1To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 28 February 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 28, 1793. The account of a cabinet meeting on March 2, 1793, reads: “The President communicated to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War and the Attorney General of the United States, a letter from William S. Smith Esqr. of the 28th of February past, to the Secretary of the Treasury.” Letter not found. ] Smith, who was John Adams’s...
2To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 2 March 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, March 2, 1793. According to an entry in JPP “Journal of the Proceedings of the President,” George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. for March 2, 1793, Hamilton submitted to the President “a letter from Colo. W. S. Smith of this date respecting the debt of the U.S. to France —with a Copy of a letter wh. he had written to Mr. Ternant on the subject —and an Extract of a...
3To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 10 November 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ November 10, 1794. On November 12, 1794, Oliver Wolcott, Jr., wrote to Smith: “Your letter of the 10th. instant covering a Contract dated the 10th. day of Oct. 1794 has in the absence of the Secretary of the Treasury been read by me.” Letter not found. ] Smith, John Adams’s son-in-law, had been supervisor of the revenue for the District of New York from 1791 to 1793. When this letter was...
4To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 28 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have only this morning had the honor of receiving your Circular Letter of the 18th. inst. its contents shall be immediately attended to— I take the liberty of observing that any communications you may hereafter honor me with, will meet with a prompt and safe conveyance, by being sent to the Quarters of the Adjutant of the Regt. Mr. Cocks No. 56. Water Street. I have the honor to be Sir, Your...
5To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 11 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In compliance with your wishes expressed in your Letter of the 18th. Ulto. I have the honor of presenting a General return of the State of New York, with the Counties and Towns divided into two Grand-Divisions and Ten Sub-Divissions, specifying the beats of each Company recruiting for The Regiment . I shall be happy to find, that it meets with your approbation, and that the detention of your...
6To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 13 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 13, 1799. “I take the liberty of suggesting for your consideration, whether it would not be conducive to the good of the service, to authorize the officers to engage persons in the capacity of Servants particularly attached to their persons, with the pay and rations of a Soldier, exclusive of the established Rank & file of the Regiment, so that under no consideration the...
7To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 6 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreably to orders contained in your favours of the 31st. ulto. & 3d. Instant, received yesterday, at East Chester, I convened the officers of the 12th. Regiment, and they have unanimously nominated Lieutenat James Smith to be paymaster of the Regiment, I doubt not it will meet with your approbation and the approbation of The Secretary of War. Inclosed is his bond connected with his Brother...
8To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 8 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 23d Ulto. inclosing a list of the Officers of the 12th. Regiment distributed into Companies, that I would in concert with the Major suggest for consideration such alterations as from Circumstances may be deemed expedient with the reasons for those alterations, I take the liberty of enclosing a list of the Officers ranked as the...
9To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 17 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received a Letter from Capt. Church of the 12th. inst. covering a copy of one of the 11th. from Mr. Simmons addressed to you, which states that a Warrant has issued for three thousand five Hundred and twenty Dollars—that the amount is forwarded to Mr. Fish, to be paid to the officers on account of the recruiting service, which he is directed to receive grant his receipts and disburse...
10To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 20 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In my last of the 17th. inst. I did myself the honor of acknowledging the receipt of a letter from Capt. Church of the 12th. enclosing a Copy of a letter of the 11th. inst. from the Accountants Office of the War department, addressed to you, wherein it is mentioned, that “A warrant has also issued for three thousand five hundred dollars, and the amount is this day forwarded to Mr. Fish to be...
11To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 29 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your favours of the 23d. & 24th. inst. on Saturday night, I have this morning made the necessary arrangements to commence recruiting in the first Grand division the Drums will beat this afternoon— If the arms of the Regiment are in store at this place, and you will attain an order from the War-office for me to receive them, I will have them put in order, fit for...
12To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 3 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
East Chester [ New York ] May 3, 1799 . “I have been honoured with your Letter of the first of may; having always understood that Capt Church tho’ honoured by the appointment of being your Aid De Camp, intended, with your permission to recruit his Company; I mentioned to him, when in Town last, that the money & recruiting instructions, were ready for him, when it was convenient for you to...
13To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 16 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
On the arrival of Capt. Fondy I have made the necessary arrangements, for recruiting in the second Grand Divission, he will of course call on you, for any additional orders which you may conceive necessary to give Considering the present situation of the interior of the Regiment, I should think the service would be benifitted, by the appointment of Capt. Fondy to the vacant majority, the...
