1Théophile Cazenove to Egbert Benson and Alexander Hamilton, 29 May 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 29, 1797. “The enclosed extract of a Letter lately received from General Schuyler will create much uneasiness amongst the Dutch proprietors who have obtained the faculty to hold their Lands in the state of New York ’till the 11th. April 1803. A Law passed in the last Session extends that faculty ’till 1816. provided the Dutch Proprietors shall interest themselves as...
2Théophile Cazenove to Egbert Benson and Alexander Hamilton, 5 July 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, July 5, 1797. States: “Mr. Benson’s absence retarding the answer upon my letter of the 29 May, which answer I have sollicited from your friendship, permit me to add to that letter some observations relative to the same Subject.” Asks if the Holland Land Company “is allowed to sell at 10 & 12 years credit;… will She be allowed to hold the mortgage upon the Land as a pledge for the...
3Ebenezer Stevens to Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, 23 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
You are senseable there is a balle. of 12, to 15,000 due the several Mechanicks who were employed in making the necessary difence of the City of New York in pursuance of the Resolutions of the Committees appointed for that purpose by the Corporation, the Military &ce. which ballances have been due long time since & the Persons in a distressed Situation for want of the Money, & as the failure...
4Simeon DeWitt to Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, and Ebenezer Stevens, 18 June 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Albany, June 18, 1798. “Mr. Abraham Bloodgood will … exhibit to you a model of a floating battery of his own invention.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. DeWitt was surveyor general of New York State. He addressed this letter to H, Burr, and Stevens in their capacity as members of the Military Committee of New York City. See “Call for a Meeting,” June 4, 1798, note 2 . See also the...
5Jacob Mark and Company to John B. Church, Alexander Hamilton, and John Laurance, 30 May 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
We are sorry to find that owing to the embarrassed situation of the Land You purchased from us last Year so great an inconvenience and loss shou’d arise to You as well as ourselves in being retarded in the settlement; and as we are particularly anxious to remove the most distant hard thought from You towards us, we think it proper to make You such proposals as are not only founded on fair and...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, [19 January 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
[ London, January 19, 1799 . Letter not found. ] Letter listed in “Memorandum of Private Letters, &c., dates & persons, from 1796 to Augt 1802,” owned by Mr. James G. King, New York City.
7To Alexander Hamilton from Vicomte de Noailles, 9 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
J’ai reçu la lettre dont vous m’avés honore le 5. de ce mois par laquelle vous me damandés si la velocité de la marche dans la tactique françoise n’augmente pas la longueur du pas. Dans les instructions provisoires de 1776. 1778 –1786. de l’infanterie les officiers differoient sur la velocité de la marche dans certaines circonstances. Mais la longueur du pas à toujours été fixée à 2. pieds...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Porter, 3 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
In trying to Preform your orders to Benington Vermont about forty four miles from New York nearly opposit West Point my trunck was missing from the stage—and upon a Immediate search by the Inhabitants and myself who treat’d me very Perlitely in deed the trunck was found a small distance from the road but all my property taking out a search was Immediately made by Gentlemen of Varasity and upon...
9To Alexander Hamilton from William C. Bentley, 8 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Since my letter to you covering the nomination of the Staff Officers of my Regt. and the Bond required of the Pay Master, I have received from the Treasury Department, money for recruiting Service, and an advance of four Mons. pay to the Officers; from the same Office, I received a blank Bond to be executed by the Pay Master, which differs in form with the One I inclosed to you; inasmuch as...
10To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 9 September 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your favour of the 29th. with the Papers enclosed therewith and should have acknowledged the receipt of them immediately but that I observed you had inserted a larger Sum as the bala. of my Note than I thought could be due thereon & lest you may not have kept a regular acct of the payments I have made on that account I wrote Mr Cottringer to make an extract from My Books & you...
11To Alexander Hamilton from George Ingersoll, 18 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In obedience to your order 30th. Ulto. enclosed are the Returns, of the Men, Clothing, Arms and Accoutrements, & Camp equipage. The articles in the Quarter Masters Store, with Inspection Returns of the four Companies of Artillerists and Engineers under my Command. With a Return of the Artillery for the use; and the practice of the troops. It being the Generals order, to give a full; and...
12To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Cross, 5 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, in answer to your’s of the 17th. October, that I obtained my furlough, the 16th. Sept. last. Annexed to it, are the signatures of Nehemiah Freeman Capt. Comg. and of Lieut. Phillip Rodrigue Adjut. pro. tem. I beg leave to observe, however, that, though Capt. Freeman then commanded the district in which I was stationed, my furlough is subject to revocation,...
