1From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [30 January 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
I send you sundry papers respecting the Ordnance department. The General requests you will prepare your observations on them and be ready to meet The Committee and himself tomorrow forenoon. As he is going out of town on Monday and will have no time to spare, He begs you will be ready at the time mentioned. Will you be at home to day at 2 oClock? Mr. Garanger plagues me to accompany him to...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 26 March 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Middlebrook, New Jersey, March 26, 1779. Letter not found .] Sold by Thomas Birch’s Sons, December, 1892, Lot 106.
3From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [26 March 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Headquarters, Middlebrook, New Jersey, March 26, 1779. “This will be delivered to you by Mr. Garranger, who comes to pass through a probation with you. He is to give you such proofs of his knowledge in the theory and practice of artillery as you shall deem satisfactory. He will, on your certificate of the same, be recommended to Congress for an appointment as Preceptor to the artillery, or...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [6 May 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
I am commanded by His Excellency to acknowlege the receipt of your letter. He desires you will have the persons you mention carefully confined ’till they can be delivered over to the civil Magistrate as we have no military law by which to punish them. But ⟨that⟩ the civil law may have something substantial to operate upon, he requests you will do every thing you can think of to discover the...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [2 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
His Excelly directs me to notify you that the last division Kalb’s is ordered to be in readiness to march tomorrow. Its actual marching will depend on a contingency—the getting of horses. The General however wishes the Park to be also ready to move tomorrow. The route will be by Morris Town & the Maryland division will serve as a cover. You will have previous notice to march. Your care is...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [3 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Middlebrook, New Jersey, June 3, 1779. ] Catalogue description reads: “Regarding DeKalb’s movements.” Letter not found. ] ALS , sold by C. F. Libbie, April 26, 1904, Lot 1125.
7From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [25 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
A party of the enemy’s horse with about 1000 infantry are said to be at Pines bridge. Possibly the stores at New Millford may be the object. The General requests you will send a proper person to see what progress may have been made in removing them and to complete the removal. I have the honor to be Your most Obed ser ALS , Mr. Otto Madlener, Hubbard Woods, Illinois; ADfS , George Washington...
8From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 27 June 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Garanger has waited upon the General to know decisively his fate. He renounces all ideas of command or rank in the corps of Artillery and asks only a brevet of Captain in the army. The simple question is—can he be employed usefully or not in the present state and temper of the corps? if not, I shall be obliged to you to inform him so, with a line either to the General or myself, informing...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 24 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Headquarters, West Point, July 24, 1779. Letter not found. ] Sold by Thomas Birch’s Sons, December, 1892, Lot 106.
10From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [24 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
I have communicated your letter to The General. He thinks Col Harrison’s regiment not intitled to a ⟨part⟩ of the present supply. I inclose you by the General’s order a letter from General Gates, with sundry papers respe⟨cti⟩ng powder Springfield &c. on which yo⟨ur opi⟩nion is requested. The question is—W⟨hat is t⟩o be done? Col Nixon sent to Springfield ⟨to be in⟩ charge of the Massachusettes...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [25 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
The General is anxious to receive you observations on the letter sent you yesterday from General Gates so soon as possible, that he may dispatch an express waiting for an answer. Yr. Most Obed ser ALS , MS Division, New York Public Library. Major General Horatio Gates’s letter to Washington (dated July 18, 1779), which deals with questions concerning the management of the arsenal at...
12From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 22 August 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
I inclose you a petition just put into my hand. You know the General’s idea is not to force the continuance of any man in the service longer than he can be detained consistently with the terms of his engagement; attempts of this kind in a service like ours do more harm than good. This I dare say corresponds with your sentiments; and if the petitioner is not really inlisted during the war, you...
13From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [30 January 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
The General ⟨consents to – –⟩ officers to recover your deserters and to reimburse their reasonable expences. He only makes two conditions, that you will send as few as possible & that they keep and exact and particular account of their expences. The sentence of The Court Marti⟨al⟩ will probably be determined tomorrow; it is too late for to day’s orders. I am ordered to return you the inclosed...
