1To James Madison from David Jones, 25 August 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have been about two months in ohio State & am now at this Place on my way to Chester. I think it my Duty to give a Statements of matters here & in the army according to reports, & letters from the army. Reports are so false in ohio State, that I can assert nothing possitively, I will not vouch therefore for the Truth of all I shall write. It is the prevailing opinion here that you have been...
2To James Madison from David Jones, 28 August 1812 (Madison Papers)
The Capitulation of Hull is come to hand. I hope you will condemn every Sentence. It is impossible for me to express the Indignation of the Country here. Not a few reflections are cast on you for appointing such an infamous Rascal to Command. I have vindicated your Conduct, as far as I could, by asserting that your appointments are made by recommendations, that no Doubt this Plan was laid by...
3To James Madison from David Jones, 17 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
The Tenth Day of June last, I left home, to make a Tour through this & ohio State. I had some Business of my own, & an ardent Disire to know the minds of the people, in this important Crisis. I mixed in all Companys, of all Ranks, conversed freely & preached very often. I have reason to beleive that my Labour was not unsuccessful. On my return, I wrote to you two letters from wheeling in ohio...
4To James Madison from David Jones, 30 November 1812 (Madison Papers)
God has given you the hig[h]est Station in the united States. It is in your power to do much good or much evil. It is your Duty, to obey the will of the People expressed by the Majority. It must be your wish to know what the People think, if they are in the habit of thinking on our publick affairs. Suppose my Communications are disagreeable to you, it can do no harm to know my Mind, for other...
5To James Madison from David Jones, 16 June 1813 (Madison Papers)
I came here last wednesday, I preached to the army on Sunday. The Discourse was timely, for the army had Just returned from 40 mile Creek, not in a very good humour. I am extreamly disappointed, with regard to our force. Perhaps there is not on the ground 5000d men, part of which are sick. Were we to move, perhaps 3000d would be our Force. This Number is too Small to engage the Enemy with...
6To James Madison from David Jones, 23 October 1813 (Madison Papers)
Last Tuesday, I came to my own house, in a weak State; but I am mending every hour. I left sackets harbor on Sunday oct 3. and came to york next Sunday. Previous to my Departure, I had been for a week so affected with a Diarrhea that I could scarsely walk alone. The generals all advised me to return home, & general Lewis gave me leave of absensce the remaining part of the Campaign. I beleive...
7To James Madison from David Jones, 10 December 1813 (Madison Papers)
With Pleasure, I inform you that I am recovering my health, & am in hopes to be able to return to my Duty early next spring; but I intend to visit you before I go. I wish to see you & converse with you freely respecting next year’s Campaign, for this years is finished in such a manner as to give Dissatisfaction to many. The Plan of opperation on ontario, in my opinion has been radically rong;...
8To James Madison from David Jones, [ca. 19 December] 1813 (Madison Papers)
I hope you will Pardon me for Troubling you to read this Sermon for I know that your Time is very precious; but is my opinion that it will be of great use in the Present Crisis. I would have rode down to see you, but I cannot the Cold. I am recovering my health and am in hopes that in warm weather I can be of use to my Country. I know there is no prospect of Peace. I wish that no long speeches...
9To James Madison from David Jones, 20 December 1813 (Madison Papers)
I hope my repeated scribling will not be too Disagreeable to you, for if my sentiments are rong, I can assure you they flow from an honest heart, trembling for fear of another misplaced Campaign. In my last, I communicated my Plan of operation, which would have been attended with success, consequently all upper Canada would have been in our Possession and the Indians would all be in our favor,...
10To James Madison from David Jones, 4 January 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have recovered my health in a good Degree. Necessity tryigers me to return to the old way of Living on mush & milk, which suits my Stomach well. I am now astonished that I have been the Dupe of senseless Custom for fifty years. I shall carry the reform further, I am about burning a hommany mortar for the use of my family. Nothing is more agreeable to me, but Pennsylvania is unacquainted with...
