751From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 10 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
As it will require time to form contracts where there are none already existing, I submit that it will be expedient, in such cases, to advance money to some person, to procure them by purchases on account of the Government; Where there is no Agent preferred by you the Regimental Quarter Master Naturally presents himself, as the person to whom the service may be Committed. New Jersey and...
752To 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 …...
753To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 11 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Governor St Clair has made a representation to me in a letter dated the 18th of February of which I enclose you a copy, by which it appears that much discontent, and uneasiness has been occasioned by the proclamation of Martial law at Detroit. To give a full view of the subject, I have also enclosed extracts from a correspondence between the Secretary of War and Brigadier General Wilkinson...
754To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 11 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury, has represented to me, in a letter dated the 20th. March ulto., that a Party of Troops, heretofore ordered, to be detached, to assist the Surveyor General in marking the Indian boundary line, conformably to the Treaty of Greenville, had utterly failed to cooperate, and that in consequence, the Northern line has been marked in no other manner, than the boundaries...
755To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 11 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April 11, 1799. Acknowledges receipt of Hamilton’s letters of April 8 and 9, 1799 , and notes that the contents of the letter of April 8 “will be duly weighed and attended to,” but that until a “more perfect” system for supplying the troops is adopted, the existing system, as outlined in his letter to Hamilton of March 21, 1799 , will remain in effect. States that he is ready...
756To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 12 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
By referring to a list of appointments to the old regiments of Infantry, sent you some time since, you will find the names of the Captains to the respective Companies directed to be added to each of these regiments by the “Act to augment the army of the United States and for other purposes” passed 16. July 1798. I also transmitted to you the 8th. of March Ult. a list of the names of all the...
757To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 13 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April 13, 1799. “The enclosed copy of a letter from Lieutenant Colonel Strong dated the 23rd: of January ultimo. was intended to have accompanied the papers referred to you in my letter of the 11th. instant.…” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; LS , letterpress copy, James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress; ADf , James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress. David Strong...
758From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 13 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been yesterday & this morning honored with your several favours, three of the 11th and two of the 12th instant. The injunctions respecting the Indian boundary line will be carefully & promptly attended to. Speedy attention will also be paid to the affair of proclaiming Martial law at Detroit. At present I am not aware how the authority for it is found. But this as well as its expediency...
759From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Lloyd Moore and Aaron Ogden, 13 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 13, 1799. “Relying that you will lose no time in assigning your Officers to the different subdistricts—I request that you will transmit me a list, showing the name of the principal Officer of each sub-district and the particular sub-district to which he is assigned. You will also … forward a duplicate to the Secy of War.” ADf , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For...
760To Alexander Hamilton from Nathan Rice, 13 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 23rd ulto.; inclosing a list of the officers who are to compose my Regiment, distributed into companies. I delayed not to convene as many of my officers as could be assembled expeditiously for the purpose of electing a paymaster. A plurality of the votes were in favour of Lieutenant Robert Duncan. The choice met my approbation,...
761To Alexander Hamilton from Arthur St. Clair, 14 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Under the same cover with this I have taken the liberty to enclose to you some observations of mine on a Letter from George Nicholas of Kentuckey to his friend in Virginia. You will perceive that I have treated you very familiarly, but I am under no apprehension that the purpose will be mistaken. It was a mortification that I could not get them out in proper time, when I had the vanity to...
762Circular to the Commandants of Regiments, 15 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It is a question whether it will be most adviseable to distribute the Cloathing for your Regiment among the several sub districts to be furnished to the recruits as they shall be raised or to deposit the whole either at the Regimental Rendezvous or at the place which you shall fix as the rendezvous of each district. As the right decision of this question may depend in part upon circumstances...
763To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 15 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April 15, 1799. “I have received your favour of the 13th instant. The arrangement of sending the recruiting money, in the first instance to the Regimental Paymasters, instead of through an Agent to them, avoids a Commission of One per Cent generally to the Agent for paying the money to the Paymaster, and doubling the Accounts for the same object in the Accountants Books. Hence...
