From Alexander Hamilton to James Gunn, [22 December 1798]

To James Gunn

New York Decr. 22nd. 1798

My dear Sir

The post of yesterday brought me your favor of the 19th instant. The sentiments in it personal to me are extremely gratifying—and I am very glad to ascertain the military ground upon which you are not unwilling to stand. If things progress, I trust there will be no obstacle to your occupying it.

As to further military arrangements my ideas are these. Considering how little has been done towards raising the force already voted,27 that an important tax is yet in the first stage of an Essay28—that a prospect of peace is again presented by the temporizing conduct of France—that serious discontents exist29 in parts of the country with regard to particular laws—it appears to me adviseable to postpone any actual augmentation of the army beyond the provisions of the existing laws; except as to the Regiment of Cavalry, which I should be glad to see increased, by the addition of two troops, and by the allowing it to be recruited to the complement which has been proposed by the commander in Chief as that of the war-establishment.30 What this is will probably be communicated by the Secretary at War.31

But a considerable addition ought certainly to be made to our military supplies. The communications of the commander in Chief will also afford a standard for the increase in this respect, as far as concerns the force to be employed in the field. There are however some other objects of supply equally essential which were not within the view of those communications. Heavy Cannon for our fortifications and mortars for the case of a siege. Of the former, including those already procured and procuring, there ought not to be fewer than one thousand from eighteen to thirty two pounders, chiefly of twenty four—of the latter including those on hand, there ought to be fifty of ten inch Caliber. This you perceive looks to offensive operations. If we are to engage in war our game will be to attack where we can. France is not to be considered as separate from her ally.32 Tempting objects will be within our Grasp.33

Will it not likewise be proper to renew and extend the idea of a Provisional Army?34 The force which has been contemplated as sufficient in every event is 40,000 Infantry of the line, 2,000 Riflemen, 4,000 Cavalry, and 4,000 Artillery, making in the whole an army of fifty thousand. Why should not the provisional army go to the extent of the difference between that number and the actual army? I think this ought to be the case, and that the President ought to be authorized immediately to nominate the Officers—to remain without pay till called into service. The arrangement can then be made with sufficient leisure for the best possible selection; and the persons designated will be employed in acquiring instructions.

It will likewise well deserve consideration whether provision ought to be made for classing all persons from eighteen to forty five inclusively, and for drafting out of them by lot in case of Invasion the number necessary to complete the entire army of fifty thousand. In the case of Invasion the expedient of drafting must be resorted to, and it will greatly expedite it, if there be a previous classing with a view to such an event.35 The measure too will place the Country in a very imposing attitude and will add to the motives of caution on the part of our enemies.

These measures are all that appear to be adviseable with regard to our military establishment under present appearances. A loan as an auxiliary will of course be annexed.

With greatest esteem I remain dear Sir Your very obed Servant

General Gunn

This is communicated in confidence. I send [it] as well because I think it proper to do so & as because I wish you to see the train of my ideas.36

Copy, in the handwriting of Philip Church, James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress; copy, in the handwriting of Philip Church, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

1. “An Act to recognize and adapt to the Constitution of the United States the establishment of the Troops raised under the Resolves of the United States in Congress assembled, and for other purposes therein mentioned” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 95–96 [September 29, 1789]). In 1789 this force consisted of 672 enlisted men (Henry Knox’s report to George Washington, August 8, 1789 [ASP description begins American State Papers, Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States (Washington, 1832–1861). description ends , Military Affairs, I, 5–6]).

2. See JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (Washington, 1904–1937). description ends , XXVII, 530–31; XXXI, 892–93; XXXIII, 603.

3. “An Act for raising and adding another Regiment to the Military Establishment of the United States, and for making farther provision for the protection of the frontiers” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 222–24 [March 3, 1791]). The authorized strength of this new regiment was 912 men and 57 commissioned officers (Heitman, United States Army description begins Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903 (Washington, 1903). description ends , II, 561).

4. “An Act for making farther and more effectual Provision for the Protection of the Frontiers of the United States’ (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 241–43 [March 5, 1792]).

5. Heitman, United States Army description begins Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903 (Washington, 1903). description ends , I, 139. The Legion was composed of 5,414 enlisted men and officers (Heitman, United States Army description begins Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903 (Washington, 1903). description ends , II, 562).

6. Heitman, United States Army description begins Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903 (Washington, 1903). description ends , I, 50, 79, 81.

7. “An Act providing for raising and organizing a Corp of Artillerists and Engineers” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 366–67 [May 9, 1794]). The Corps included 764 new non-commissioned officers, privates, and artificers, and the existing battalion of artillery.

