51To George Washington from James McHenry, 12 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
McAlpin called upon me this morning to inform me finally, that after the most diligent inquiry for gold thread, both here and at New York, he has not been able to procure a sufficient quantity to complete the embroidery of the coat; and that of course it will be necessary to suspend making it up until after the arrival of the Spring ships in which the article is expected. As yet the...
52To George Washington from James McHenry, 30 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir Philadelphia 30 March 1799 I received by yesterdays mail your letter of the 25th inst. For the present and until I can enjoy a few hours leisure from the most urgent business, I must content myself with a simple acknowledgment of the kindness of intention and friendship it discovers. Such has been the pressure of business upon the Clerks, that they have only been able to make...
53To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
This is sunday, and I shall employ, a part of it, in returning my acknowledgments for the candor, friendship and sincerity which is evidenced in your letter of the 25th instant. In answering to your questions I shall follow your own order. You ask in the name and in behalf of the officers who have been appointed, and of the army intended to be raised, what keeps back the commissions and...
54To George Washington from James McHenry, 29 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
I received, this morning, your letter of the 23d inst. for which I am much obliged to you. I did not in my own mind consider you dilatory in your answer, aware of the nature of your employments, and the incessant interruptions, by company to which you are subject. There are one or two points you mention which I shall say a few words to. The officers of the additional Regiments were put upon...
55To George Washington from James McHenry, 2 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
private Dear Sir. War Dept [Philadelphia] 2 May 1799. As it is by no means improbable those events may take place, which will render it indispensible and proper to raise the eventual army, in part or in whole, it has been thought expedient that measures should be taken, for selecting the best qualified among those who would be willing to serve to fill its different regimental grades, with a...
56To George Washington from James McHenry, 11 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I enclose you three letters, one from Mr Posey recommending Mr Thomas Hord to a Majority in the provisional army; another from James Machir Esqr. recommending Mr William Bullett for the same grade; and one from Alexander Spotswood offering his services. You will please to return these letters with the list you have been requested to furnish, when it shall be completed. I have the honor to be,...
57To George Washington from James McHenry, 19 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter of the 13th inst. Before I concluded to request you to take upon yourself a task which involves the delicacies you have suggested, I had foreseen them, and reflected in what manner they might be avoided, and at the same time, the object in view obtained, without subjecting the government to difficulties or inconveniences which might be more sensibly felt by the Country....
58To George Washington from James McHenry, 21 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is a list of the names of the persons appointed from Virginia, for the Cavalry and Infantry. It distinguishes, 1st Those who have accepted. 2. Those who have declined & 3d Those who have not been heard from. I sent your letter to McAlpin. But as the Spring vessels have not yet arrived by which the gold thread is expected, of course your uniform is not yet finished. I intended sending...
59Enclosure: List of Officers for Virginia Regiments in the New Army, 21 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Seventh Regiment of Infantry. + Accepted. º Declined. Blanks, not heard from. Field Officers. + William Bentley Lieut: Colo. Powhatan + 1 Robert Beale Major Maddison + 2 James Baytop Major Gloucester County Companies + 1 Daniel Ball Captain near Richmond + 6 Van Bennet Lieutenant
60To George Washington from James McHenry, 18 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your packet of the 6th and letter of the 7th of June inst. This is intended chiefly to acknowledge the circumstance. Mr Frances being Purveyor I have employed him to procure the articles mentioned in your letter. I have also seen Mr McAlpin, who informed me, that, tho’ some Spring Ships had arrived, he has not been able to obtain the gold thread; and that he had apprehensions he...
61To George Washington from James McHenry, 24 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
I send you by this mail, a small box containing military figures for the practice of tactics, being one of a few sets I ordered from London. Perhaps they may occasionally serve as a substitute for the chess board. Mr McAlpin called this morning to inform me that he had procured a sufficient quantity of gold thread and a person to work it; but that he was by no means certain he could have the...
62To George Washington from James McHenry, 28 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
After every exertion Mr McAlpin has been able to make, and after having procured the gold thread and a man who pretended to be fully competent to working it, he has been obliged to suspend the whole operation. The man was ignorant, and no person can be found more skilful. He has therefore prefered, rather than send you what I am sure you would not wear, sending the coat to England where it...
63To George Washington from James McHenry, 29 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your private letter of the 25th inst. and its inclosures which I now return. The objections you suggest relative to the promotion of the officer in question are intitled to very serious consideration. Major Generals Lee & Hand may expect a station in the regular army, and certainly the Eastern quarter of the Union will not be pleased unless they have in it one Major...
64To George Washington from James McHenry, 29 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
Mr Bordley left the inclosed collection of his works with me with a request that I should forward it to you. There are some useful things in the book, but I believe little of it his own. Francis has procured the Sword for our young warrior, and tells me, the helmit will soon be finished, when the whole will be forwarded. It appears by a letter from Mr Murray to the Secy of State, that he had...
65To George Washington from James McHenry, 5 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
Mr Murray has executed his instructions and Mr Pickering has received from him the answer of Mr Talyrand ⟨so⟩ that Mr Elsworth &c. will be received according to their functions, and respected agreeably to the law of nations, and one or several persons be duly appointed to treat with them. So far the answer would seem a compliance with the conditions announced to the Senate by the President....
66To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
Governor Davie of N. Carolina sent me by the last mail, three copies of a little work of his intitled, “instructions to be observed for the formations and movements of Cavalry,” one of which he requested me, which I now do, to present to the commander in chief. I do not recollect whether I mentioned to you, that he is one in the Commission to the Directory. The President has directed the...
67To George Washington from James McHenry, 24 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
At length the articles for my young friend has been procurr’d and is now waiting for a conveyance. There is a vessel up for Alexandria which I am informed is to sail in a day or two. I shall send them on board to day directed to the care of Col. Fitzgerald. They are in two small boxes. The sword is well wrapped up and directed in like manner. The office will move on monday to Trenton. Yours...
68To George Washington from James McHenry, 3 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed are the rules which have been adopted by the President of the United States relative to rank and promotion in the Army. It is requested that you will as speedily as the nature of the case and circumstances admit determine the relative rank of the field officers of the Regiment of Cavalry, and of the 12 regiments of Infantry raised in pursuance of the Act of the 16 July 1798. For your...
69Enclosure: List of Field Officers, 3 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
As the Letters from the Colonels and Majors do not exactly agree with the records of the War department, it has been thought proper to annex to such of them as were in service during the late War, the time of their entering and quitting the service as entered in the Books and settlements of the Office. Lieutenant Colonels John Smith Captain 1 April 1778 deranged 1 Jany 1783 James Read Captain...
70To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
My attention, for some time past, has been so completely engrossed, that notwithstanding my earnest wish to communicate with you upon several subjects, I could not without neglecting some urgent business devote any moments to that purpose. In truth, the stone, however near I may seem to get it to the summit of the mountain, is perpetually upon the recoil, and demands constant exertion and...
71To George Washington from James McHenry, 3 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your private letter of the 17th Novr ulto, since which I have been very closely engaged in business. The inclosed news paper contains the Presidents speech delivered to-day. You will find it nearly what it ought to be, I had feared he would have entered into reasoning upon a certain measure which had he would most assuredly have attracted to the subject a very pointed direct or...