1To John Adams from George Washington, 17 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have heard with much pleasure, that you contemplate a visit to the City designated for the permanent Seat of the Government of the U. States, in the course of the Summer, or early in Autumn.— It is unnecessary, I hope, for me in that event, to express the satisfaction it would give Mrs. Washington & me to see Mrs. Adams, yourself & Company in the shade of our Vine & Fig tree;—but I shall...
2To John Adams from George Washington, 4 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
Not being in the habit since my return to private life, of sending regularly to the Post Office (nine miles from hence) every Post-day, it often happens that letters addressed to me lye longer there, on that account, than they otherwise would do. I have delayed no time, unnecessarily, since I had the honor of receiving your very obliging favour of the 22d. Ulto. to thank you for the polite and...
3To John Adams from George Washington, 13 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour on the evening of the 11th. instant to receive from the hands of the Secretary of War, your favour of the 7th. announcing, that you had with the advice and consent of the Senate appointed me “Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of all the Armies raised, or to be raised, for the Service of the U.S” I cannot express how greatly affected I am at this New proof of public...
4To John Adams from George Washington, 25 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
With all the respect which is due to your public station, and with the regard I entertain for your private character, the following representation is presented to your consideration.—If in the course of it, any expression should escape me which may appear to be incompatible with either,—let the purity of my intentions;—the candour of my declarations;—and a due respect for my own character, be...
5To John Adams from George Washington, 21 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The letter with which you were pleased to honor me, dated the 9th. instant—was received by the last Mail; and demands my particular acknowledgments. It was with sincere concern I received the account of Mrs. Adams’s low state of health, and your consequent indisposition—If my fervent wishes would restore her, and you, to perfect health, this object would soon be accomplished:—and in these...
6To John Adams from George Washington, 1 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
The letter herewith enclosed from Mr Joel Barlow (though of old date) came to my hands only yesterday.— I have conceived it to be my duty to transmit it to you without delay;—and without a comment;—except that it must have been written with a very good, or a very bad design:—which of the two, you can judge better than I.—For, from the known abilities of that Gentleman, such a letter could not...
7To John Adams from George Washington, 3 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your favour of the 19th Ulto. mentioning the nomination of Mr. Murray to be Minister Plenipotentiary to the French Republic.— With the writer of the letter, which I did myself the honour to enclose in my last to you, I truly observed that I had never held any correspondence;—and I only knew him in his public mission from this Country to the Barbary States, the...
8To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 21 August 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Not for any intrinsic value the thing possesses, but as a token of my sincere regard and friendship for you, and as a remembrancer of me; I pray you to accept a Wine cooler for four bottles, which Coll. Biddle is directed to forward from Philadelphia (where with other articles it was left) together with this letter, to your address. It is one of four, which I imported in the early part of my...
9To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 8 October 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
The ardent desire which Mr. La Fayette feels to embrace his Parents and Sisters in the first moment of their liberation, induces him to set out for New York, or further Eastward, in search of a Passage to France. It was my opinion that he had better have awaited authentic accounts of this event; but his eagerness to see his friends—the fear of a Winter passage—and a conviction that he is under...
10To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 27 March 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Mount Vernon, March 27, 1798. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from G—— Washington to General Hamilton,” Columbia University Libraries.
11To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 27 May 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Yesterday, brought me your Letter of the 19th. instant. You may be assured, that my Mind is deeply impressed with the present situation of our public affairs, and not a little agitated by the outrageous conduct of France towards the United States; and at the enemical conduct of its partisans among ourselves, who aid & abet their measures: You may believe further from assurances equally...
12To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 5 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Mount Vernon, July 5, 1798. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from G—— Washington to General Hamilton,” Columbia University Libraries.
13To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [14 July 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 8th. instant, was presented to me by the Secretary of War on the 11th., and I have consented to embark once more on a boundless field of responsibility & trouble, with two reservations—first, that the principal Officers in the line, and of the Staff, shall be such as I can place confidence in; and, that I shall not be called into the field until the Army is in a situation to...
14To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 9 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
By the same Post which brought me your favour, began in Philadelphia and ended in New York the 1st. instant, I received a letter from General Knox dated the 29th. Ulto, in answer to one I had written him on the 16th. of that month. In confidence, and as a proof of my frankness & friendship, I send both of them to you, together with my reply of this date; which, after reading be so good as to...
15To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [14 September 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Mount Vernon, September 14, 1798. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from G—— Washington to General Hamilton,” Columbia University Libraries.
16To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 24 September 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I have seen the correspondence between the President of the United States & Secretary of War, on the subject of the relative Rank of the three Major Generals first appointed. But as it was given in confidence, unaccompanied with an Official letter, I had no ground on which I could proceed, without betraying that confidence. I have therefore written for an official account of the President’s...
17To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [26 September 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Mount Vernon, September 26, 1798. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from G—— Washington to General Hamilton,” Columbia University Libraries.
18To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [9 October 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Mount Vernon, October 9, 1798. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from G—— Washington to General Hamilton,” Columbia University Libraries.