13To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 24 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The services of Captain Elliott, who is with a Company of Artillery drawn from Fort Mifflin, and now in Northampton County, being indispensable to make draughts for Cannon and to superintend a laboratory, which it is intended to commence without loss of time, I pray you to direct Capt McClellan, or any other Captain of the Corps you may think proper, to relieve him as soon as possible—Captain...
14To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Brock, 26 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed you will receive the proceedings of a General Court Martial, of which I had the honour to preside. Should you discover, in our proceedings, too much lenity; I hope you may ascribe it to the peculiar Situation that Recruiting Officers are placed in; and not want of a due Sense, that crimes of Such magnitude, Should be punished, in the most exemplary manner In the Instance of Trusler...
15To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 23 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I am favor’d wth. yours of 20th Inst. and with Respect to the Cloathing for the Companies at Bennington, I will immediately attend to the Same— Should you think Proper, I should like you to direct that the Artillery Vests be composed of Red Cloth (instead of present fashion of White) and Blue Pantaloons with half Gaters, instead of White overalls My Reasons for this is, that white cloth is...
16To Alexander Hamilton from James Bruff, 27 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Before your communication containing recruiting instructions came to hand, I had—on my way—inlisted 4, with 1 inlisted since & 3 brought on, wou’d have made my total 8, had not the time of 1 expired the 18 instant & reduced it to 7. Enclosed is a Return prescribed by the Secretary of War, accompanied by the inlistments of 6 recruits with receipts—on them—for bounty, as far as I am authorized...
17To Alexander Hamilton from Isaac Smith, 8 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the painful Task to inform you that my Son Charles Smith Lieutt. in the first united States Regt. departed this Life on the 30th. last, and has left me childless, being the last of five whom I have lost . May your Children live to close their Parents Eyes, but may it be long—very long before they are called upon to perform that melancholy Duty. His Servant Nathan Bunting was induced to...
18To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Muhlenberg, 8 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclos’d is a Return of the Recruits enlisted since last—Charles Laurance deserted from W Point May 7th 1796 deliver’d himself to Me on the Eastern shore Octr 2d 1799— I am with respect sir Your Obt. servt. ( ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress), enclosing a return of Maryland recruits, September 2, 1799 ( DS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress). A note on the cover reads: "Leave...
19To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 2 October 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I cannot help feeling some chagrin when I find you constantly treating the debt I owe you as if you were in danger of loosing it, because I wish to stand higher in your confidence than it seems is the case. I have assured you that you should not loose and I am happy to see my way clear to effect the payment pretty soon, perhaps some influen⟨ce o⟩n your part over those who are to pay may ⟨b⟩e...
20Enclosure: [List of Military Appointments], [20 November 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
Captains 1 Ephraim Emery appointd Jany 10th. 1799 1 2 Thomas Chandler do do 2 3 Simeon Draper do do ☞ 7 4 Nathaniel Twing do
21To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Brinley, 11 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
In the United States Calender for 1800. I have observed a list of the Army which professes to be generally accurate in respect to rank, & in which I find my name the third on the list of Lieutenants in the 16th. Regiment. Being ignorant from what authority the arrangement there given is derived I have not known precisely what degree of credibility it deserves. Recollecting the information you...
22To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, first letter of 22 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose you a copy of a letter from Captain Gates dated Castle William Feby. 13th 1799 I have the honor to be with great respect your most Obd Hb St ( LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress), enclosing Lemuel Gates to McHenry, February 13, 1799 (copy, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress). On verso of the LS from James McHenry, H wrote a draft of his reply: "Wrote to Secy. The letter...
23To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 8 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Yesterday I received a letter from Lt. Baldwin, wherein he states, that the present situation of his Health, obliges him to make a second application for a furlough, for such length of time, as may be thought sufficient, for the better recovery of his health, and refers me for further information, respecting the necessity of his making the application, to Doctor Douglass. I immediately...
24To 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...
25To Alexander Hamilton from Mahlon Ford, 4 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Fort Norfolk [ Virginia ] April 4, 1800 . “… such a picture of destruction, I never saw at any post, when I took the Command—and in endeavouring to remedy it I have affronted the late Commanding Officer, who was Capt Blackburn (who knows nothing about Military Matters and never will, as he says himself, he only serves for the lo[a]ves and Fishes) in such a manner, that I was reduced, either to...