14From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [28 May 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
The General requests you to furnish two Grasshoppers and a company of Artillery to be attached to the New York Brigade which marches tomorrow morning toward Albany. GW John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington (Washington, 1931–1944). , XVIII, 443, note 80. On the same day, Washington wrote Governor George Clinton: “In consequence of the intelligence from Your Excellency...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [4 June 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Gilliland, the most helpless mortal in the world, and the most ignorant of every thing he ought to know, represents that he has been two years without pay. He begs this line to you to have justice done him and seems even not to know to whom he ought to apply. In pity give him such information and advice as you can and at least enable him to have some idea of his own affairs & to give me...
16From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [9 July 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
We wish to know the number of heavy cannon we might bring into an operation against New York—already in the possession of The Continental distinguishing the Iron from the Brass. We are writing to The French General. Yr most Obed also the Mortars their different sizes. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. These cannons were to be used for an attack on New York City, which Washington...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [22 July 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
The alliance is not come nor our arms, nor our powder. They probably will come with the second division we want to know what we can do in the meantime in the article of arms without those; will you send us immediately a memmorandum of what we have to your knowledge? Do you know whether the Eastern States can furnish any on loan and in what proportion. We must borrow of them and borrow of our...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [17 October 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Garanger has returned from ⟨Philadelphia⟩ with a resolve of Congress ⟨that it⟩ cannot employ him. ⟨He⟩ writes me it was because ⟨there was⟩ no testimonial ⟨from the⟩ General or from you. ⟨I assume⟩ the Committee did not transmit your letter. I confess there seems to me something hard in this Gentleman’s case, to be rejected after having taken so much pains and lost so much time to put...
19From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Henry Knox, [7 June 1782] (Hamilton Papers)
We are told here that there is a British officer coming on from Cornwallis’s army to be executed by way of retaliation for the murder of Capt Huddy. As this appears to me clearly to be an ill-timed proceeding, and if persisted in will be derogatory to the national character I cannot forbear communicating to you my ideas upon the subject. A sacrifice of this sort is intirely repugnant to the...
20George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Knox, 4 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
As the public service may require that communications should be made to me, during my absence from the seat of government, by the most direct conveyances and as, in the event of any very extraordinary occurrence, it will be necessary to know at what time I may be found in any particular place, I have to inform you that unless the progress of my journey to Savannah is retarded by unforeseen...
21From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Knox, 4 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
As the public service may require that communications should be made to me, during my absence from the seat of government, by the most direct conveyances—and as, in the event of any very extraordinary occurrence, it will be necessary to know at what time I may be found in any particular place, I have to inform you that unless the progress of my journey to Savannah is retarded by unforeseen...
22I. The President to the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and War, 4 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
As the public service may require that communications should be made to me, during my absence from the seat of government, by the most direct conveyances, and as, in the event of any very extraordinary occurrence, it will be necessary to know at what time I may be found in any particular place, I have to inform you that unless the progress of my journey to Savannah is retarded by unforeseen...
23Alexander J. Dallas to Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, and Thomas Jefferson, 27 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, June 27, 1791. “In Obedience to the directions of the Governor, I have the honor to present to you, a Copy of the Laws of this Commonwealth, passed at the last Sessions of the General Assembly.” LC , Division of Public Records, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg.
24From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 3 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I transmit you, as relating to your department, a letter just received by me from Lieutenant Colonel Beckwith forwarding a copy of a paper purporting to be a speech of Lord Dorchester, in answer to an address of the deputies of certain indian tribes. You will observe that the object of this communication is stated to be “the information of the executive government.” In conversation, a reliance...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 17 October [1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The following are the particulars in the Presidents Letter which he expects you to prepare. Expeditions against the Indians. Every pacific measure was previously tried to produce accom~ & avoid expence. More pointed laws with penalties to rest⟨r⟩ain our own people. This & good faith may produce tranquillity. Treaties with Cherokees & six Nations & reasons . I annex to the first the hints in...
26From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 28 May 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Accountant for the departt. of War having mentioned to me as on your part that it was requisite immediately to furnish to the officers on the recruiting service, a further sum of money for that service and having suggested that some arrangement was necessary in relation to the transmitting of it to them—I have the honor to propose the following. Let warrants issue by the Secy of war...