8. “An Act to ascertain and fix the Military Establishment of the United States” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 483–86 [May 30, 1796]). This statute reduced the military force to 3,359 men.

9. “An Act to provide an additional regiment of Artillerists and Engineers” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 552–53 [April 27, 1798]).

10. See James McHenry’s report to John Adams, January 5, 1800 (ASP description begins American State Papers, Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States (Washington, 1832–1861). description ends , Military Affairs, I, 139).

11. 1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 604–05. This act was somewhat modified by “An Act for the better organizing of the Troops of the United States; and for other purposes” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 749–55 [March 3, 1799]).

12. Heitman, United States Army description begins Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903 (Washington, 1903). description ends , II, 566.

13. See McHenry to Washington, November 10, 1798, enclosed in Washington to H, November 12, 1798. See also H’s draft of Washington to McHenry, first letter of December 13, 1798.

14. See Godfrey, “Provisional Army,” description begins Charles E. Godfrey, “Organization of the Provisional Army of the United States in the Anticipated War with France, 1798–1800,” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, XXXVIII (1914: Reprinted, New York, 1965). Godfrey confuses the Provisional Army with the Additional Army. description ends 129–32.

15. According to McHenry, the following numbers of non-commissioned officers, privates, and musicians were actually in service: 116 in the two companies of cavalry, 1,501 in the two regiments of artillerists and engineers, 1,812 in the first four regiments of infantry, and 3,399 in the twelve additional infantry regiments (McHenry to Harrison Gray Otis of the Committee of Defence of the House of Representatives, January 2, 1800; McHenry’s report to Adams, January 5, 1800 [ASP description begins American State Papers, Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States (Washington, 1832–1861). description ends , Military Affairs, I, 132, 141]).

16. 2 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, II (Boston, 1850). description ends 7.

17. “An Act supplementary to the act to suspend part of an act, intituled ‘An act to augment the Army of the United States; and for other purposes’” (2 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, II (Boston, 1850). description ends 85–86). This act fixed the size of the military establishment at 4,436 men and officers (Heitman, United States Army description begins Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903 (Washington, 1903). description ends , II, 568).

18. The Provisional Army has frequently been confused with the Additional Army. See Washington to H, July 14, 1798, note 2.

19. “An Act authorizing the President of the United States to raise a Provisional Army” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 558–61).

20. The seven were George Washington as lieutenant general (Executive Journal, I description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate (Washington, 1828), I. description ends , 284 [July 2, 3, 1798]), Henry Lee and Edward Hand as major generals, and Ebenezer Huntington, Anthony Walton White, William R. Davie, and John Sevier as brigadier generals (Executive Journal, I description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate (Washington, 1828), I. description ends , 292, 293 [July 17, 1798]).

21. 1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 559–60.

22. 1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 725–27.

23. Copy, James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress.

24. 1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 558–61.

25. “An Act supplementary to, and to amend the act, intituled ‘An act authorizing the President of the United States to raise a provisional army’” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 569–70).

26. 1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 725–27.

27. The Additional Army.

28. See “An Act to lay and collect a direct tax within the United States” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I (Boston, 1845). description ends 597–604 [July 14, 1798]).

29. This is a reference to opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts.

30. See H’s draft of Washington to McHenry, first letter of December 13, 1798.

31. This is a reference to a report which McHenry submitted to President Adams on December 24, 1798, and which Adams submitted to Congress on December 31, 1798. This report is printed in ASP description begins American State Papers, Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States (Washington, 1832–1861). description ends , Military Affairs, I, 124–29. See also McHenry to H, December 18, 1798, note 2.

32. Spain.

33. For an explanation of the contents of this sentence, see Francisco de Miranda to H, February 7, April 6–June 7, October 10–November 10, 1798; H to Miranda, August 22, 1798; H to Rufus King, August 22, 1798.

34. See the introductory note to this letter.

35. See Harrison Gray Otis to H, December 21, 1798.

36. The postscript is in H’s handwriting. It does not appear on the copy in the Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

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Source Project: Hamilton Papers
Title: From Alexander Hamilton to James Gunn, [22 December 1798]
Author: Hamilton, Alexander
Recipient: Gunn, James
Date: 22 December 1798

Reference

Cite as: “From Alexander Hamilton to James Gunn, [22 December 1798],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-22-02-0205-0002. [Original source: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, vol. 22, July 1798 – March 1799, ed. Harold C. Syrett. New York: Columbia University Press, 1975, pp. 388–390.]

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