To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 10 April 1800
From Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Cantonment at Harpers Ferry [Virginia]
April 10th: 1800
Dear Sir
In pursuance of your general orders of the 28th: of March, I have designated Major William D. Beall of the 9th: Regiment, to act as Deputy Adjutant General.1 This is the officer I recommended to you by the last post,2 to be Deputy Inspector-General; when you know him, I am convinced you will be pleased with him. I shall postpone designating the other officers to receive the returns, till I am joined by the 10th: Regiment, and if you permit it, the Seventh.
I will be obliged to you to enable me to answer without delay, the enclosed letter from Col Parker; the fifer mentioned therein is of very great service in instructing the others.3
I remain with great regard and esteem Your most obedt. Servt
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Honble Major General Hamilton.
LS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. See Division Orders, April 10, 1800 (LC, RG 98, Post-Revolutionary War Records, Vol. 383, Orderly Book of Major General Charles Pinckney, National Archives).
3. Thomas Parker. The enclosure, which has not been found, was sent in H to McHenry, April 22, 1800 (listed in the appendix to this volume). In his letter to McHenry, H wrote: “It appears to me proper that the fifer spoken of should be retained as long as he may be wanted on a special compensation.” It is evident from H’s reply (H to Pinckney, April 21, 1800) to the letter printed above that the fifer in question was black and that this fact had raised questions in Parker’s mind.