14To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 25 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been honoured by the receipt of your Letter of yesterday’s date, containing the enquiry from the Secretary of War, whether Capt. Justus B. Smith Lieuts. Thomas Thompson & Jacob C. Ten Eyck, mean to accept or decline their appointments, the question as it relates to my Brother Justus B. Smith would have been decided before this, had I received any communications on the subject of the...
15To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 11 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your Circular of the 23d. ulto., its contents shall of course be particularly attended to, the substance of the two last paragraphs have been duly communicated—and when ever applications are made, I shall forward them to you for your consideration, where I am acquainted with the applicant, I will agreable to your request express my opinion,...
16To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 12 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
East Chester [ New York ] June 12, 1799 . “I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 5th inst.… we have neither tents nor the necessary Camp utensils. I will however endeavour to help them over these inconveniences, untill by your communications to the War office, the necessary supplies may be forwarded—each Company will at present require 4 good axes & 4 spades, and...
17To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 18 [June] 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor of receiving last evening by the Stage, your private letter of the 14th. inst. relative to the appointment of a 2d. major to the 12th. Regt. When I mententioned Mr. Fowler it was connected with this observation, that I knew no other Gentleman who was solicitous for the appointment—that tho’ Mr. Fowler was not a remarkably brilliant officer, still I supposed him capable of...
18To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 21 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been honoured by the receipt of your Circular Letter of the 18th. inst. relative to a further supply of bounty money, and suggesting the propriety of accompanying the necessary application for the same, at the war-office, with some statement of the progress of recruiting, It is not in my power at present, to forward any regular returns, not having as yet received any, under the...
19To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 1 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor of transmitting to you, by the Adjutant of The 12th. Regt. the monthly return of Recruits to the 30th. ulto. inclusive, as far as they have come to hand—I have reason to believe further progress has been made by the officers in the interior—I enclose also the attestations of the enlistments of Capt. Bennets, Capt. Patterson & Capt. Courtlands Recruits, those of Capt. Landon...
20To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 12 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
As the assistant Adjutant General has made some observations, under date of the 5th. inst. on the return I had the honor of making to you of the 1st. and may have made a similar personal communication to you—I take the liberty of enclosing for your perusal under a flying seal, my answer to him which I doubt not to your mind will be sufficiently explanatory & satisfactory. I have the honor to...
21To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 16 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Bearer Mr. Alexander Stevenson, a Grandson of Edward Stevenson of Throgs neck deceased, is solicitous of entering into the 12th. Regt. as a Second Lieutenant, from an early knowledge of his family and the modest deportment of the young Gentleman aided by the respectable recommendations, he brought to me, I feel a solicitude, that he should be placed on the list of applicants to fill the...
22To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 23 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Recruiting service of the 12th. Regt. suffers considerably for the want of Subaltern officers. there is no acting Lieutenant to Capt. Kissam’s Company. Capt. Courtland is entirely destitute of aid, Capt. Fondy and Capt. Kirkland are similarly situated, & I belive Capt. Whites Lieutenants have either not accepted or have not joined their Company—if the filling of the vacant Lieutenancies...
23To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 23 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that some time past a soldier by the Name of Jno. Montgomery deserted from Capt. Pattersons Company—he repaired to the House of one Abraham Brown, at Mount Pleasant, about four miles from Tarry Town, on the Bedford road, where he told Brown, he was a deserter, that he had thrown his Cloaths into the dock at new York & that knowing him , he came to ask his...
24To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 23 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The cloathing issued to the recruits of the 12th. Regt. at the Rendevous’s of the Sub–districts, and the supplies delivered here, has consumed the whole of what was sent on from the War office—relative to coats, stocks & clasps—There are several men at present here, for whom we have not coats—as there is a prospect of having a considerable number of recruits arrive at this post in a few day’s,...
25To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 23 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
enclosed I submit to your purusal a Letter from Capt. Fondy, stating a particularly hard case, relative to the rank of Lt. Foster. It is sufficient for me fully to submit the statement to your consideration; confident if mistakes have been made, injurious to Lt. Foster’s rank, you will with pleasure use your influence to have them rectified—I have the honor to be, Sir Your most Obedt. Humble...
26To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 27 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your Circular Letter of the 22d. and am pleased to find, there is a prospect, that the supply of cloathing is likely to keep pace with the recruiting service—I did not know that there was any defficiency, or that any person had presumed to charge the War-office with neglect on this subject, untill I perused the extract of a Letter from the Secretary of War, of the 10th. inst....
