241From Alexander Hamilton to Captain James Christie, [4 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
Capt Christie dispatched by His Excellency The Commander in Chief on very important business is hereby authorised to impress horses by the way. ALS , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Christie (also spelled Chrystie) was a captain of the Third Pennsylvania Regiment. On June 4, Washington gave the following instructions to Christie: “To proceed immediately to West-Point. To...
242From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Arthur St. Clair, [5 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
You are to march with your division tomorrow morning at four oClock towards Slotes, where you will halt awhile ’till you hear from His Excellency. I am Sir Yr. Obed servant ALS , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. St. Clair was at Pompton, New Jersey. This letter contains his instructions for his march to the Hudson. The house of Stephen Slott (Slot), a captain in the New York...
243State of the Opposing Forces, [6–11 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
State of our force Rank & file The three divisions in our camp amount by a field return of the 5th to 5047 The troops under General McDougall may be about— 2300 The troops at West Point may be abt— 1700 9047 There may be besides these militia about— 2000 11047 State of the enemy’s force By General McDougalls accots. their force on Ver Planks point may be about 5000 on Stoney point abt.—...
244From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General William Irvine, 8 June [1779] (Hamilton Papers)
Smith’s Tavern [ New York ] June 8 [ 1779 ]. Transmits Washington’s request that Irvine report to Headquarters. ALS , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Smith’s Tavern, in Smiths Clove, was named after a family of notorious Tories in the region.
245From Alexander Hamilton to Baron von Steuben, [10 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
You see the difficulty there is in getting the Majors to serve as Brigade Inspectors. The Board of war have asked the General’s opinion about extending the appointment to the line of Captains. He requests your opinion. Very Respectfully Yr. Obed serv ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City.
246From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Nathanael Greene, [11 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
His Excellency requests you will have an exact return made of the total strength of the Pensylvania batalions, in which you will designate the different terms of service, for which the men are engaged. He is aware there is ony one distinction, between those for during the war and those for three years or during the war . He wants to know the precise number of each. The Board of war have...
247From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Otho Williams, [12 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
The Genl sends you four fresh horsemen to enable you to transmit him intelligence. The General will take the road you marched to your quarters. Mind your eye my boy, and if you have an opportunity, fight damned hard! Yr. friend & serv ALS , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Both J. C. Hamilton ( JCHW John C. Hamilton, ed., The Works of Alexander Hamilton (New York, 1851). , I,...
248From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Israel Putnam, 23 June 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
His Excellency has just rec’d information from Col. Butler, who is stationed at the landing called stoney beach that a party of the Enemy of about 400 Men were on the opposite side of the River apparently with a design to reconnoitre the landing. In consequence of this intelligence, he desires you will as soon as possible to morrow morning advance Genl: Smallwood with his Brigade to the Forest...
249From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [25 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
A party of the enemy’s horse with about 1000 infantry are said to be at Pines bridge. Possibly the stores at New Millford may be the object. The General requests you will send a proper person to see what progress may have been made in removing them and to complete the removal. I have the honor to be Your most Obed ser ALS , Mr. Otto Madlener, Hubbard Woods, Illinois; ADfS , George Washington...
250From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, [26 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
I beg leave to trouble you with two matters, which if your ideas correspond with mine I doubt not you will employ your influence to effect. One respects Col Malcolm and perhaps may be conducive to the interest of the public—the other respects Mr De Neuville and is only interesting to the feelings of an individual, who if I am not mistaken, with proper allowances for the peculiarities of his...
251From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, [27–29 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
There is some rum just brought to New Windsor the property of speculators, which his Excellency desires you would come down and press for the public use. I am Sir your huml Servt Please to call first at Head Quarters. LS , Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford. Wadsworth was commissary general of purchases and a business partner of John B. Church, who was the husband of Angelica Schuyler,...
252From Alexander Hamilton to Major General William Heath, [27 June 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New Windsor, New York, June 27, 1779. ] Acknowledges receiving two letters from Heath addressed to George Washington. ALS , Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston. Letters not found.
253From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 27 June 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Garanger has waited upon the General to know decisively his fate. He renounces all ideas of command or rank in the corps of Artillery and asks only a brevet of Captain in the army. The simple question is—can he be employed usefully or not in the present state and temper of the corps? if not, I shall be obliged to you to inform him so, with a line either to the General or myself, informing...
254From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General William Woodford, [2 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
I have the pleasure to inclose you a letter of introduction for Capt Woodford to the Don which I beg you to present him with my compliments. We have just received an account from Boston of the arrival of a Vessel there which parted near the Western Islands with a fleet from France of seven sail of the line and five frigates destined to reinforce Count D’Estaing. This is an agreeable and...
255From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Joseph Ward, [8 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
This will be accompanied by a general order respecting your department which you will be pleased to have executed without delay. The positions are to comprehend all such as are enlisted upon the alternative of three years or during the war who are to be constructed as engaged during the war. I am with great regard, Your most obed. ser ALS , sold by Walter M. Hill, Chicago, November, 1909,...
