From Thomas Jefferson to John Smith of the War Department, 16 August 1804
To John Smith of the War Department
Monticello Aug. 16. 04.
Sir
Commissions are now wanting for three Colonels, and two Majors Commandants of Louisiana. the commission is to express that the party ‘is appointed a Colonel [or Major] Commandant of the regular officers and troops of the army of the US. and of the militia in a district of Louisiana,’ and is to be in the nature of a Brevet. be pleased to make out and send such commissions, leaving blanks for the names & dates, and inclose them immediately to me for signature. that I may be enabled to inclose them direct to the Secretary at war, will you be so good as to inform me at the same time to what post office I must address them? I have hitherto addressed to him at Hallowell. Accept my salutations & respects.
Th: Jefferson
PrC (DLC); brackets in original; at foot of text: “The Chief clerk of the Department of War.” Recorded in SJL under 15 Aug. with notation “Departmt war (John Smith) brevet commns. Louisa.”
John Smith (ca. 1774-1811) was educated at the College of Rhode Island, followed by studies in medicine and law. In 1800, he established a legal practice in Somerset, Pennsylvania. Two years later, Smith accepted a position with the War Department, rising to chief clerk in 1804, an office he held until his death. For seven weeks in 1809 he was ad interim secretary of war, fulfilling that role after Dearborn’s early resignation on 17 Feb. until the new secretary, William Eustis, began his duties (; National Intelligencer, 30 Apr. 1811).