26To Alexander Hamilton from Jedediah Huntington, 28 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have at length agreed for the Supply of Rations throughout the state of Connecticut—the Contract with E House & Son will embrace any other place of Rendezvous than those already appointed—The one for Brooklyn will follow soon— I am very respectfully sir, your obedt Servant ( ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress). H’s directions on the cover read: "Acknowlege Rect & note the name."
27To Alexander Hamilton from John McClallen, 10 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Pursuant to your order of the 8th instant, directing me to report on the affadavits you was pleased to enclose respecting Seymour Swan a soldier of my Company. I beg leave to state the following facts, which appear from his attestation and from my recollection. “That he was enlisted at New Lebanon by Lieut Hosack on the 9th Novemr last, that he was then aged 17 Years and 10 Months and 5 feet...
28To Alexander Hamilton from Edward Stevens, 9 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It is at the Solicitation of Majr. Wm. Campble that I take ye. liberty of troubling you with this, He informs me he is about to make application to yo. for a deputy Inspectors Place in the Army. I was acquainted with ye. Majr. while he was an Officer in ye. American Army, in the Revolution, and from my General Knowledge of him, I think I can venture to say, should he be fortunate enough to...
29To Alexander Hamilton from Richard Stockton, 22 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Princeton [ New Jersey ] June 22, 1799 . “The cause of Samuel & Miers Fisher agt Walter Rutherfurd and others is set down for Argument in the Circuit Court of the U S. for this district on the first day of October next. I am desired by the Complainants to inquire of you whether they may place dependence on your being at the Court to argue this important cause for them.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers,...
30To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 30 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 28 instant. Captain Edmund Taylor of the eighth regiment of Infantry accepted his appointment on the Tenth day of February 1799. His letter is dated Frederick County Virginia. I enclose you appointments for Thomas Burk and John Tennison as Cadets in Colonel Parkers regiment—they have been made out agreeably to the Certificates transmitted in your letter. You...
31To Alexander Hamilton from William North, 19 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
It is my duty to inform you that Lt Ross remains in this City, & that there is no Officer to take charge of that part of Capt McClellans Company which is at Ellis’s Island—& in case of the absence of Capt Read from that post, the whole of the men remains without an Officer to command them. That there is a Lieut Dwight in this City, who is said to live an irregular & indecent life to the...
32To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 19 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ London, April 19, 1799. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from … Mr. King” to H, Columbia University Libraries.
33To Alexander Hamilton from Alexander Richards, 6 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
At the time the Troops first Encamped at the Bronks River, it was the opinion of Colo. Smith a sufficient supply of Fuel could be obtained in that neighbourhood, and at a price as much lower than at New york as the expense of getting it to market—by experience we find it impossible to collect any considerable quantity of Wood from that quarter—and must depend on procuring it from the East, a...
34To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin DeWitt, [25 February 1801] (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that at A meeting of the Society for the promotion of Agriculture Arts & Manufactures Held in the Senate Chamber on the 11th Feby 1801 You was duly elected a Member thereof. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. DeWitt, a graduate of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1797, practiced medicine in Albany. After George Clinton became governor of New...
35To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 24 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are certain regulations respecting the delivery of Fuel, Straw and Stationery, and Horses furnished to Officers. I wish you to consider them, and to offer such additional ones to, or alterations in those proposed as in your opinion may be proper. The last has been conceived necessary to check an evil which may grow to magnitude. I request you particularly to determine how many Horses...
36To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 16 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to the last paragraph of your letter of the 13~ instant, just received—I observe—That I have already informed you, Law and express instructions from the Treasury Department, to the Pay Master General, have opposed obstacles to making advances of pay to the troops. After a mature deliberation on the subject, by the Comptroller, he appears indisposed to alter the instructions to the...
37To Alexander Hamilton from John F. Hamtramck, 19 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Pittsburgh, December 19, 1799. “… I never had any Reports from Loftus’s Heights; it appears to me that the Troops on the Mississippi have considered themselves independent of my Command in the absence of General Wilkinson, for the other day a Gentleman in the Contractors imploy arrived from Loftus’s Heights, and who called on the Commanding Officer of that place, for any Commands he might have...
38To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 23 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Recruiting service of the 12th. Regt. suffers considerably for the want of Subaltern officers. there is no acting Lieutenant to Capt. Kissam’s Company. Capt. Courtland is entirely destitute of aid, Capt. Fondy and Capt. Kirkland are similarly situated, & I belive Capt. Whites Lieutenants have either not accepted or have not joined their Company—if the filling of the vacant Lieutenancies...
