31From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 30 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Scruples of delicacy have occasionned me to hesitate about offering to you certain ideas which it appears to me on mature reflection cannot be witheld consistently either with friendship to you or regard to the service. They are these— I observe you plunged in a vast mass of details. I know from experience that it is impossible for any man whatever be his talents or diligence to wade through...
32From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [1–2 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are sundry recommendations for appointments with notes of mine concerning them. I do not recollect whether I have heretofore mentioned to you Mr William Armstrong. This gentleman was a British Officer and served in the British army in America last War. But for a number of years he has been a citizen of this State—having also married in America and being the father of a Family. He...
33From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
An absence from the City, upon some urgent avocations, prevented my receiving ’till yesterday your letters of the 10th & 11th instant. I observe the suggestion which you have made to the President, towards calling General Knox and myself into immediate service. If he shall approve, I stand ready to execute in the best manner I shall be able, whatever business, may be confided to me. But I must...
34From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I write you herewith an official letter. Your private one of the 13th is before me. I regret that you have been unwell and rejoice that you are better. The affair of General Knox perplexes me. I wish him to serve. I am pained to occasion to him pain, for I have truly a warm side for him, and a high value for his merits. But my judgment tells me, and all I consult confirm it, that I cannot...
35From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 21 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
You will herewith receive the list mentioned in mine of yesterday. The names marked with an * are those which engage my preference as last ascertained. The list comprises the names you sent me and some others which have come directly to me. Besides these there are a number of applications with my Remarks upon them which were put up in a packet and either transmitted to you or delivered to Mr....
36Enclosure: Candidates for Army Appointments from New York, [21 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Subalterns 1 Nathaniel Paulding West Chester would prefer Artillery Mr . Hale refers to me speaks hyhly A probably a good Lieutantnt AH 2 John Treat Irving would prefer Artillery B Mr. Hale 3 Timothy Shalor Albany County
37Enclosure: Candidates for Army Appointments from New Hampshire, [21 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Subalterns 1 Timothy Mountford Philadelphia 5 Silvester G Whipple Livemore Education & good family Hampton 23 years Gordon collegiate education & has read law eleven mon respectable Whipple Father —[sprightly & active] 6 William S Thorne Londonderry
38Enclosure: Candidates for Army Appointments from Vermont, [21 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Subalterns 5 Marmaduke Wait Windsor ☞ 25 year Payne Young Gentleman heretofore recomd by Morris & himself pretty good 2 Morris —education common morals good active enterprising Cadet 9 John H Brownson Father Brigadier General Lyon Nothing
39Enclosure: Candidates for Army Appointments from New Jersey, [21 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Subalterns 6 Robert Hunt son of A Hunt Trenton Lieutenant Qr Cavalry } Stockton
40Enclosure: Candidates for Army Appointments from Pennsylvania, [21 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
LIEUTENANTS & ENSIGNS John S Porter McPherson Probably good Ensign Philadelphia Francis Johnson Inquire of Chester David Denny perhaps Lt. Young & writes a good hand & good English Archibald D Davis Lancaster Young Dennis Wheelen David Denny do Elija Griffiths Richard Thomas
41From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 25 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I perceive it would be agreeable to the Commander in Chief to receive frequent communications from you and particularly to understand the state of public supplies, that is the quantities on hand & the measures in execution to procure others. I give you this hint as a guide & would advise to have a full statement made out with notes of what is further doing & send it to him. Yrs. truly ADfS ,...
42From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 27 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
You will have observed in the list transmitted you the name of Mr. Jacob Morton as for a Majority. I understood him that he would accept it. But he now tells me he will take nothing less than a Regiment. This seems too much to begin with, if a competent person who has served can be found. Mr. Abijah Hammond who was in one of the N Eng Regiments during the War though not soliciting it would...
43From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 30 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Col Stevens tells me he has exhausted the money you sent him in preliminary purchases of Timber &c. & is in debt with embarrassment to pay & likely to be compelled to dismiss workmen &c. Such a state of things is hurtful to the public service, discredits the Administration & increases expence. It ought to be avoided if possible. Stevens says pains have been taken to excite doubts about him &...
44From Alexander Hamilton to James McHnery, 8 September 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Yours dated by mistake Augt. 6th. I received yesterday. I postponed a reply ’till to day because I wished first to reflect maturely. My mind is unalterably made up. I shall certainly not hold the commission on the plan proposed, and only wait an official communication to say so. I return you the inclosures in your letter. You may depend on my fidelity to your friendly confidence. I shall...
45From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 9 September 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I think I heretofore mentioned to you that to avoid the chance of difficulty with the President, I had written or would write to him urging the appointment of Mr. Philip Church to a Captaincy. I have just received a very obliging letter from him, and in which he assures me of his willingness to appoint him to that grade, and that he would write to you accordingly. Thus is all difficulty on...