11To James Madison from David Jones, 31 January 1814 (Madison Papers)
Let not your Patience fail you by reciving so many Letters from me, for though they have been dictated by a weak head, they flow from an honest heart. I wrote to you to build 10 large gun Boats at sacket’s harbour, with Furnaces on them, to heat red hot shot, by which, we can burn the british navy on the Lakes, & I fear, without these, there will another Campaign of Blunders, which would be...
12To James Madison from David Jones, 21 March 1814 (Madison Papers)
Several subjects are so impressed on my Mind, that I must give them vent, as some things may strike my mind, that may escape yours through the Press of Business at this important crisis. I wish to call your attention to Lake Erie. Something vastly important may be done, & I hope will be done. I am not afraid of our fleet. Pennsylvania is very strong, & they are unanimous, with a few Exceptions...
13To James Madison from David Jones, 28 September 1814 (Madison Papers)
I came here last friday in a Steam Boat from albany. I have been fit for Duty very little of this Campaign my complaints were the Diarrhea & asthma. I went to Ballston & Saratoga Springs. I am releived from the Diarrhea, but still affected with the asthma, I am using medicines, which I hope will finally releive me. I found myself unable to go to general Brown, therefore I came here, if...
14To James Madison from David Jones, 3 October 1814 (Madison Papers)
One thing I forgot, which ought to have been inparted in my last Letter, which is a matter of importance to the united States, & demands the immediate attention of Congress, I mean the wicked Conduct of the Bostonians, & perhaps all new England in buying up all our Cents, & melting them to make vessels, such as Stills &c. None but New Englanders could have Decended to such meaness for the...
15To James Madison from David Jones, 8 October 1814 (Madison Papers)
Bear with repeating my letters, for my Soul within me is distressed for your Situation. The State of our finances is deplorable, and the Enmity of the yankys against you is unpardonable. By this morning’s paper, it appears that measures are proposed to send men to washington to compel you to resign your Presidency. For gods Sake regard them Not; your Country is not going to Desert you. Neither...
16To James Madison from David Jones, 10 December 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have now before me, a Pamphlet writen by mr Melish with his remarks on Sine Qua non. He has done the subject Justice. I shall publish my Sentiments on the same subject in the aurora under the Signature of the old Soldier. My opinion about Indians, may fail of your approbation, yet I am Sure I am right. I have writen on the Subject more than 30 years, I fear with very little Success, as the...
17To James Madison from David Jones, 3 January 1815 (Madison Papers)
I must call your attention once more to the Lakes. You must see the object of the British is to reestablish themselves once more in the united States, if they can be so called, with propriety. I am now Sorry you ever entered into any Negociation But I approved of it at the Time, not that I ever expected any good arising from it, but I hoped it would Silence the Tory Clamour, that is a vain...
18To James Madison from David Jones, 3 February 1815 (Madison Papers)
Spring will soon come, the Session of Congress, if it be proper to call it one, end, & what ought to have been first done, not yet done. I wrote to Secretary of war last week & mentioned the bank Bill, with this remark, I feared it would be a monstrum Horendum, that would answere no good Purpose; so it has appeared to you, and you have refused your Signature. This will meet the approbation of...
19To James Madison from David Jones, 8 March 1815 (Madison Papers)
God has continued my life to see Peace once on Earth. I know not what to call it. I cannot call it either good ⟨or⟩ bad. I cannot call it honorable; nor Dishonorable; but it is Such as could be obtained at that Time; and it is dishonable to our Enemies, for never have they been more compleatly drubbed both by Sea & Land. If their Pride can brooke it, they will be Quiet. At all events, we will...
20To James Madison from David Jones, 12 March 1816 (Madison Papers)
Last December I was Seized with the Influenza, which confined me to my house through the winter, & I have not rode out yet more than one mile; but expect shortly to be ab⟨le⟩ to go to Philadelphia. I have most ardently wished for ⟨an⟩ hour’s Conversation with you. The first Subject is a Na⟨tio⟩nal Bank, which will be a national Curse, attended ⟨with⟩ innumerable bad Consequences, one of which...