39To Alexander Hamilton from John Skey Eustace, [3 November 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Eustace presents his compliments to general Hamilton, and sends him the packet for Col. P, which he permitted to be forwarded in this Way . The cover is left open, and the note on the first blank leaf of the book will serve as an advertisement; so that the general, in running over its contents, probably may be tempted (as he will certainly be enabled) to enforce some of the inferences,...
40To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 21 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I received yesterday your favour of the 6th Instant. I have lately written pressingly to the Secretary of War on the subject of the Revd: Mr: Hill, and have enclosed him the oration he made commemorative of the military and civil virtues of our late Commander in Chief, as a Specimen of his talents. If you will permitt me, I will postpone communicating to him the contents of your letter, till...
41To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Underwood, 26 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I went on to Philadelphia some few days agoe and reported myself to The Honble. Secretary of War, who enformd. me it was my duty to report myself to yr. excellency, I got a Furlough from Colo. Tho Butler in the State of Tennessee and come to Virginia to visit my relations, since which I Have been in a low State of health, & afflicted with pains, I acted as pay master to the garrison of Fort...
42To Alexander Hamilton from William Irvine, 13 November 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Carlisle [ Pennsylvania ] November 13, 1800 . Notifies Hamilton that his son Callender Irvine is fit to report for military duty and will visit Hamilton to thank him for “indulging him with a long leave of absence for the recovery of health.” ALS , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Irvine, an immigrant from Ireland and a veteran of the American Revolution, was a member of the...
43To Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Ogden, 6 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I yesterday received your favor of the 3d. instant and beg you to be assured, that any employment, which your arrangements may have assigned me, shall be zealously undertaken and faithfully executed to the extent of my abilities, at the same time, it is proper for me, to express my apprehensions, that the result will not, in any other particulars, justify the confidence with which you have...
44To Alexander Hamilton from William Miller, 29 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
On examining the accounts rendered by Mr Clymer, I find sundry Sums amounting to 369 ⁵⁰⁄₁₀₀ Dollars charged to the United States in ~92. ~93 & ~94 as paid to Benjamin Wells to reimburse his Expenses for Horse hire, Traveling &c. to Philada and back, and in the Western Counties on Revenue business. Several sums amounting to 350 Dollars are also charged during the same period as payment of his...
45To Alexander Hamilton from Caleb Swan, 26 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In the settlement of the account for the pay and emoluments of Mr Howe your Secretary, I find there will be an exception made to that part of the voucher which charges forage for him as a Captain of dragoons, unless it is explained by you in writing, as you explained it verbally to me at the time of Settlement. to wit—That your secretary must be supposed in the nature of the case to require...
46To Alexander Hamilton from Daniel Morgan, 24 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I beg leave to say something in favor of Major James Stephenson—who I have recommended to the commander in Chief. Although his conduct in the Military line speaks louder in his praise than I can, yet at the same time I would wish to say something I think he would command a regiment with as much propriety perhaps as any man who will be in the service of any country, he commanded a Company in...
47To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Parker, 3 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor of Receiving your letter of the 24th ultimo together with one from your Aide De Camp Covering Acts & Regulations Respecting the military establishment which I shall duly attend to I herewith Inclose you the arrangement of The officers to the several Recruiting Rendezvous & have subjoined the appointments of the Staff. They are Gentlemen Who I Believe will fill their Respective...
48To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Eddins, 7 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of seeing of you, I have in examining of the Hutts on the Island, have come a Cross a Man belonging to Captain Flemings Company, going at large and without doing any duty for a considerable time. This man on examination informs me, that he was brought hear by his Capt. in Order to have him Transfered to some other Company; There being some discontent between him and...
49To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Lloyd Moore, 28 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have had the honor of receiving your letters of the 19th. 20th. & 26th. Instant they shall be replied to in order. With respect to the two Cadets I request a short time to make up my mind as to the proper characters to be selected. As to the Offices of Inspector & Quarter Mr. I do not know of an Officer of my Regt. who can with propriety be recommended for either of those stations as they...
50To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 15 May 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote you a line yesterday acknowleging the receipt of your late letters from Albany. I expect that there will be a quorum of both branches to-day. It appears that the news of the Emp. of Germ. having signified his intention to make peace was unfounded. Had it even been so, it ought to have augmented our endeavours to meet hostility. It is probable that a new character will be given Pinckney...