51From George Washington to James McHenry, 27 March 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of——came safe, and in due time; for the information contained in it I thank you; your request was immediately complied with, as every one of a similar nature shall be. A Report is circulated in Alexandria and its vicinity, transmitted (it is said) in private letters from Philadelphia, that a correspondence has been discovered, or more properly, letters have been intercepted from...
52From George Washington to James McHenry, 5 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 5th May 1799 Your private letter of the 29th Ulto was received yesterday, and requires but a short reply. From an observation of yours, in answer to my letter of the 23d Ulto, I perceive my meaning with respect to the settlement of relative Rank, has been misunderstood; or, if taken properly, I must adhere to the opinion I gave of the injustice which would be...
53From George Washington to James McHenry, 20 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
I was very glad to find by your letter of the 13th instant that you had got well enough to resume your seat in the Office. On this circumstance I sincerely congratulate you. You must know as much of Mr Hoops as I do, and have it more in your power to obtain correct information of his character & fitness for the place that is suggested; but from respect to Mr Morris, and in justice to Mr Hoops,...
54From George Washington to James McHenry, 2 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be presented to you by Mr Elliot, the son of a meritorious Officer in the Revolutionary War. He has equitable (if not legal) claim to Land. I have advised him to shew you the nature of it. If it is within your power to serve him, I am sure you will. If not, you can advise him as to the course best to be taken. Always, & sincerely, I am Your Affectionate Humble Servant ALS...
55From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your private letter of the 29th Ulto with its enclosures, and return your letters to and from General Hamilton. In my letter to Genl Hamilton, which has been before you, you find I have fully expressed my opinion on the expediency—regarding circumstances—of promoting General Wilkinson to the Rank of Major General and I am always willing to give publicity to any sentiment...
56From George Washington to James McHenry, 21 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 16th instt came by the last Mail. The enclosures are well calculated to effect their objects. But the explicit declaration contained in the one to General Knox, added to his knowledge of my sentiments on the subject of relative Rank, leaves little hope, in my mind, that he will obey your summons, and render his aid in the manner required of him. I hope no difficulty will...
57From George Washington to James McHenry, 23 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
It gave me very sincere pleasure to find by your letter of the 17th —recd last night—that Genl Pinckney accepts his appointment in the Army of the Unite[d] States. If it would not be too inconvenient for him to remain at the Seat of Government until the 10th of next month (the ulterior day, allotted for the assembling of the Majors General at Trenton or Philadelphia) and you would advise me...
58From George Washington to James McHenry, 26 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 26th Sepr 1798. Your confidential letter of the 21st instant is before me; but the long letter which is promised therein, has not got to hand. Probably the messenger who carries this, and other letters to the Post Office this afternoon, may return with it. As you have given extracts of my letter of the 16th to the President, & informed him, that you thought it...
59George 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...
60From George Washington to James McHenry, 25 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
Some of the Officers of Cavalry, who accepted their appointments, and were informed by you in the Public Gazettes, that their Pay would commence therewith, have applied to me to know where, & in what manner they were to draw for it. Not being able to supply them on these points, I take the liberty of troubling you with this Address, on the subject; that I may be enabled to answer any enquiries...
61Enclosure: Troop Quotas, 15 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
By the Act “To augment the Army of the United States, & for other purposes.” Twelve Regiments of Infantry, and six Troops of Light Dragoons, are to be added to the present force—By the Establishment of them, the first will consist of 7680 Rank & File, and the 2d of 354. If four Regiments of the former, and all the latter, are to be raised in the States South of the Potomack, the quota of each...
62From George Washington to James McHenry, 29 May 1797 (Washington Papers)
I am indebted to you for several unacknowledged letters, but ne’er mind that; go on, as if you had them. You are at the source of information & can find many things to relate, while I have nothing to say that could either inform, or amuse a Secretary of War in Philadelphia. To tell him that I begin my diurnal course with the Sun; that if my hirelings are not in their places at that time I send...
63From George Washington to James McHenry, 6 May 1798 (Washington Papers)
Amongst the variety of matters which have come before Congress for the purpose of preparation, in the dernier resort; in short as a salutary measure at all times, & under all circumstances; Arsenals and Cannon Founderies, have occupied its attention. This leads me to ask what steps have been taken relative to the Site for one at the Mouth of Shanondoah? I will pledge myself that there is not a...