256From Alexander Hamilton to Major General William Heath, [9 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
His Excellency commands me to acknowlege the receipt of your letter of this day with two prisoners. He says he spoke to you to day on the points mentioned in your letter which probably was written antecedent to your interview. Lt Col Loring is to be tried by a Court Martial of the line. Capt Forrest, under the peculiar circumstances represented by Col Putnam, to be indulged with a furlough. I...
257From Alexander Hamilton to Baron von Steuben, 9 July [1779] (Hamilton Papers)
The General will adopt the arrangement you propose; that is Nixons & Larneds will form one division Patterson’s & North Carolina another. Yr. Affectionate humble ser. The Collector: An Historical Magazine for Autograph and Book Plate Collectors (July-August, 1946), 160. Frederick William Augustus Henry Ferdinand, baron von Steuben, arrived in America from Germany in the autumn of 1777 after...
258From Alexander Hamilton to Major General William Heath, [10 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
His Excellency orders me to acknowlege the receipt of your two letters per bearer. The intended march of your division tomorrow morning prevents a particular reply to the points mentioned in one of them. I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Sir Your most Obedt servant ALS , Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston. On July 5–11, 1779, the British made a maritime raid on the...
259From Alexander Hamilton to Francis Dana, 11 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received a letter from Colonel Brooks, of which the enclosed is a copy. In my reply to him, I pronounced the whole affair to be absolutely false and groundless, and pledged myself to make it appear so. The intention of this letter is to inquire, whether you avow or disavow the conversation he relates; and if the former, to demand, in explicit and direct terms, your authority. You must...
260From Alexander Hamilton to David Henley, 12 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
I take the liberty to trouble you with a letter for Mr. Dana, which I have left open for your perusal; and I request it as a favour which I hope I may claim from your friendship to deliver it to him and press for a speedy answer. I think you sufficiently know my character and way of thinking to be convinced I could never have expressed sentiments of the kind imputed to me; and you will...
261From Alexander Hamilton to Major Henry Lee, or in his absence, Captain Allan McLane, [17 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
There is an incampment of the enemy or a demonstration of one which appears on the other side of the River considerably on this side of Tarry Town. You will be pleased in conse[que]nce to have patroles kept from this till morning seven or eight miles down along the shore & on the roads leading to this place on our right. This may be a critical night and demands the greatest vigilance. I am Sir...
262From Alexander Hamilton to Captain Allan McLane, [17 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
The General desires you will do every thing in your power without delay to collect all the teams and waggons about the Country in this neighbourhood—to remove the wounded cannon and stores. There is no time to be lost in doing it. I am Yr. Obed ser ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City. These instructions were given as a result of the capture of Stony Point on July 16, 1779, by...
263From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 24 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Headquarters, West Point, July 24, 1779. Letter not found. ] Sold by Thomas Birch’s Sons, December, 1892, Lot 106.
264From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [24 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
I have communicated your letter to The General. He thinks Col Harrison’s regiment not intitled to a ⟨part⟩ of the present supply. I inclose you by the General’s order a letter from General Gates, with sundry papers respe⟨cti⟩ng powder Springfield &c. on which yo⟨ur opi⟩nion is requested. The question is—W⟨hat is t⟩o be done? Col Nixon sent to Springfield ⟨to be in⟩ charge of the Massachusettes...
265From Alexander Hamilton to Abraham Parley, [24 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ West Point, July 24, 1779. Letter listed in dealer’s catalogue. Letter not found. ] ALS , sold by Stan V. Henkels, Jr., December 6, 1892, Item 106. Parley (Perlee, Perley), a resident of Massachusetts, was a surgeon’s mate in the Seventh Continental Infantry Regiment in 1776.
266From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Nathanael Greene, [25 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
Points submitted to the consideration of the Council— Our force stated at 10.300 The enemys at 12.000 —At stoney Point— 1300 Verplanks— 700 2000— Main body at Philips &c— Questions—What general dispisition of our army should be made—Whether any and what Offensive movements can be undertaken against the enemy at the present juncture?— Whether the muster Masters department is necessary?...
267From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 25 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Col Fleury is just setting out for Philadelphia to make some arrangements with the Minister which will probably terminate in his departure from this country. He brings you a very handsome letter from the General to Congress which however he will not deliver ’till he is finally determined to go. This letter you will perceive, from the moderation and caution with which the General usually...
268From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [25 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
The General is anxious to receive you observations on the letter sent you yesterday from General Gates so soon as possible, that he may dispatch an express waiting for an answer. Yr. Most Obed ser ALS , MS Division, New York Public Library. Major General Horatio Gates’s letter to Washington (dated July 18, 1779), which deals with questions concerning the management of the arsenal at...
269From Alexander Hamilton to Major General William Heath, [26 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ West Point, July 26, 1779. ] Requests Heath to attend “a Council to be held at Head Quarters this afternoon.” ALS , Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston. On the same day, H wrote a similar, but slightly differently worded, letter to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne ( ALS , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia).
270From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, [26 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ West Point, July 26, 1779. On September 18, 1779, Jay wrote to Hamilton : “Your favors of the 25, 26, & 30 July & 12 Inst have thus long remained unanswered.” Letter of July 26 not found. ]