27From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, [6 August 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Treasury Department, August 6, 1792. “All advances for supplies in the quartermaster’s department will be made after the first of next month to the quartermaster by warrants in his favor from the treasury, and he will have to account immediately to the treasury for the disbursement of the moneys committed to him. It will, of course, be necessary for the quartermaster to have an attorney or...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 29 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Herewith you will find a Warrant for Thirty five thousand dollars for the use of the Quarter Master generals department. I request that you will direct it to be received in Bank post Notes, which for greater security had better be made out in the Name of the Quarter Master General. Experience shews that these Notes answer as well as specie, and Considerations of the Moment induce me to wish...
29From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 14 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to your letter of this day I observe I recalled your having spoken to me at the period to which you allude, concerning the contract which you were then about to make with Mr. Duer and the making of which by you was agreeable to former practice in similar cases. You stated that you had adjusted with Mr. Duer the terms of the Contract; that an advance upon it of four thousand dollars...
30From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 24 December [1792] (Hamilton Papers)
It being among the duties assigned by Law to the Treasury department, to prescribe forms for keeping and rendering all public accounts, I now address you for the purpose of sugg⟨est⟩ing in what manner it will be hereafter expected that the accoun⟨ting⟩ for expenditures in the Indian department be regulated and rendered for settlement. Some forms as essential checks upon the account⟨s⟩ for...
31From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 24 January 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you a letter of this day from Mr Miller, Inspector of Cloathing, suggesting the necessity of certain precautions for the preservation of the Hats which have been delivered. You will be fully sensible of the importance of due care on this point, and will I doubt not give the necessary direction to Mr Hodgsdon. I have the Honour to be very Respectfully Sir, Your obedient servt. Copy, RG...
32George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolph, 24 February 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
The President of the United States requests the attendance of the at Nine o’Clock tomorrow morning ; at the President’s house, on the subject of the note sent to the on the 17~. inst: and that the will bring with him such remarks as he may have committed to writing in pursuance of said note. At the same time the President will lay before the Heads of the Departments & the Attorney General some...
33George Washington to Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox, 27 February 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
As the day is near at hand, when the President-elect is to take the oath of qualification, and no mode is pointed out by the Constitution or law; I could wish that you, mr Jefferson (Genl. Knox, or Colo. Hamilton) and mr Randolph could meet tomorrow morning, at any place which you may fix between yourselves; & communicate to me the result of your opinions as to time, place & manner of...
34George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Knox, [9 March 1793] (Hamilton Papers)
Expecting that my private affairs will call me to Virginia on or before the 25 of this month, I have to request that you will lay before me, previous to that time, such matters within your Department as may require my attention or agency before I set out, as well as those which might be necessary for me to know or act upon during the time of my absence from the Seat of Government (which will...
35From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Knox, 9 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
Expecting that my private Affairs will call me to Virginia on or before the 25th of this month, I have to request that you will lay before me, previous to that time, such matters within your department as may require my attention or agency before I set out; as well as those which might be necessary for me to know or act upon during my absence from the Seat of Government (which will be about...
36George Washington to the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and War, 9 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Expecting that my private Affairs will call me to Virginia on or before the 25th of this month, I have to request that you will lay before me, previous to that time, such matters within your department as may require my attention or agency before I set out; as well as those which might be necessary for me to know or act upon during my absence from the Seat of Government (which will be about...
37From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 18 March 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I have before me your letter of the 8th. instant, transmitting sundry accounts for supplies at Post Vincennes, during the year 1791, to the neighbouring Indians. From the nature of the case, it appears to me proper to request your more explicit opinion concerning the propriety of allowing these claims. Though I entertain a favourable opinion of the Officers concerned and readily accede to the...
38George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolph, March 21st [–22] 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
To The Secretary of State—The Secretary of the Treasury—The Secretary of War and The Attorney General of the United States. Gentlemen, The Treaty which is agreed to be held on or about the first of June next at the Lower Sandusky of Lake Erie, being of great moment to the interests and peace of this Country; and likely to be attended with difficulties arising from circumstances (not unknown to...