19To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 21 October 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
The last mail to Alexandria brought me a letter from the President of the United States, in which I am informed that he had signed, and given the Commissions to yourself, Generals Pinckney & Knox, the same date, in hopes that an amicable adjustment, or acquiescence might take place among you. But, if these hopes should be disappointed, and controversies should arise, they will of course be...
20To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 12 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Herewith you will be furnished with the Copy of a letter from the Secretary of War to me, suggesting many very important matters for consideration, and to be reported on. It is my desire, that you will bestow serious and close attention on them, and be prepared to offer your opinion on each head, when called upon. I also propose, for your consideration and opinion, a number of queries which...
21Enclosure: Queries Propounded by the Commander in Chief, [10 November 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
1st. Is an Invasion of the United States, by France, to be apprehended whilst that Power continues at War with Great Britain? 2d. In case such an Invasion should take place, what part of the United States, in their opinion, is most likely to be first attacked? 3d. Is it probable that the French will, in the way of exchange or by other means, become possessed of the Floridas & Louisiana? 4th....
22Enclosure: George Washington to James McHenry, [13 November 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I observe by the concluding paragraph of your letter of the 10th. instant that you contemplate conferences between the Secretaries of State and of the Treasury and myself, for the purpose of obtaining auxiliary information from their departments. Several of the questions which you state seem indeed to require such information. But on reflection, it has occurred to me as most regular, that you...
23Candidates for Army Appointments from Connecticut, [November–December 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Connecticut Captains 1 Austin Nichols Fairfield County Writes ill Wm. Edmond good constitution single man & in prime of life education equal to place active enterprising & on the whole qualified } Not very strong
24Candidates for Army Appointments from Delaware, [November–December 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Majors John Vining commands a Company of Light Infantry provisional Captains Richard Dale handed in by Clayton Antifœderal 1 Samuel White young Lawyer Dover prudence & propriety Foederal good property G Read Basset integrity
25Candidates for Army Appointments from Kentucky, [November–December 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Subalterns 3 John Jamison Lt or Ensign Frankfort William Murray Lewis recommends in general terms Inquire Isaac E Gano Thomas Tunstall constitution & firmly attached to Govern Sobriety courage & Gentlemanlike behaviour Thomas Love Thomas Todd, John M Scott, Willis Lee, Daniel Wisiger, Otho Beatty, Robert Alexander 4
26Candidates for Army Appointments from Maryland, [November–December 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
lt Colonels Maryland John Carlisle Hartford County In Revolutionary Army 7 years Asks for Adjutant General vain letter J C Hall recommends Joseph Forman see below honor & courage Howard Hindman Loyed Lt Colonels Levin Handy Worster County
27Candidates for Army Appointments from Tennessee, [November–December 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Tennessee Captains 2 Arthur Crozier Knoxville good letter Clayborne —a young man of respectable character good talents & was a Merchant 3 Nathan B Markland Knoxville Clayborne . possesses qualifications for a valuable Officer surveyor young man of amiable Character & good talents 6 Charles Porter Judge Anderson —recommends him as well qualified respectable connexion & unexceptionable character 1
28Candidates for Army Appointments from Virginia, [November–December 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, November–December, 1798 ]. A list of the names of one hundred and sixty-eight men from Virginia who were candidates for Army appointments together with short biographical sketches and comments based on information supplied largely by Southerners. This document has been calendared because Charles Cotesworth Pinckney wrote the major portion of it. H’s contribution consists of...
29Candidates for Army Appointments from Massachusetts, [9–28 December 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Subalterns 9 James Church Springfield 24 years Shepherd } sprightly active—good stature S Lyman
30George Washington to James McHenry, [13 December 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Since my arrival at this place I have been closely engaged, with the aid of Generals Hamilton and Pinckney, in fulfilling the objects of your letter of the 10th of November. The result is now submitted. The two first questions you propose, respecting the appointment of the Officers and men of the troops to be raised in virtue of the act of Congress of the 16th. of July last among districts and...
31George Washington to James McHenry, 13 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
You will observe that in the arrangement of the officers allotted to New York there is an alternative of Wm. S. Smith or Abijah Hammond for Lt Colonel Commandant. Various considerations demand that the motive of this hesitation should be explained. Had military qualifications alone been consulted the name of Colonel Smith would have stood singly and he would have been deemed a valuable...
32George Washington to James McHenry, 13 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I shall now present to your view the additional objects alluded to in my letter of this date. A proper organisation for the troops of the UStates is a principal one. In proportion as the policy of the Country is adverse to extensive military establishments ought to be our care to render the principles of our military system as perfect as possible, and our endeavouring to turn to the best...
33To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 25 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been duly favoured with your letter of the 15th instant. When the disposition was contemplated for assigning to Major General Pinckney and to yourself your respective districts of superintendence, I was of opinion (as you will see by the enclosed copy of a letter which I wrote to the Secretary of War on my way from Philadelphia to this place) that the whole of General Wilkinson’s...
