51From George Washington to James McHenry, 13 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
The Messenger that carried my letters of the 10th to the Post Office brought me your favour of the 6th—and yesterday I received that of the 8th. It gave me sincere pleasure to find by the latter, that you had suggested to the President, prompt & decisive measures for Organizing and recruiting the twelve Regiments of Infantry, &ca; and the propriety also of requiring the Services of the...
52From John Adams to James McHenry, 14 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received only this morning your Letter of the 4th. of this month. Its Contents are of much importance. I desire that you would inform General Washington, that I consider him in the Public Service from the Date of his Appointment and intitled to all the Emoluments of it. He is at Liberty to receive all or any part, at his Discretion: and is fully Authorised to appoint his Aids and...
53From John Adams to James McHenry, 15 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is an address from Virginia, The Whites & Greens of Warrenton, with my answer which I pray you to transmit, with such an answer from yourself in your official capacity, as you give to others in similar circumstances. I am &c MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
54From John Adams to James McHenry, 15 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I transmit you, an address from a Corps of Horse in Warren, North Carolina,—I have some difficulty about accepting for a Company so small a Number as forty and also about lending the Arms, I pray you to detirmine These Points in this Case as you have done and mean to do in others and transmit them an answer.—I am, Sir, / Your Most obedient MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
55From John Adams to James McHenry, 15 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return the Address of the county of Renselar with an answer which I pray you to forward. Perhaps they mean to offer themselves as a volunteer corps. If you understand them in that sense, you will please to give them the proper official answer. Your huml Servt MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
56From John Adams to James McHenry, 18 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Since I have been here, his Excellency the Governor of this State has enquired of me with some Anxiety to know whether the Cession of Castle Island is accepted. I referred that Act of the Legislature of this State to you or the Secretary of State to prepare an Answer of Acceptance. Will you be so good as to attend to this subject as soon as possible and forward the Acceptance to me for my...
57From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
An absence from the City, upon some urgent avocations, prevented my receiving ’till yesterday your letters of the 10th & 11th instant. I observe the suggestion which you have made to the President, towards calling General Knox and myself into immediate service. If he shall approve, I stand ready to execute in the best manner I shall be able, whatever business, may be confided to me. But I must...
58From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I write you herewith an official letter. Your private one of the 13th is before me. I regret that you have been unwell and rejoice that you are better. The affair of General Knox perplexes me. I wish him to serve. I am pained to occasion to him pain, for I have truly a warm side for him, and a high value for his merits. But my judgment tells me, and all I consult confirm it, that I cannot...
59From John Adams to James McHenry, 20 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received on Saturday your favor of the 13th have read the papers inclosed voluminous as they are & return the commission for Col. Butler & the talk to the Indians signed. The Indians have been taught to misunderstand The advice against selling their lands to individuals, for advice against selling to the United States. I am Sir / your most obedient MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
60From George Washington to James McHenry, 20 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
I was very glad to find by your letter of the 13th instant that you had got well enough to resume your seat in the Office. On this circumstance I sincerely congratulate you. You must know as much of Mr Hoops as I do, and have it more in your power to obtain correct information of his character & fitness for the place that is suggested; but from respect to Mr Morris, and in justice to Mr Hoops,...
61From John Adams to James McHenry, 21 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you the duplicate talk signed & congratulate you on your recovery. I am Sir your most humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
62From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 21 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
You will herewith receive the list mentioned in mine of yesterday. The names marked with an * are those which engage my preference as last ascertained. The list comprises the names you sent me and some others which have come directly to me. Besides these there are a number of applications with my Remarks upon them which were put up in a packet and either transmitted to you or delivered to Mr....