39From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 18 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
The requests contained in your letter of the 15 of April have been complied with. There are two points arising out of the Estimate of the Qr. Master General, which you transmitted, to which I beg leave to call your attention. One Item of Expenditure in the estimate is 450 Pack-Horses. It has been noticed to me by the Accounting Officers of the Treasury, that there appear to have been already...
40George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolph, 18 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
The posture of affairs in Europe, particularly between France and Great Britain, places the United States in a delicate situation; and requires much consideration of the measures which will be proper for them to observe in the War betwn. those Powers. With a view to forming a general plan of conduct for the Executive, I have stated and enclosed sundry questions to be considered preparatory to...
41From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 13 May 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inclose an extract of a letter from me of this date to General Wilkinson, on a question of some importance lately raised by the Contractors. I need not observe of how much moment it is, that the Commanding General should without delay establish with the Contractors the construction which I put on the Contract; about which I have no idea that they can mean any serious...
42From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 25 May 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Mr Stephen Bruce, on the subject of certain articles furnished by him upon the order of Lieutenant Greaton and disallowed in the settlement of his accounts on the principle of their not having been conformable to instructions—together with a copy of the settlement at the Treasury shewing what those articles were. I request to be informed whether the requisition of...
43George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Knox, 12 June 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
As you are about to meet on other business, it is my desire, that you would take the enclosed application into consideration. It is not my wish, on one hand, to throw unnecessary obstacles in the way of gratifying the wishes of the applicants. On the other, it is incumbent on me to proceed with regularity. Would not the granting a Patent then, which I believe is always the concluding Act and...
44George Washington to the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and War, [12 June 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
As you are about to meet on other business, it is my desire that you would take the enclosed application into consideration. It is not my wish, on one hand, to throw unnecessary obstacles in the way of gratifying the wishes of the applicants. On the other it is incumbent on me to proceed with regularity. Would not the granting of a Patent then, which I believe is always the concluding act, and...
45Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox, [19 June 1793] (Hamilton Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the Secretaries of the Treasury & war, draughts of two letters of this day’s date to the Ministers of France & England. He confesses himself not satisfied with the latter altogether, as it has somewhat of the appearance of evasion. The gentlemen will be pleased to propose any alteration either may desire, handing the letters round to him to be finally...
46From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox, with their Approvals, 19 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the Secretaries of the Treasury and war, draughts of two letters of this day’s date to the Ministers of France and England. He confesses himself not satisfied with the latter altogether, as it has somewhat of the appearance of evasion. The gentlemen will be pleased to propose any alterations either may desire, handing the letters round to him to be...
47Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox, [25 June 1793] (Hamilton Papers)
Th. Jefferson has the honor to submit to the correction & approbation of the Secretaries of the Treasury & War, the inclosed draughts of letters to the French minister on the subject of the ship William & others in her situation, & to Mr. Hammond & mr. Pinckney on the subject of the Snow Suckey. AL , letterpress copy, Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress. The William , a British...
48From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 25 June 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I have concluded to direct purchases of distilled spirits to be made on account of the Government and for the use of the army in the Western Parts of Pensylvania Maryland & Virginia and in the State of Kentucke, to be delivered; according to the convenience of the sellers, at the several Forts McIntosh, Washington and Steuben, and also at the Mouth of Musskingum; a mode in which I intend by...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox, with their Replies, 25 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to submit to the correction and approbation of the Secretaries of the Treasury and War, the inclosed draughts of letters to the French minister on the subject of the ship William and others in her situation, and to Mr. Hammond and Mr. Pinckney on the subject of the Snow Suckey. [ Replies by Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox :] The letters to Mr. Hammond and Mr....
50George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolph, [29 July 1793] (Hamilton Papers)
It will not be amiss, I conceive, at the meeting you are about to have to day, to consider the expediency of directing the Customhouse Officers to be attentive to the arming or equipping Vessels, either for offensive or defensive war, in the several ports to which they belong; and make report thereof to the Governor or some other proper Officer. Unless this, or some other effectual mode is...