1From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 29 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Wilmington [ Delaware ] August 29, 1777. Sends extract from General Orders of June 18, 1777, stating that “Timothy Pickering Esquire is appointed Adjutant General in the Armies of the United States of America.” ADS , Pickering Foundation, Salem, Massachusetts. Before his appointment as adjutant general, Timothy Pickering had served as colonel of a Massachusetts militia regiment.
2From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [5 October 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
I am directed by The General to inform you in confidence, that the army will march from its present ground as soon as the weather permits. You will make your arrangements accordingly. When the weather clears, if you will call at Head Quarters, you will be informed of the particular disposition. I am D Sir Yr. Obed ser ALS , MS Division, New York Public Library. Pickering had succeeded Major...
3From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [25 October 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
You will have the boats at Dodd’s and those now with the army, properly furnished with oars, transported by horses for the sake of expedition—brought to the Notch, tomorrow evening precisely at five O Clock (i e half an hour before sunset) where they will receive further orders. You will have with each set a confidential person on whom you can absolutely rely for punctuality to a moment. The...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [20 November 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
There are five boats ordered from Kings ferry to Dobbes ferry, which The General directs you will immediately send a proper number of carriages for, and bring them to where the other boats are. Let no delay attend it, if you please. Have you had the four which were already there brought on? Your most obedient serv ALS , RG 93, Miscellaneous Records, National Archives; also ADfS , George...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [20 November 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
Be so good as to urge the bringing forward the boats; there is no time to be lost. They ought to be with the others by Wednesday evening, if possible. Yr. very hum serv I think I mentioned to you in my first note, that the boats would be by this time at Dobbes ferry. ’Tis there the teams must go. ALS , RG 93, Miscellaneous Records, National Archives. These boats were being assembled for the...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [22 November 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
There are five more boats will be at Dobbes ferry, say the Slote, thursday night. Endeavour if possible to have teams there for them by that time. You will receive further instructions in the mean time. Let us hear from you on this article. ALS , RG 93, Miscellaneous Records, National Archives. These boats were being assembled for the projected attack described in Pickering to H, November 6,...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [22 November 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
The additional boats must take the same route with the others; when they arrive they must be muffled. The impress if possible ought to be deferred ’till after the point of execution. But if you pass by to day and will call in, we can best speak of this. ALS , RG 93, Miscellaneous Records, National Archives. These boats were being assembled for the projected attack described in Pickering to H,...
8From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [22 November 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
The Boats are not under present circumstances to go to the Notch till tomorrow as you will see by the letter herewith. ALS , RG 93, Miscellaneous Records, National Archives. These boats were being assembled for the projected attack described in Pickering to H, November 6, 1780, note 1 .
9From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [22 November 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
A working party of fifty men is ordered to parade tomorrow morning eight oClock at your quarters to take your orders. The object is to repair the road & briges for the march of the army to New Windsor by Pompton, Ringwood &c. A party of Artificers must accompany—A special charge to do the business well. Yr hum serv ALS , RG 93, Miscellaneous Records, National Archives. These preparations were...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [23 November 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
The General approves what you have done; what you propose to do. He only remarks that the horses for the artillery which are to be employed upon the occasion and for the boats are to be kept to their stations. All those not necessary to the expedition may go a foraging; it will be time enough for them to be in camp on saturday morning by light. The Pensylvania line will move early tomorrow...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [27 November 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
The General desires you will have the boats removed from Doddes to Pompton as speedily as you can & from thence as soon as possible to Kings ferry. The Officer of the Jersey light infantry will take your orders. He will remain in the neighbourhood of Pompton till the Jersey Brigade arrives. ALS , RG 93, Miscellaneous Records, National Archives. The expedition for which these boats had been...
12From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [21 January 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
The General approves of your allowing a ration per individual to the Capt and crews of the dismissed craft not to the families, to be charged as you mention in a settlement of accounts. He thinks the middle of May will be the proper period for rendezvousing the ox-teams for the next campaign. Yrs. with sincere regard ALS , RG 93 , Miscellaneous Records, National Archives; LC , Hugh Hughes...
13From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [9 February 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
The General has anticipated the subject of your letter of this day, by ordering the greater part of the Jersey troops to Morris Town to occupy the huts there. He nevertheless continues in the desire that that place may not be the depositary of any large quantity of stores. The situation of the two artificers can only be pitied not redressed. The families of men in the service cannot be the...
14From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [9 February 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
The bad condition of my horses and the scarcity of forage in Camp induced me to leave them at Saratoga to recruit against the Campaign. I am shortly to make a journey with the General to Rhode Island for which I shall want horses. I therefore request the favour of you to furnish me with a couple of the best Continental horses that can be found. One for myself—the other for my portmanteau. The...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [11 February 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
There are probably a good many dispatches for Head Quarters in the Post office at Fish Kill, some of which it may be of great importance should not be delayed. The General therefore desires (as he takes it for granted the ferry at New burgh is not practicable) that you will send a trusty person to pass the river at the nearest place above and go to Fish Kill for the letters and return as soon...