63Enclosure: Candidates for Army Appointments from New York, [21 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Subalterns 1 Nathaniel Paulding West Chester would prefer Artillery Mr . Hale refers to me speaks hyhly A probably a good Lieutantnt AH 2 John Treat Irving would prefer Artillery B Mr. Hale 3 Timothy Shalor Albany County
64Enclosure: Candidates for Army Appointments from New Hampshire, [21 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Subalterns 1 Timothy Mountford Philadelphia 5 Silvester G Whipple Livemore Education & good family Hampton 23 years Gordon collegiate education & has read law eleven mon respectable Whipple Father —[sprightly & active] 6 William S Thorne Londonderry
65Enclosure: Candidates for Army Appointments from Vermont, [21 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Subalterns 5 Marmaduke Wait Windsor ☞ 25 year Payne Young Gentleman heretofore recomd by Morris & himself pretty good 2 Morris —education common morals good active enterprising Cadet 9 John H Brownson Father Brigadier General Lyon Nothing
66Enclosure: Candidates for Army Appointments from New Jersey, [21 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Subalterns 6 Robert Hunt son of A Hunt Trenton Lieutenant Qr Cavalry } Stockton
67Enclosure: Candidates for Army Appointments from Pennsylvania, [21 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
LIEUTENANTS & ENSIGNS John S Porter McPherson Probably good Ensign Philadelphia Francis Johnson Inquire of Chester David Denny perhaps Lt. Young & writes a good hand & good English Archibald D Davis Lancaster Young Dennis Wheelen David Denny do Elija Griffiths Richard Thomas
68From John Adams to James McHenry, 23 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are letters from David Hobbs, Richard Bland Lee, Wm. Mason, H. G. Otis, Lt. Gov. Gill, Thomas Seymour, John Lillie, Gen. Philemon Dickinson, James Coskey, Judge Peters, John More, Samuel Panneli late ensign requesting or recommending to offices in the army which I transmit to you that all may appear upon your books & files. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
69From John Adams to James McHenry, 24 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Ebenezer Stocher & votes of a company of Infantry, under the name of the Newbury Port federal volunteers, offering their services. I pray you to answer them, accepting their services and to send their officers their commissions. I am Sir / your most humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
70From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 25 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I perceive it would be agreeable to the Commander in Chief to receive frequent communications from you and particularly to understand the state of public supplies, that is the quantities on hand & the measures in execution to procure others. I give you this hint as a guide & would advise to have a full statement made out with notes of what is further doing & send it to him. Yrs. truly ADfS ,...
71From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 27 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
You will have observed in the list transmitted you the name of Mr. Jacob Morton as for a Majority. I understood him that he would accept it. But he now tells me he will take nothing less than a Regiment. This seems too much to begin with, if a competent person who has served can be found. Mr. Abijah Hammond who was in one of the N Eng Regiments during the War though not soliciting it would...
72From John Adams to James McHenry, 28 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter from His Excellency John Henry, Govonor of Maryland, dated in Council Annapolis Aug. 19th. I transmit it to you, with my request that you would Answer it, with all the respect that is due to the subject and the Authority by which the Application is made, according to that Arrangement for national Defence, which has been or may be adopted in your Office, in the faithful and...
73From John Adams to James McHenry, 29 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of Aug 20th I believe tho the 0 is obscure. Gen. Knox is gone to the eastward as I understand, to return in ten or fifteen days. But if he were in Boston, I could not send him either your official or private letter, as neither contain sentiments that I can approve. My opinion is & always has been clear, that as the law now stands, the order of nomination or of...
74From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 30 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Col Stevens tells me he has exhausted the money you sent him in preliminary purchases of Timber &c. & is in debt with embarrassment to pay & likely to be compelled to dismiss workmen &c. Such a state of things is hurtful to the public service, discredits the Administration & increases expence. It ought to be avoided if possible. Stevens says pains have been taken to excite doubts about him &...
75From John Adams to James McHenry, 3 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to put on the list of captains of infantry, Mr. Philip Church of New-York, who is very handsomely recommended by Gen. Hamilton, & whom from a personal accquaintance with him, I believe to be well qualified. I enclose to you also a letter & documents from his Excellency Governor Jackson of Georgia, which I pray you to consider, and answer according to those arrangements, which you...