64From George Washington to James McHenry, 27 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private Dear Sir Mount Vernon 27th July 1798 The Greyheads of Alexandria, pretty numerous it seems, and composed of all the respectable old People of the place; having formed themselves into a company for the ^defence of the Town & its Vicinity, are in want of Colours; and it being intimated that the Presentation of them by Mrs Washington would be flattering to them; I take the liberty of...
65From George Washington to James McHenry, 6 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
It is a point from which I have not deviated, to forward all recommendations, & applications, which have been made to me for Military appointments, to the Department of War. In confirmation of what is said in the enclosed letters from General Morgan, and the Colonels Meade and Parker, I may add that, the same good report of the merits of Major Lawe Butler has, verbally, been made to me by...
66From George Washington to James McHenry, 4 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 26th Ulto propounds a very serious, interesting & important question to me: a question that might have been answered with less delay if I had been as much in the habit since, as before I became a private citizen, of sending regularly to the Post Office on Post days for letters. The sentiments which I mean to express to you in this letter, on the subject of yours, shall be...
67From George Washington to James McHenry, 14 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 7th instt from Trenton is before me; and no plan yet decided on that I can discover, for recruiting the augmented force, or even for appointing the Officers therefor. It is for the Executive to account for this delay. Sufficient it is for me to regret, and I do regret it, sorely; because that spirit & enthusiasm which was inspired by the Dispatches from our Envoys, that...
68From George Washington to James McHenry, 14 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
After reading, & putting a wafer into the enclosed letter, be so kind as to send it as directed. The young Cornet (in my family) is anxious to receive his Military equipments. Daily, fruitless enquiries are made of me to know when they may be expected. Perhaps if you were to jog Mr Francis, the Purveyor, the sooner they might be Purveyed, and the young Gentleman gratified. I wish them to be...
69From George Washington to James McHenry, 27 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter for Mr McAlpin (my Tayler in Philadelphia) left open for your perusal, may be delivered, or not, as you shall judge best. and if the former takes place, to be accompanied with your sentiments on the doubtful parts of it. It is predicated first, on the supposition that the Uniform for the different grades of Officers, is conclusively fixed, & to be established as a standing...
70From George Washington to James McHenry, 28 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
From a mistaken idea, numberless applications for appointments in the Army of the U. States are made to me. Where the applicants are known, or come under favourable auspices, I shall think it a duty incumbent on me to transmit them to the War Office. Mr Triplet’s family are respectable—of his medical or Surgical abilities I have no knowledge; Colo. Little whose letter I enclose, is the...
71From George Washington to James McHenry, 1 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 1st Octr 1798 Your confidential letter of the 19th ulto did not reach Alexandria until the 28th. I thank you for the statement, and lengthy details which it contains. The President may have reasons which will justify the inexecution of the law, for augmenting the force of the United States. With my lights, I can discover none: but, if the force is required at...
72From George Washington to James McHenry, 26 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
The enclosures transmitted in your letter of the 20th instant are retd. I derived great pleasure from General Pinkneys declaration to General Hamilton; and wish you to inform him, that I feel happy in the thought of having him as a Coadjutor, if our disputes with France are to be decided by the Sword. Let me hear from you as soon as possible on the subject of my last letters to you—dated the...
73From George Washington to James McHenry, 28 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letters of the 5th 10th & 21st & 22d of this month, with their several enclosures. It is well known to you that in selecting from the documents laid before us, suitable Characters to fill the respective grades in the twelve additional Regimts the Major Generals and myself spared no pains to find such as appeared, on every account, most likely to render efficient...
74Enclosure: 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...
75From George Washington to James McHenry, 10 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private & confidential My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 10th Augt 1798 You will consider this letter as private & confidential. Dictated by friendship, and flowing from the best intentions. If then, any thing should be found therein wch may have too much the appearance of plain dealing, look to the motives, and manner of the communication, & my apology will be sought for in yr candor. From the moment...
76From George Washington to James McHenry, 30 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have lately received information, which, in my opinion, merits attention. It is that the brawlers against Governmental measures in some of the most discontented parts of this state, have, all of a sudden, become silent; and, it is added, are very desirous of obtaining Commissions in the Army, about to be raised. This information did not fail to leave an impression upon my mind at the time I...
77From George Washington to James McHenry, 31 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
To a person as well acquainted with the writers of the letters herewith enclosed, as you are, it is hardly necessary to add a word in further recommendation of Major Parker to an appointment in the augmented army. and yet, there is some thing so singularly meritorious in his whole family as Military men that I shd think I was not doing Justice to the Service were I not to advise—if in...
