it is that I have forborne to act upon it in my own case though Commanding a separate district. But while I am at a loss for its true sense, I have thought that...
35From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 17 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been applied to by an old soldier who served during the revolutionary war on the subject of pay which he states to be still due to him. He mentions to me that he was enlisted for the war in the regiment commanded by Col. Livingston, and that he was transferred in the course of the war from that regiment to the one under Col. Weisenfels—His cl aim is to Two years pay for his services i n...
36From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 28 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letters of the fourth and fifth and seventh of January. The hurry of the moment prevented me from attending to the object of your letter of the fourth of January—I presume you have devised some arrangemen t with the advice of the Secretary of War to meet the event, and therefore I forbear at present to say any thing on the subject—Should this however not be the case you...
37From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 4 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
You will transmit, to the order of Major Freeman of the first regiment of Artillerists, bounty money for a full company. This Officer is now at Fort Johnston in South Carolina You will inform me of the arrangement which you make may take for the purpose—Major Freeman is now at Fort Johnston in S. Carolina. He is instructed to — appoint provisorily and subject to the approbation of the Secr. of...
38From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 10 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the eighth instant. As it is probable, from the existing state of things, that the money forwarded for the recruiting of the fifth regiment will not be wanted for that purpose, I approve your proposal of furnishing Major Freeman with Nine hundred and eighty dollars out of that sum. W— ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
39From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 18 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received a copy of a letter from Col. Hamtramck to G. Wilkinson which contains the enclosed paragraph—It is sent to you for your information. ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
40From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 24 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the twentieth instant. A Soldier does not, in my opinion, by the mere act of deserting, and without the interference of a Court Martial, forfeit the pay previously due to him—I recollect no principle of law that requires this, and practice, I know, is against it. ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
41From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 25 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just received a letter from Lieutenant Campbell Smith in which he informs me that you declined settling his account to the last of the month— It is not — that this should be done As it is the has been the practice to settle with Officers on furlough distinctly, you will do so in the present case unless there are some strong and peculiar reasons against it—If there are any such, you will...
42From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 27 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
You will be pleased, whenever a General Order is issued which requires any thing to be done in your Department, to superintend it’s execution. It will be proper as often as there is an appearance of delay to write to the different Paymasters and persons acting as Paymasters to accelerate, in all such cases, the exertions which it is their duty to make. Should delays occur I shall expect you to...
43From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 28 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
You will forward, without delay, to Lieutt Richmond acting Pay Master to the detachment at Bennington under the command of Major Bewell, bounty money sufficient for recruiting two more full companies— ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
44From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 5 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 2d. inst. has been received— It was not intended that the rule The Rule that officers should not be separated from their corps, to which you refer should was not meant to extend to Officers who might be appointed to the General Staff—Lt. McCall can therefore continue to exercise the duties of his station without being transferred W— ( Df , in the handwriting of Ethan Brown,...
45From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 10 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your two letters of the twenty eighth and thirty first of March. Enclosed are the warrants you sent me which you will find signed. I did not advert to the particular circumstances of the case of Lieutenant Smith when I wrote to you respecting it—Upon the whole, however, I am glad you have settled with him, as he has now no excuse for not joining his regiment. ( Df , in the...
46From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 11 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 29th of March with it’s enclosure, and have Captain George Demler being dead I can not say what ought to be done in respect to the ballance due from in this case relative I have written to Lt. Hyde requesting him to state to me the causes which have retarded a the settlement of his Accounts. You may rely be assured I shall omit no measures that may be...
47From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 24 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just received your two letters of the twenty first and twenty second instants. The fact stated in Lieutenant Boote’s letter had been even communicated to me by General Wilkinson himself—But as a Pay Master had been appointed for the third regiment with the sanction of the S of War I do not think the appointment of Lieutenant Boote will be confirmed. However Nevertheless as the credit of...
48From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 26 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just received your letter of the twenty fourth instant. The new mode of negotiation in the disbursement of public money is matter of Executive arrangement. It is therefore clearly within the Executive Competency to alter the mode where To alter the mode is therefore clearly within the Competency of the Executive. It might have been a question with the persons who took the Bills whether...
49From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 1 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed is a duplicate of a letter written some time since to Lieutenant Hyde relative to the settlement of his accounts I am surprised at having received not no answer to it— You will be pleased, if Mr. Hyde is in Philadelphia or any where within your reach, to deliver the letter to him yourself—If not you will send it to him in such a manner that you can be certain of its arrival, and that...
50From Alexander Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 2 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
As I understand it has been usual to make advances to Officers marching for the Western Army, on account, you will be pleased to do this f advance pay for two Months to Lieut Captain Claiborne and his officers—You will likewise deliver to Captain Claiborne bounty money for twenty men— ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).