764From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 15 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 15, 1799. “… A letter from General Washington of the 10th. instant has this passage ‘Not an officer in this state has yet received his Commission to the great dissatisfaction of all and relinquishment of many, who would no longer remain in a state of suspense and idleness.’ There is a strong impatience in the officers every where to have their commissions. It seems to me that...
765To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 15 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It is in consequence of an order from the Minister of War received on the 4th. Inst., that I have now the Honor to begin my correspondence with you. Accustomed to the frankness of a Soldier, nothing less than the fear of incurring the imputation of adulation or of impertinence could prevent the expression of my feelings on the occasion, but altho I wave professions, I may express the high...
766To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 16 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April 16, 1799. “I have received this morning your two letters dated the 15. instant.… Several Officers appointed to the new Regiments had expressed uneasiness upon the ground of not receiving their Commissions. I know however the uneasiness among some of them proceeded from another cause. They were apprehensive they were to receive no pay ’till called into actual service,...
767To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 17 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In my letter to you of the 4th February last, after intimating the disposition proposed, by the Commander in Chief, for the existing regiments of Artillerists, and Engineers, I added “You will therefore give effect, to the aforesaid disposition, and so arrange the Companies of Artillery, that those belonging to the same regiment or Corps, may form contiguous Garrisons.” I had written to Major...
768To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, [17] April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April [ 17 ] 1799 . “I have occasionally thought of the plan for the providing and issuing military supplies, submitted in your letter of the 8th inst. It strikes me, that the additional assistants to the Purveyor and Superintendant of Military Stores which it proposes, will tend to facilitate both purchases and deliveries; and the powers assigned to the Inspector General and...
769From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 17 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 17, 1799. “Your letters of the 15th. and 16th. are duly come to hand.… Tomorrow I shall leave this place for Philadelphia. Several things will best be settled by personal conference which in future will be mutually convenient & will promote the service.” Copy, in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
770To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 17 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 17, 1799. “I will thank You to take the Statemt. of Mr Mangin’s services, with you, to the Secrety at War, there will be but little due him from Government, as the amount now Stands, he has been of essential Services in Conducting the Works of Fort Jay &c: and I am sincerely desirous to have a Settlement made with him. Respecting my Compensation for the Services I have rendered...
771From Alexander Hamilton to John De Barth Walbach, 17 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 17, 1799. “My object is to See exemplified the elementary evolutions of the Cavalry according to the Systems of Prussia, France, and Great Britain in order to compare them with each other and Select the best. For this purpose I wished you to instruct in those different evolutions a troop of Volunteer horse.… You will readily understand that I do not wish to extend your...
772From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 17 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 17, 1799. “I have the honor of your letter of the 10th. instant.… The alterations you suggest are adopted.…” LS , in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; copy, in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
773To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Boyd, 18 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] April 18, 1799 . Seeks employment building the gun carriages for the “Arm’d Vessells now building” in New York. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Boyd owned a gunsmith shop and operated a forge on Quassaick Creek in New Windsor.
774From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, 19 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, April 19, 1799. On April 20, 1799, Hamilton wrote to Elizabeth Hamilton : “I yesterday informed my beloved of my arrival here.” Letter not found. ]
775To 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.
776To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 19 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 19, 1799. “Since I had the pleasure of addressing you under date of the 17th: instant I have considered, that it will be better for me to accept a Salary of Two thousand Dollars pr. Year from the date of my appointment as agent to the War department than to have a Commission on my disbursements to the first of February last and afterward a salary at that rate pr. annum.…” ALS ,...
777From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, 20 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I yesterday informed my beloved of my arrival here. A very good night’s rest has put me in as pleasant a state as I can be when absent from my dear and excellent Eliza. But the pressure of my engagements obliges me to confine myself to the information that I am in good health; which I am glad to know is of more importance than any thing else I could say. Kiss all my Children for me. Adieu My...
