To James Madison from William Eustis, [ca. 28 April] 1812
From William Eustis
[ca. 28 Apr. 1812]
General Lee should I think if it were passible be bro’t into the military service. I have said to him to day that he may have the honor of making up & organising this army: he is so much at home in every department—he is so every way qualified—his reputed extravagance excepted. He ought to be the Adj’t. General. Mr. Lewis has I suspect half persuaded him1—and if it was urged upon him I think he could not refuse.
W Eustis.
RC (DLC). Undated; date assigned here on the basis of evidence presented in n. 1. Dated 1812 in the Index to the James Madison Papers.
1. On 28 Apr. 1812 the office of the adjutant general was created to replace the post of adjutant and inspector of the army, held by Abimael Nicoll since 1807. On that day Nicoll was named assistant adjutant general and Alexander Macomb was appointed acting adjutant general. Henry Lee was also evidently under consideration for the adjutant general’s post at this time, but Morgan Lewis could not have spoken with Lee in person on the matter before 17 Apr. 1812, when he wrote to Eustis from Albany, New York, mentioning that he was about to travel to Washington. The position of adjutant general finally went to Thomas Cushing on 6 July 1812 (DNA: RG 107, LRRS, L-78:6; , 1:37, 748).