34To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 25 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Your private letter of the 16th. instant came duly to hand, & safe: and I wish you at all times, and upon all occasions, to communicate interesting occurrences with your opinion thereon (in the manner you have designated) with the utmost unreservedness, to me. If the augmented force was not intended as an interroram measure, the delay in Recruiting it, is unaccountable; and baffles all...
35To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 26 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Mount Vernon, February 26, 1799. “I received your letter of the 18th. instant yesterday. You refer me to enclosed letters for information on the subject therein mentioned. One letter only came, and that under a Seal to General Lee, which I shall forward, unopened, tomorrow by my Nephew Mr. Bushrod Washington, who is a neighbour of his.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; ALS ,...
36To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [4 March 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
[Mount Vernon, March 4, 1799. Letter not found.] “List of Letters from G——Washington to General Hamilton,” Columbia University Libraries.
37To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [15 March 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
[Mount Vernon, March 15, 1799. Letter not found.] “List of Letters from G—— Washington to General Hamilton,” Columbia University Libraries.
38To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 25 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 14th. instant, with its enclosures, came to hand by the last Post. In the present State of the Army (or more properly the Embryo of one, for I do not perceive from any thing that has come to my knowledge that we are likely to move beyond this) and until the Augmented force shall have been Recruited, Assembled and in the Field, the residence of the Paymaster Genl (I did not...
39To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 10 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Mount Vernon, April 10, 1799. “I have received your letter of the 27th. ulto., enclosing a design of dividing the State of Virginia into Divisions, & Subdivisions, for the head quarters of the Rendezvouses in each: asking my opinion of the proper distribution of them, for the convenience of the Recruiting Service. The Grand division of the State, I conceive to be well allotted and with …...
40Election by the Sixth Triennial General Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati, 8 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 8, 1799. “… The members present then proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing three years, when it appeared from the ballots that the following gentlemen were duly elected: General George Washington, President General. Major General Alexander Hamilton, Vice President General.…” “Journals of the Cincinnati, 1784–1787, Vol. I,” 93–94, Library of Congress.
41To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 6 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 3d of May, and am glad to find that the recruiting service is likely to progress without further delay. To facilitate this, nothing will contribute more than Clothing. It is certainly necessary to push on this business with proper energy, and to be provided with an ample and timely supply of every article wanted, if it is expected that such Troops as we...
42To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 19 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favour of the 7th instant, with its inclosures, has been duly received. I am very glad to learn that the recruiting business, so far as it has been put in operation, succeeds agreeably to your wishes. It has commenced in Virginia, and I am informed that, in this vicinity (and I have no intelligence from the more distant parts of the State) its progress is very flattering. A supply of...
43To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 25 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Your private letter of the 15th instant came duly to hand. So far as my information extends (which by the bye is very limited) the Recruiting Service in this State progresses beyond my expectations, But is retarded very considerably from the want of cloathing, the ragged appearance of the Recruits having a tendency to disgust, rather than to excite enlistments. I think with you, that policy...
44To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [11 August 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Mount Vernon, August 11, 1799. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from G—— Washington to General Hamilton,” Columbia University Libraries.
45To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 15 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Mrs. Washington’s indisposition (being confined eight or ten days) and other circumstances, would not allow me to give your letter of the 9th instant, and the Reports, Journals &c. &c. which accompanied it, an earlier consideration. Having done this, however, with as much thought as I have been able to bestow, under the circumstances mentioned, I can see no cause (with the limited force which...
46To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 29 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 23d. instant was received the 27th; and this day will proceed in the Mail to Winchester—the nearest Post-Town to Colo. Parker’s residence, if he should be at his own house, the letter enclosed for him. There being no person in my view more eligable than Colo. Parker to carry your Instructions into effect unless Colo. Carrington had been in office as Quarter Master General, I...
47To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 13 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Incon⟨venient as it was to⟩ my finances, I have been ⟨induced⟩ to erect convenient to the ⟨Capital, in the⟩ Federal City, two houses which have ⟨the⟩ exterior of one, but by an ⟨arrangement of commu⟩nication may, according to the ⟨desire⟩ of the occupant, or occupants—may have all the conveniencies of one, or be entirely seperate & distinct. For these buildings a person of the name of John...
48To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 26 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 21st instant, enclosing a letter to Colo. Parker, which I have forwarded to him, and at the same time repeated my instructions for hutting the Troops, in conformity with the idea which you originally suggested. I presume that the impression made on your mind by Colo. Parker’s letter, respecting Winter Quarters for the three Regiments, must have been...
49To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 27 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Since writing the enclosed letter to you yesterday, I have received a letter from Colo. Parker, and one from Mr. Mackey, Agent for the War Department at Harper’s Ferry; stating the impracticability of procuring plank &c. sufficient for covering the huts intended to have been built for three Regiments at Harper’s Ferry. In consequence of this information I have again written to Colo. Parker,...
50To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 27 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
To my official letters I refer you for my communication, with Colo. Parker. I have no conception however, that such difficulties as are ennumerated in his and Mr. Mackie’s letters, can exist in the erection of simple Hutts, (such as served us last war); and so I am about to inform the former. I am averse to the seperation of the 8th. 9th and 10th Regiments under any circumstances which exist...