To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 28 November 1799
From Ebenezer Stevens, 28 November 1799
New York 28 Novr. 99
Sir
In Conformity to your request, I have been to the encampment at Scotch and examined the Hutts erecting there for the Accommodation of the 11th. 12 & 13th. Regimt. and also the timber for building them—It appears there is not sufficient quantity of timber & boards for to complete the necessary Hutts, Hospital, Guard & Qr. Master Store house, all which I conceive proper to be erected—
There is nothing that will justify the purchasing of more boards & nails, but the want of timber, to build the Hutts, the cost attending will not exceed $2000. to each Regiment, & I am fully convinced that this mode of Hutting will be attended with a less expence to Government of $20,000. than making of Barracks—I have made several calculations & find that it will require 10,000. Boards for Rank & file, and as many More for the Officers Hutts together with about 4000. more for the erecting of the Store Hospital & Guard House—amounting together to the number of 24000. Boards which may be calculated at 1/4 ea: and in addition thereto about a ton weight of Nails—
I am Sir with great Consideration Your Hble St.
| 24000 boards @ 1/4— | $4000. |
| 2000 Wt. Nails @ 1/⟨1⟩ | 250. |
| $4250 |
28 Novr. 1799
The foregoing is copy of my letter to you, respectg the boards &c: requisite for accommodating the Several Regiments of Scotch Plains with Hutts—Should you not conceive it Necessary to have erected the Hospital, Guard House & Qr. Mr. Store as suggested, it will reduce the number of Boards to 20000. and the quantum of Nails to 18 ⟨Cwt.⟩
I would observe, that in this calculation, I have not allowd any boards for the flooring of the Hutts the officers will take the same number of boards as the privates—the Gable ends of the former & the latter—must be composed of boards for want of timber.
I am Sir with great Respect Your Hble St.
Ebenr Stevens.
(ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress), enclosing Stevens to H, November 26, 1799 (copy, misdated November 28, 1799, in Stevens’s handwriting, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).