778From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 20 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, April 20, 1799. “… As I do not conceive the United States to be now at War in the legal import of that term (which I construe to be a state not of partial but of general , hostility) I consider it as beyond my power to approve or execute such sentences as by the Articles of War are referred to the President in time of peace. But while I think it my duty on this ground to transmit...
779To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 20 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It was not before the last Evening, I had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 12th. Febry: altho the messenger who brought it, delivered me philadelphia Papers, as late as the 8th: Ultimo. I regret the delay but cannot account for it. I wrote you five Days since Fort Washington on the Ohio, & now enclose you a duplicate of that Dispatch, by a confidential half-bred Indian, who will bear...
780To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 22 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
As the recruiting service, for the twelve regiments, immediately to be raised, for the service of the United States, is on the eve of its commencement and injurious delays to the same may be occasioned, from the difficulty or perhaps impracticability of procuring qualified musicians promptly by enlistment; I think it proper to advise you, that each Captain will be permitted, if he cannot...
781Circular to the Commandants of Regiments, 23[–24] April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of War has assured me that a competent number of drums and fifes for your Regiment shall be forwarded with its Cloathing. And he has authorised me to instruct you to hire temporarily persons in the capacities of drummers and fifers to be employed in the Recruiting service till others can be enlisted, provided that they can be obtained for a compensation not exceeding eight...
782To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 23 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Such was your Recommendation of Mr. Inglis for the place of a notary, that it is proper to mention to you the Reasons why he was not appointed. I think the number of officers should be regulated in general by the occasion or necessity there may be for them. In the City of New York there are at least Twenty public notaries; and that number being in my opinion more than sufficient, it does not...
783To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 23 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I wish you ⟨to⟩ state to me 1st. The rule which in your opinion will be the least exceptionable, whereby to determine the relative rank of the Field Officers of the new regiments, and the reasons for prefering the rule. 2d. Whether any objections have occurred to you, which ought to induce any alteration in the general rules of promotion suggested by the General Officers in the Commander in...
784From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 23 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Upon a careful inspection of the Articles of War I entertain doubts, whether I can act upon, by approving or disapproving sentences of Courts Martial referred to me from the Department of War, in cases in which the Courts have been instituted by that Department through organs other than myself. As there is peculiar delicacy in inflicting punishment upon questionable authority, I shall be glad...
785From Alexander Hamilton to Washington Morton, 23 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
On revising the proceedings of the General Court Martial received from you, I find that it does not appear by them whether two thirds of the members of the Court concurred on the Conviction of Sergeant Hunt. The articles of War (8th of Chapter Administration of Justice) require that two thirds shall agree in cases where death is inflicted, and I am of opinion that this agreement ought to...
786To Alexander Hamilton from Nathan Rice, 23 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I can only now, in answer to your favour of the 10th. instant, do myself the honor, to acknowledge the receipt thereof, with its inclosures, consisting of General Brooks arrangement of this state, into districts & also some outlines of a similar nature by Mr. Sedgwick. I shall communicate to Colonel Hunnewell the contents of your Letter & sollicit a consultation with him; But as it may be...
787To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 24 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter dated the 23rd: instant advising me, that you entertain doubts, whether you can act upon, (by approving or otherwise) Sentences of Courts Martial, referred to you, from the Department of War, in cases, in which the Court has been instituted by that Department, through other organs than yourself. That there is a peculiar delicacy in inflicting punishment upon...
788To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 25 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
A confidential opportunity having offered to New Orleans, I avail myself of it, to give you the following extract from a Letter just recd. from Governor Gayoso & dated the 15th Inst. “Your instructions to Captn Shaum Burgh, are not only according to the strictest discipline, but they show your Genls. evident disposition, to cultivate the best understanding between our Nations. “The party...
789To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 26 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
A question has arisen, respecting appointments, to a part of the Army establishment, on which I have to request your opinion, as soon as convenient, viz: Is it within the authority of the President, to appoint, the Officers, to the additional batalion, to the second Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers, directed to be raised by “an act, for the better organizing of the troops of the United...