78From George Washington to James McHenry, 13 December 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private Dear Sir, Philadelphia 13th Decr 1798 I am really ashamed to offer the letters &ca herewith sent, with so many erazures &ca; but it was not to be avoided, unless I had remained so much longer here, as to have allowed my Secretary time to copy the whole over again; And my impatience to be on my return homewards, on Account of the Season—the Roads—and more especially the passage of the...
79From George Washington to James McHenry, 16 December 1798 (Washington Papers)
Being detained on the East bank of this River by Northwesterly winds & consequent low tides, I shall devote some of the moments of my detention in writing to you on an important subject. In a conversation [I] had with you in Philadelphia, you discovered the very just opinion, that for the proper & successful direction of our military affairs, it was essential that it should be as far as...
80From George Washington to James McHenry, 22 June 1798 (Washington Papers)
I am not disposed to withdraw your attention from more important matters; or to be troublesome in any degree; or to press my correspondence upon you. But not having even heard whether my letter, of which the enclosed is taken from a Press copy ever reached your hands, I am induced to make the enquiry. I wish also to know what has been done with a letter of mine, put under cover to you (early...
81From George Washington to James McHenry, 16 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private & confidential My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 16th Sepr 1798. Your confidential letter—dated Trenton the 10th Instant, with its enclosures, have been duly received. The latter are returned. The contents of them have filled my mind with much disquietude & embarrassment; but it is impossible for me to make any move, in consequence, at this time, from the want of Official ground; without...
82From George Washington to James McHenry, 1 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
I find, by looking over my files, that your favours of the 14th & 24th of August have never been acknowledged. I now do, the receipt of them. I thank you, and through you, Governor Davie, for his “Instructions to be observed for the formations and movements of Cavalry” and would thank you to mention this to him, when you shall see him, which I presume must be soon. I pray you to direct Mr...
83From George Washington to James McHenry, 11 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your private letters of the 29th Ulto & 5th instant, have been duly received. Mr Bordley for presenting, and you for forwarding his Essays on Husbandry, are entitled to, and, accordingly receive, my thanks for these instances of both your kindnesses. (Confidential) I think you Wisemen of the East, have got yourselves into a hobble, relatively to France, Great Britain, Russia & the Porte—to...
84From George Washington to James McHenry, 30 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favours of the 24th & 25th instant have been received. For the Stars, enclosed in the latter, I thank you. The amount of cost, Six dollars, is herein remitted. I preferred sending a Columbia Bank note for a dollar, to one of Silver (in a letter), as it can readily be exchanged for the latter, and the other Banks issue no notes under five dollars. For the Box which accompanied the letter...
85From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 7th April 1799 When your letters of the 30th & 31st Ulto were brought here, I was on a Survey of some land I hold in the vicinity of Alexandria; on which, as I was informed, & as the fact proved, considerable trespass had been committed. To complete this business I was employed near three days; and now, company will allow me to do but little more than to...
86From George Washington to James McHenry, 3 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 25th Ulto has been duly received. The list of applicants from the Southern States, and two large bundles of letters—from these I presume—came at the sametime, & in good order. My last to you was dated the 20th of August; two days previous to which I had been siezed with a fever which I endeavoured to shake off by pursuing my usual rides & occupations, but it continued to...
87From George Washington to James McHenry, 22 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 18th was brought by the Post of yesterday. The nominations, according to your list, will be agreeable to me; although I retain the opinion, that Colo. Smith is better calculated for a command in the line, than for Adjutant General. But what have you done respecting the Quarter Master General? I hope, and trust, it is not intended to Overlook the character I recommended in...
88From George Washington to James McHenry, 13 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
The Messenger that carried my letters of the 10th to the Post Office brought me your favour of the 6th—and yesterday I received that of the 8th. It gave me sincere pleasure to find by the latter, that you had suggested to the President, prompt & decisive measures for Organizing and recruiting the twelve Regiments of Infantry, &ca; and the propriety also of requiring the Services of the...
89From George Washington to James McHenry, 3 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of enclosing a letter from Colo. Parker to Mr Lear, in which he requests that I will write to the proper department, to have arrangements made for the payment of two thousand one hundred & seventy five dollars and one third, being the amount of the purchase of one hundred and ninety six acres of land, bought, for the United States, adjoining the public ground at Harper’s...