From Alexander Hamilton to William S. Smith, 13 November 1799
To William S. Smith
New York, November 13, 1799. In reply to Smith’s letter of November 11, 1799, states: “There is no provision in the law for Chaplains,1 and I can not therefore comply with your wishes. I am nevertheless deeply impressed with the importance of divine service among the troops, and have heretofore made it a subject of communication with the S of War.…”2
Df, in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Section 3 of “An Act to augment the Army of the United States, and for other purposes” did in fact provide for four chaplains ( 604 [July 16, 1798]). There was, however, no provision made for a chaplain for each brigade.
2. On November 8, 1799, in a letter listed in the appendix to this volume, H wrote to James McHenry: “I submit the propriety of measures being taken by the Executive at the next session of Congress to procure a law providing a Chaplain for each brigade.”