76From George Washington to James McHenry, 3 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 25th Ulto has been duly received. The list of applicants from the Southern States, and two large bundles of letters—from these I presume—came at the sametime, & in good order. My last to you was dated the 20th of August; two days previous to which I had been siezed with a fever which I endeavoured to shake off by pursuing my usual rides & occupations, but it continued to...
77From John Adams to James McHenry, 4 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received your Favour of Aug 29 last night. I have recd nothing from the Secretary of State respecting the Castle which ought to be accepted, and the Convicts removed as soon as possible and a respectable officer and Garrison appointed. I perceive that Tousard is coming here I know not why, nor wherefore? General Hamilton recommends him to be Inspector of Artillery. I have no Reason to...
78From John Adams to James McHenry, 5 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed Letters from Fisher Ames, John Allen and Nathaniel Smith and John Allen, recommending Characters for Commissions in the Army, deserve our particular attention. I accordingly recommend them to yours. You know the Writers and their great Worth and Merit. I have the Honor to be / Sir your most humble Servant DLC : James McHenry Papers.
79From Alexander Hamilton to James McHnery, 8 September 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Yours dated by mistake Augt. 6th. I received yesterday. I postponed a reply ’till to day because I wished first to reflect maturely. My mind is unalterably made up. I shall certainly not hold the commission on the plan proposed, and only wait an official communication to say so. I return you the inclosures in your letter. You may depend on my fidelity to your friendly confidence. I shall...
80From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 9 September 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I think I heretofore mentioned to you that to avoid the chance of difficulty with the President, I had written or would write to him urging the appointment of Mr. Philip Church to a Captaincy. I have just received a very obliging letter from him, and in which he assures me of his willingness to appoint him to that grade, and that he would write to you accordingly. Thus is all difficulty on...
81From John Adams to James McHenry, 11 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are recommendations of Major McFarland, Captain Nathaniel Thwing to be appointed in the army which I pray you to file with other recommendations & record among the candidates for appointments—Also a letter from Dr Waterhouse a very respectable authority recommending Wm: Amherst Barron to be one of the scientific teachers. I have the honor to be Sir your / most obedient Servant MHi :...
82From John Adams to James McHenry, 13 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your Letter of the fourth and return You the blank Commissions signed and all the Papers inclosed in yours. As to Major Brooks, I know not how a Man can talk of fighting “French Bloodhounds” who has been capable of saying Since his appointment, “that Things were going very well before the Arrival of the Dispatches of the Envoys: but the publication of those Dispatches had ruined...
83From John Adams to James McHenry, 13 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your favour of the sixth and approve of your determination to make out the Commissions in the order of Knox on the first day, Pinckney on the Second and Hamilton on the third. This being done you may call Generals Knox and Hamilton into Service as soon as you please. Your request to be informed, whether I attach any portion of the Intrigues, which I alluded to, if any have been...
84From John Adams to James McHenry, 14 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are applications for appointments &c. from George McDonald, Gen. Whiting a very respectable officer, James Cunningham, James Campbell, Zenas Meign Bradley George Walton, Gen. Morgan, Elijah Paine, which I recommend to your consideration & am your humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
85From John Adams to James McHenry, 14 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are applications for Appointments &c from George McDonald, General Whiting, a very respectable Officer, James Cunningham, James Campbell, Zenas Meigs Bradley, George Walton General Morgan, which I recommend to your Consideration and am your humble sert Also a letter from Elijah Paine, recommending Mr Samuel Shuttleforth to be chaplain in the army NNGL .
86From George Washington to James McHenry, 14 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 7th instt from Trenton is before me; and no plan yet decided on that I can discover, for recruiting the augmented force, or even for appointing the Officers therefor. It is for the Executive to account for this delay. Sufficient it is for me to regret, and I do regret it, sorely; because that spirit & enthusiasm which was inspired by the Dispatches from our Envoys, that...