46From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 9 October 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you, My Dear Sir, for the prompt communication of the intelligence contained in your letter by yesterdays Post. As to the Regulations (if as I suppose you mean) those for the tactics & discipline of the army—I must answer that hitherto I have done nothing more towards it than some preliminary readings & reflection. The undetermined situation, & the necessity of a close attention to my...
47From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 October 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I received yesterday your private letter of the 16th, with its inclosures, now returned. It was essential for you to take a decisive course & to leave the blame of further delay at some other door. There can be no doubt of the propriety of combining the aid of General Officers. But Pinckney being now arrived, it seems to me very proper & necessary that he also should be called upon. You will...
48From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 October 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I was yesterday honourd with your letter transmitting my commission as Inspector and Major General. Agreeably to your desire I hold myself prepared to attend you within the period you assign. But as the object appears to embrace a concert of advice and assistance with General Knox, who cannot be expected in much less than the utmost limit of the time pre[s]cribed, I shall permit myself to...
49From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 October 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
The state of my health and of the Weather yesterday and to day must prevent my communicating the result of the consultation intended to be had with the Gentlemen I mentioned in my letter of Yesterday. I answer your inquiry Thus far according to the data which I previously possessed. It cannot be expedient to keep men on such of the Islands as the winter shall find without fortifications in a...
50From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 9 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Trenton , November 9, 1798. In a letter to Hamilton on November 10, 1798, McHenry wrote : “I received your letter of yesterday this morning at 5 o’clock.” Letter not found. ] H was on his way to Philadelphia to meet with George Washington, McHenry, and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney to discuss plans for the Army.
51From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 30 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I now communicate the result of my conference with the Commander in Chief and General Pinckney, on the subject of extra allowances to Officers detached on service, so as to be obliged to incur expences, on the Road and at places where there are no military Posts We are all of opinion, that in such cases an extra allowance ought to be made, and this even to Officers who receive extra...
52From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 16 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I regretted that I was detained to the last moment of being in time for the stage, to which my baggage had been previously sent, and thereby prevented from calling upon you before my final departure from Philadelphia. If the recruiting service is to be confided to me, I ought as soon as possible to be definitively apprised of it, and in the mean time, I shall be glad to have the instructions...
53From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 17 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
You will observe among the propositions lately communicated by the Commander in Chief, that of the addition of two troops to complete the Regiment of Cavalry to ten troops. The idea was that these two troops should be Hussars . It is much to be wished that Congress would agree to a present addition of two troops to be carried to the actual number of the others. In the distribution of New York...
54From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
You are informed that Mr. Hill is in possession of drafts of surveys made during the last war of our harbour and bay. It is very interesting that the Government should acquire these drafts. You will I presume think that they ought to be deposited in your department as an item in the general mass of information necessary towards plans of general defence. If so you will purchase them, if it be...
55From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 20 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been reflecting on the subject of an arrangement for the command of the 2d. Regiment of Artillery and for the Inspectorship of Artillery. I believe on the whole you can do nothing better than appoint Tousard , who I understand is next in rank after Burbeck, to the command of the Regiment and Major Hoops to the Inspectorship. Confidence, by halves is seldom wise. Toussard is in the...
56From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 20 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I am this moment favoured with your letter of the 18th. instant and thank you for the ideas personal to me. Mr. Laurance, somewhat abruptly, regrets that I promoted his son’s nomination, as it was his desire that he should continue to pursue his profession. As I could not divine this desire of his, he certainly had no cause of displeasure with me. In case Laurance’s name is witheld at the...
57From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 26 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I do not know what is the practice in nominations, as to annexing Counties to names; but I do know that to annex them to the military nominations about to be made will be likely to lead to error. In several cases it was somewhat uncertain what County was the place of residence, and if I recollect rightly there is certainly a mistake in this respect in at least one instance in the state of New...
58From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 26 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
As it may possibly not have come to you through any other channel, I think it well to inform you that General Huntington has been displeased at not having received official notice of his appointment with his Commission. This, if not already so, ought to be remedied. I hear nothing of nominations. What malignant influence hangs upon our military affairs? With great esteem & regard Yr. Obed...
59From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 7 January 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The unascertained situation, in which I have been, since my acceptance of the Military appointment, I now hold, has been not a little embarrassing to me. I had no sooner heard of the law creating the Office than I was told by members of the Congress that I was generally considered as the person designated by circumstances to fill that office and that the expectation of those who most actively...
60From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 14 January 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received on Saturday two letters from you desiring that your different propositions might be thrown into two Bills & suggesting the idea of an Incorporation of the several existing laws into one system. This idea is a good one, but to accomplish it with sufficient correctness would require several days to examine carefully and prepare with accuracy. Besides this, I incline to the opinion...