16From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [15 February 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
The General directs you will send off the inclosed dispatch for Count De Rochambeau very early in the morning with the most positive directions concerning expedition. It is of great importance that it should arrive to him as quick as possible. He wishes you also to write to the Qr. Master at the station of your last express and desire him in case Sheldon should not have taken up the chain...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [21 February 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
The Marquis expects a letter here which he has left his servant to bring him to Smiths Clove, with some little articles. His servant has no horse. Will you be so good as to furnish him with one? If you have none at hand, please to have one impressed. The horse will return tomorrow. Yr. humble servant ALS , Pierpont Morgan Library, New York City.
18From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 12 April 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New Windsor, New York ] April 12, 1781 . States that “the General has ordered the block house in the Clove to be continued.” ALS , RG 93, Miscellaneous Records, National Archives.
19From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [20 April 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
Let me know the result of your examination whether you can appoint a barrak Master to the French army; if you can, the General wishes you to appoint Col Champlin without delay. Have you the tract written by Price in which he estimates the specie & current cash of Great Britain? Have you Humes Essay’s, Lex Mercatoria or Postlethwait? Any of these books you may have, you will singularly oblige...
20From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [24 July 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
My servant informs me, that the saddle he rides has met with an accident that renders it unfit for use. As there are none here to be purchased, I should be glad it could be exchanged. I suppose it may be repaired and made serviceable again; however if like indulgencies are not allowed to other officers, I do not wish it for me. I am with esteem Sir Your most Obed ALS , RG 93, Miscellaneous...
21From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, [7 August 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
In the necessaries delivered for my corps, two days since, there were only two wall tents which were the number mentioned and required for the company officers. The field officers therefore are unprovided for. Will you be so good as to give an explicit order for two more? We also want a Regimental orderly book and some regimental paper. Will you be pleased to include these articles in your...
22From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 7 September 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I this day received your letter of the 20th. of August. Mr. Morris has advised me of the Bills you desired and directed my purchasing them together with his notes and the bank notes with what money shall come in to my hands on public account. They are now beginning to collect the tax imposed for the use of the United States though I can as yet form no judgment with what success or expedition....
23From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 7 January 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, January 7, 1785. “I am mortified in being obliged to acknowlege to you my neglect of the business you committed to my care for your friend Mr. Holt. … I have applied to Mrs. Holt. I find she has some time since taken out letters of Administration with the will annexed during the absence of the Executors; a matter in which she never could have found any difficulty. It would indeed be...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 19 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
In the Estimate laid before Congress at their last Sessions, I included as an Anticipation of the late Superintendant of Finance the Amount of a draft issued by him in your favor on the late Receiver of Taxes for the State of New York for Fifty thousand Dollars no part of which appears to have been paid. The circumstances attending this Anticipation not being sufficiently known by the...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [13 May 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The offer of your service as successor to Mr. Duer reached me in due time. I can with truth assure you, that you were one of a very small number who held a competition in my judgment and that had personal considerations alone influenced me, I could with difficulty have preferred another. Reasons of a peculiar nature, however, have determined my choice towards Mr. Tench Coxe, who to great...
26From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 23 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, August 23, 1791. On August 26, 1791, Pickering wrote to Hamilton : “I have received … your letter of the 23d instant.” Letter not found. ] Pickering had been appointed Postmaster General on August 12, 1791.
27From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 12 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received the communication which you made to me with respect to a a part of the contingent expences of the general post office, and on comparing the sum you mention with the charges for similar objects, which have been necessarily sustained in this department, and in the public service in general I cannot perceive any thing in the arrangement you propose, but what appears consistent...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 2 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department , January 2, 1795. This letter is essentially the same as that which Hamilton wrote to Edmund Randolph on the same date. Copy, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford. On January 2, 1795, Pickering succeeded Henry Knox as Secretary of War ( Executive Journal , I Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate (Washington, 1828), I. , 168–69). For the differences between...
29From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 9 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to transmit to you, a Copy of a letter from the Commissioner of the Revenue to me, on the subject of Whiskey to be purchased for the use of the Army in the present year. It has been the custom heretofore, to receive the Whiskey at the Posts of Pittsburg, Whelen and Fort Washington—and as there are no places so convenient for the purpose, I would suggest the policy of...
30From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 19 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I have recd. your letter of this day. The estimate of the sum requisite for the Jersey Militia greatly exceeds what I had supposed to be necessary. There are two dangers attending so considerable advances on account without adequate data to guide—One that a good deal more money may be issued from the Treasury than is necessary with the inconvenience of a difficult & perhaps dilatory after...