1From George Washington to James McHenry, 4 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Presly Thornton, who is appointed a Captain in one of the Virginia Regiments, and in the list of Officers handed to you, is placed the first Captain in Colo. Bentley’s Regiment, and designated of Northumberland, informs me there has been a mistake in your office with respect to him; as a Relation of his, bearing the same names, & living in Caroline County, is understood by you to be the person...
2From George Washington to James McHenry, 17 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your confidential and interesting letter of the 10th instant, came duly, and safely to hand. With the contents of which I have been stricken dumb; and I believe it is better that I should remain mute than to express any sentiment on the important matters which are related therein. I have, for sometime past, viewed the political concerns of the United States with an anxious, and painful eye....
3From George Washington to James McHenry, 25 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
You will not only consider this letter as a private one, but as a friendly one, from G: W. to J: M. And if the sentiments which you will find in it, are delivered with more freedom and candour than are agreeable, say so; not by implication only, but in explicit language; and I will promise to offend no more by such conduct; but confine myself (if occasion should require it) to an Official...
4From George Washington to James McHenry, 4 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter from Doctr Brown (of Port tobacco) to Doctr Craik, was this day put into my hands by the latter; who speaks favourably of the Medical abilities of the former. I wish to be considered in no other light than as a Vehicle of the application to the President, through you; for of Doctr Brown I have no knowledge, and of his fitness I can say nothing. One thing however, merits...
5From George Washington to James McHenry, 9 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Monsr Augustus de Grass, requesting an appointment in the Corps of Engineers; which I forward to you, as I have done all letters of a similar nature. I received, this morning, under a blank cover from the War Office, a letter for myself from Govr Rutledge of So. Carolina, and one for Brigadier Genl Washington, which I have forwarded so as to get to his hands before he...
6From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
By the last Post I was favoured with your letter of the 3d instant and thank you for its enclosure, although, on the same day, I had, myself, transmitd a copy thereof to the Secretary of State. I had doubted a while, whether to forward it to your Office or that of State, but finally resolved to send it to the latter, as it seemed more properly I thought, to belong to that Department. If the...
7From George Washington to James McHenry, 21 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is a copy of the Presidents letter to me, which I request may be, with this letter, burnt as soon as they are read, & no more said respecting the contents than might be proper for him to hear repeated again; Otherwise, a knowledge that the contents of my letters to, and from him, are in possession of others, may induce him to believe, in good earnest, that intriegues are carrying on,...
8George Washington to James McHenry, [13 December 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Since my arrival at this place I have been closely engaged, with the aid of Generals Hamilton and Pinckney, in fulfilling the objects of your letter of the 10th of November. The result is now submitted. The two first questions you propose, respecting the appointment of the Officers and men of the troops to be raised in virtue of the act of Congress of the 16th. of July last among districts and...
9From George Washington to James McHenry, 27 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letters, from Genl Morgan and Captn G. S. Washington, recommending the Revd Mr Hill, as Chaplin to the Troops about to be stationed at Harper’s Ferry, have come to my hands, and are now forwarded for your inspection. I do not observe in the “Act for the better organizing the Troops of the U.S. &c.” that any provision is made for Chaplins. Whether they are provided for in any other...
10From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have considered, with attention, the Rules adopted by the President of the U.S. relative to rank & promotion in the Army, which were enclosed in your letter of the 2d inst. wherein you request me to suggest any alterations which may appear proper, to make them more perfect. These Rules meet my full approbatn, and I see no inconvenience that can arise from the establishment of them unless it...
11From George Washington to James McHenry, 15 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 2d, and three of the 5th instant, came duly to hand. Those of the latter date, were received late in the evening preceeding my visit to the Federal City, where I was detained several days on business; and is the cause of their remaining unacknowledged so long. In the former, you ask if I am acquainted with characters, who have talents and acquirements to fit them for the...
12From George Washington to James McHenry, 25 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed will say as much as I can, in favour of the applicant; except that I have heard him exceedingly well spoken of by others. Being a young man of Education; a Gentleman’s son who was able to give him little besides it; and sound in his Politic’s, notwithstanding the example of his nearest relatives; who are, I believe, without exception, in the opposite scale, I think he, and all...
13From George Washington to James McHenry, 14 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private Dear Sir Mount Vernon 14th Sepr 1799 I feel much obliged, and accordingly thank you, for your kind intention of ordering me two months pay; and I shall not suffer false modesty to assert, that my finances stand in no need of it; because it is not the time, nor the attention only; which the Public duties I am engaged in require; but their bringing upon me Applicants—recommenders of...
14George Washington to James McHenry, 13 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I shall now present to your view the additional objects alluded to in my letter of this date. A proper organisation for the troops of the UStates is a principal one. In proportion as the policy of the Country is adverse to extensive military establishments ought to be our care to render the principles of our military system as perfect as possible, and our endeavouring to turn to the best...
15From George Washington to James McHenry, 4 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 30th ultimo, with it’s enclosures, has been duly received. And, agreeably to the arrangements made for the meeting of the General Officers on or about the 10th inst., I intend setting out tomorrow for Trenton; but, as I shall have some business in the Federal City which may detain me for a short time, and shall travel with my own Horses, which must necessarily be slower than...