790From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 26 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It being urgent that the Two Regiments of Artillery should be organised into companies and disposed of to the several destinations which you have contemplated it results that a very inconvenient delay would attend the making of that arrangement in concert with General Pinckney as suggested in your late letter. As, likewise, this arrangement is mere matter of organisation, the distribution of...
791Enclosure: Arrangement of the Artillery, [25 April 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
Names Rank Date of Commission Residence Henry Burbeck Lieut. Colonel 7. May 1798 Michilimacinac John J. Ulrich Rivardi Major 26. February 1798 Niagara Moses Porter Captain 4 November 1791 Michilimacinac Alexander Thompson ditto 2. June 1794 Niagara
792From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 26 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have reflected, as you have desired, on the most proper principles for regulating the relative rank of the field Officers of the twelve additional Regiments. It is always prudent, when no special reasons dictate a deviation, to adopt for cases of this kind a rule which steers clear of comparison of personal merit and avoids the danger of wounding the pride of any of the parties concerned....
793From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 26 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have a second time maturely reflected on the proper rule for promotions in the army, and I continue to adhere to that which was adopted by the General Officers last Winter, & which is recapitulated in your letter. I am persuaded that in the general course of things it will work well and satisfactorily. A moment’s hesitation as to its universal application arose from the situation of the four...
794From Alexander Hamilton to John F. Hamtramck, 27 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
You will receive herewith duplicate of my letter to you of the 9th instant. It appearing that discontent has arisen from the establishment of Martial Law at Detroit, and a representation having been made against its exercise by Governor St Clair, and there being a question of delicacy about the boundaries of the authority to establish and exercise Martial Law in time of peace, it has been...
795To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 27 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, April 27, 1799. “I have considered the arrangement and distribution of the two Regiments of Artillerists and Engineers submitted to me … and approve of the same. You will be pleased to cause the said arrangement and distribution so far as it relates to your command to be carried into immediate effect.…” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. H to McHenry, first letter of...
796From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 27 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 27, 1799. “I have reflected on the idea of furnishing the Regimental Quarter Masters with money to procure Quarters Transportation &c for the Recruits. It is a service which in an extensive State (New York for example) he cannot execute personally. If he employs substitutes at the different Stations, as the Contractor must do so likewise for his objects, it will either, by...
797To Alexander Hamilton from Nathan Rice, 28 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In compliance with your directions, I have proceeded to compleat the division of the State into subdistricts, at least that part of it which constitutes circle 14. I have not yet seen Colonel Hunnewell, & that no further delay might take place I entered on the business without him. It will be perceivd., that I have not exactly conformed to the division of the districts which was sketched by...
798Enclosure: Distribution of Massachusetts’ 14th Circle into Subdistricts, [28 April 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
Names of the Officers Superintending the Subdistricts Numbers of the Subdistricts The Principal Town or the Rendezvous of the Subdistricts Officers Superin-Tending Districts Plan of District Rendezvous Captain Ashmun No. 1 Pittsfield } Major Walker Springfield Captain Phelps No. 2 Great Barrington Captain Babbitt No. 3 Springfield
799To Alexander Hamilton from John J. U. Rivardi, 28 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Niagara [ New York ] April 28, 1799 . Asks that soldiers employed in the quartermaster’s department be given extra pay for extra work. States that Dr. John G. Coffin, surgeon’s mate and acting quartermaster general, has had to assume responsibility for such payments and that he should be reimbursed. Also states: “… the State of my health is Such as To induce me To sollicit To be relieved.… I...
800From Alexander Hamilton to John F. Hamtramck, 29 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 29, 1799. “… Are the Regimental Staff of the Regiments of the Western army complete? If not, let them be completed. I am not certain what has been the mode in time past of appointing Officers in that army; but the mode intended to be pursued hereafter is this—The commander of each Regiment is to nominate his Quarter Master & Adjutant, and the Pay Master so far as may be...