41To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 15 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
The Batteries on this Island being completed it is necessary a guard should be appointed to take charge of the Artillery to prevent their being spiked. I have been with the Military Committee this day to view them and they think the Government of the United States ought to take care of them. But it will not do for the Troops to furnish guards, they will desert, and I am sorry to add that three...
42To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 8 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to your request, and to ease the minds of some of our Citizens with respect to the Solidity of our Batteries I have this day loaded the guns with a Service charge—that is One third the weight of the Shot, and fired them by angles, by word of Command (similar to Plattoon firing) and have the pleasure to inform you, that they have not started in the least degree. This piece of...