87From John Adams to James McHenry, 16 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 10th and return you the letters from Gen Wilkinson & the Q Msr. Gen. Inclosed is a letter from John Hampden Palmer of Vermont to Judge Cranch, requesting his aid in procuring a pair of coloures. This young gentleman is a grandson of old Gen Palmer, my neigbor, who was active, and useful in the early parts of the late revolution & indeed I believe through the...
88From George Washington to James McHenry, 16 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private & confidential My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 16th Sepr 1798. Your confidential letter—dated Trenton the 10th Instant, with its enclosures, have been duly received. The latter are returned. The contents of them have filled my mind with much disquietude & embarrassment; but it is impossible for me to make any move, in consequence, at this time, from the want of Official ground; without...
89From John Adams to James McHenry, 17 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your letter of the 10th and return you the Letters from General Wilkinson and the Qr. Mr. General. Inclosed is a Letter from John Hampdon Palmer of Vermont to Judge Cranch, requesting his Aid in procuring a Pair of Colours. This young Gentleman is a Grandson of old General Palmer my Neighbour, who was active and usefull in the early Part of the late Revolution, and indeed I believe...
90From John Adams to James McHenry, 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 15th with its inclosures, & perceive nothing to alter. Inclosed is a letter from Samuel Treat who has been a lieutenant at the castle a long time. His claims to a continuance in service I hope will be considered, but I know nothing of him, but his appearance on a late visit to me & the inclosed letter MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
91From John Adams to James McHenry, 26 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed address and petition from the Hudson independent rangers should have been transmitted to you sometime ago; but in my distress it has been omitted. You will please to give them such an answer as our rules and circumstances will admit of. I am &c MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
92From George Washington to James McHenry, 26 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 26th Sepr 1798. Your confidential letter of the 21st instant is before me; but the long letter which is promised therein, has not got to hand. Probably the messenger who carries this, and other letters to the Post Office this afternoon, may return with it. As you have given extracts of my letter of the 16th to the President, & informed him, that you thought it...
93From John Adams to James McHenry, 28 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter or address and offer of service from a volunteer company of riflemen in Christiania hundred in the state of Deleware I transmit to you to be answered according to law and our rules and usages I am Sir your most / obedient Servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
94From John Adams to James McHenry, 30 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are the Commissions for the three Generals Signed and all dated on the Same Day. I am sir / your most obedient &c DLC : James McHenry Papers.
95From George Washington to James McHenry, 30 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have lately received information, which, in my opinion, merits attention. It is that the brawlers against Governmental measures in some of the most discontented parts of this state, have, all of a sudden, become silent; and, it is added, are very desirous of obtaining Commissions in the Army, about to be raised. This information did not fail to leave an impression upon my mind at the time I...
96From George Washington to James McHenry, 1 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 1st Octr 1798 Your confidential letter of the 19th ulto did not reach Alexandria until the 28th. I thank you for the statement, and lengthy details which it contains. The President may have reasons which will justify the inexecution of the law, for augmenting the force of the United States. With my lights, I can discover none: but, if the force is required at...
97From 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...
98From John Adams to James McHenry, 4 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are recommendations for the Army of a Major McFarland, and two Mr Eatons whose names will be entered and Pretensions considered in Course. I am sir your most humble DLC : James McHenry Papers.
99From John Adams to James McHenry, 5 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are Recommendations of Rufus Graves and Joseph Dunham, from Mr Freeman and Letters from themselves requesting Appointments in the Army. And some notes of Observations made to me verbally and put down on paper at my desire, which you may consider at present and return to me when I meet you again, if ever DLC : James McHenry Papers.
100From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 9 October 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you, My Dear Sir, for the prompt communication of the intelligence contained in your letter by yesterdays Post. As to the Regulations (if as I suppose you mean) those for the tactics & discipline of the army—I must answer that hitherto I have done nothing more towards it than some preliminary readings & reflection. The undetermined situation, & the necessity of a close attention to my...