16From George Washington to James McHenry, 4 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favoured with your letter of the 12th ultimo—and am much obliged by your kind attention to the business which I desired McAlpin to execute for me. Enclosed is a letter from Mr Alexr A. Peters requesting to be appointed Surgeon or Lieutt in the Army—also one addressed to yourself which came to my hands by the last Mail. I am dear Sir, with due respect & esteem, Your mo. ob. st...
17From George Washington to James McHenry, 22 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been desired by Mr Saml Love, of Loudoun County, in this State, to mention to you his wish to contract for furnishing Horses for the Army. I have informed him that I am unacquainted with the mode in which it is contemplated to obtain Horses, leaving the business of contracts & supplies to the departments to which they are assigned; but that I would mention his name to you in the way he...
18From George Washington to James McHenry, 15 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 3d instant, with the papers accompanying it, did not get to my hands ’till the 11th—At the same time I received a long letter from Genl Hamilton, with voluminous references, to which he requested my immediate attention, and the communication of my sentiments thereon. These circumstances will account for your not having received an answer before this time. The Rules which...
19From George Washington to James McHenry, 5 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 5th July 1798. I am perfectly satisfied that the duties of your Office were not diminished by the business thrown upon it in the course of the present Session of Congress; and far was it from my wish to add to the trouble of them. I expected no more than a simple acknowledgment of my letters, and with respect to the proposed Arsenal at the confluence of the...
20From George Washington to James McHenry, 6 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favoured with your letters of the 11th, 19th and 21st of last month, with their inclosures. Referring to my letter of the 13th ultimo for the reasons which prevented my having a personal knowledge of such Characters in Virginia, as may be proper to be selected for Officers in the eventual or provisional Army—and having shewn therein the difficulties which would arise from the...
21From George Washington to James McHenry, 23 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 23d April 1799 Six days do I labour, or, in other words, take exercise and devote my time to various occupations in Husbandry, and about my Mansion. On the seventh, now called the first day, for want of a place of Worship (within less than nine miles) such letters as do not require immediate acknowledgment I give answers to (Mr Lear being sick & absent). But...
22From George Washington to James McHenry, 5 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
At the earnest request of General Hamilton, that I would give instructions for having the eighth, ninth and tenth Regiments of Infantry provided with Winter Quarters, which it was very desireable should be at Harper’s Ferry, I have departed from the resolution which I had formed, not to take charge of any military operations, unless the Army should be called into the Field, so far as to Order...
23From George Washington to James McHenry, 13 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
I observe by the concluding paragraph of your letter of the 10th instant that you contemplate conferences between the Secretaries of State and of the Treasury and myself, for the purpose of obtaining auxiliary information from their departments—Several of the questions which you state seem indeed to require such information. But on reflection, it has occurred to me as most regular, that you...
24From George Washington to James McHenry, 16 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter from Major Lawrence Lewis requires explanation, and it is the purpose of this letter to give it. He had, it seems, been making Overtures of Marriage to Miss Custis some time previous to the formation of the Augmented Corps in November last, at Philadelphia; without any apparent impression, until she found he was arranged as a Captain in the Regiment of Light Dragoons, and...
25From George Washington to James McHenry, 1 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
You will be at no loss to perceive, from my private letter to you of the 16th ulto, extracts from which you sent to the President of the United States; and from my representation to him, dated the 25th following, the rough draught of wch was enclosed in my last, what my determination is, if he perseveres in his Resolution to change the order of the Major Generals, and to disregard the...
26From George Washington to James McHenry, 13 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 2d Instt, covering your dispatches of the 10th Ultimo, was brought to me by the Messenger who carried my letters to you (of the 5 & 6th) to the Post Office in Alexandria. That no time might be lost in carrying the Presidents Plan, and the request contained in your letter of the 10th Ult., into effect, I have solicited the aid of Generals Morgan, Lee, & Marshall; & the...
27From George Washington to James McHenry, 28 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Knowing that the War Office has an Agency in the Western Lands, I take the liberty of putting the enclosed letters to General Putnam and Colo. Sargent under cover to you, open. By doing so, it supercedes the necessity of a repetition of what is therein mentioned. Another reason for giving you this trouble, is, that if Mr Massey is a Surveyor in the Northwestern Territory, it is highly probable...
28From George Washington to James McHenry, 10 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
The letter from Mr Ames to Mr Bent, containing further evidence to his good character, I send. The other letter from Mr Carter (who married a Niece of mine) though private, I send also but request it may b⟨e⟩ returned; what he says of a cert⟨ain⟩ character—may be treasured up, but reported as coming from him. His brother is an utter stranger to me, and therefore I can add nothing to what he...
29From George Washington to James McHenry, 29 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 25th instt came to Alexandria Yesterday evening, and was put into my hands this morn. For the Rules & regulations accompanying it, I thank you; and will read them attentively, if I am allowed time; but this is questionable, as I am assailed from all quarters, and by all descriptions of People, for Commissions, Introductions, recommendations, &ca to all of which common...
30From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 7th June 1799 When I began the enclosed letter (left open for your perusal) I intended to address it to Colo. Biddle; who transacts all matters of that sort for me in Philadelphia; but as I wrote on, it occurred that, possibly, the Quarter Master might be a more appropriate character to accomplish my order: for this reason, I have left the letter without a...