27To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 27 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed I have the honor of presenting a letter from Capt. Fondy, recommending Mr. Tobias V. Cuyler as a Candidate for a Lieutenancey in the 12th. Regt. I have not the pleasure of an acquaintance with Mr. Cuyler, but from the warmth of Capt. Fondy’s expressions relative to him, I have not the least doubt but Mr. Cuyler may with propriety be put in the scale with the other Candidates. The...
28To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 30 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed is a Letter from the Quarter master of the Regt. stating the inconvenience he is exposed to, and the expence arising to the public, for the want of a Waggon and Horses attached to the Regt. the Qr. Master & Clothier’s stores remain at West Chester, and what articles we have already received at this post, is are paid for at the highest rate of transportation—by being furnished with a...
29To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 5 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honor of presenting the recruiting Return No 2 of the 12th. Regt. with 43. attestations of Recruits of Capt. Landons Company—21 of Capt. Bennetts—7 of Capt. Pattersons—7 of Capt. Fonday’s & 3 of late Capt. Smith’s returned by Lt. Cooper Which I hope will prove more satisfactory to The Asst. Adjutant General, than the first appeared to be. I have the Honor to be With great respect...
30To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 6 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed is a Copy of a Letter that I forwarded to Capt. Cortlandts by Nathaniel Crafts, who on inspection I found totally disqualified to discharge the duty of a Soldier, in consequence of a rupture in the Groin, as reported in the return; and from accounts, for at Least fourteen years standing; and so apparent without close inspection that I am astonished at Captain Cortlands not having...
31To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 10 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Letter of yesterday’s date relative to Lt. Hoffman, was delivered to me this morning, my feelings were very sensibly effected, when Lieut Livingston made a verbal communication to me of Lt. Hoffmans conduct the preceeding night—I requested him to consider the case maturely and if he had charges of that serious nature against Lt. Hoffman they should be exhibited on paper, with his...
32To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 11 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed I have the honor of presenting two letters received this morning from Poughkeepsie, recommending Mr. Nathaniel Baldwin as a Cadet in the 12th. Regt. your acquaintance with Capt. Bennet & Mr. Van Rants, will enable you fully to appretiate their recommendations in favour of Mr. Baldwins pursuit—Capt. Courtland has arrived at this post with a few Recruits & says he sees no present...
33To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 14 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreably to General Orders of the 12th. inst. I attend here as President of a General Court Martial, with three officers of the 12th. Regt. I find the Judge Advocate has not a list of the members who are to compose this Court & I can give him no information on the subject I present one Capt. & two Lieutents from the 12th. it was totally out of my power to furnish two Capts. without injury to...
34To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 15 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honor of acknowledging the receipt of your Letter of the 12th. inst. and am much g r atified, that the course of conduct I have adopted relative to Lt. Hoffman meets with your approbation—Tho I feel myself superior to prejudice or partiality in deciding on a question of justice, still from motives of delicacy, I should prefer not to precide at the Court, when Lt. Hoffman is to be...
35To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 21 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
As President of the General Court Martial ordered to convene at this post by the Genl. Orders of the 12th. inst., I have the Honor to inform you that we have finished every case submitted to our consideration & have adjourned— sine die — If you have no further orders to communicate, I shall of course proceed to-morrow to the station of the 12th. Regt. If you Have, the Bearer Mr. Coxe will...
36To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 27 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Immediately on the receipt of your letter of the 21st. I sought an opportunity of a personal interview with Lt. Ladlie, but finding he had gone from his recruiting station to the interior of the Island probably on duty—I wrote a Letter to him under date of the 22d. wherein I requested, he would detail to me the Circumstances attending the enlistment of Joseph Steward a private in Captn....
37To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 27 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Israel Loring has this morning informed me of the communications he has made to you, on the subject of his wish to enter the service and of the refference, you have been pleased to make, to me; I have known Mr. Loring for some time, and have no reason to doubt, of his ability to fill well the station of a second lieutenant, should he be complimented with the appointment in the 12th. Regt....
38To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 7 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Camp, 12th Regiment [ Bronx, New York ] September 7, 1799 . “… Upon a close inspection of the Regiments arms at present issued It pains me to observe, that they too generally appear to be old furbished up barrels, many of them full of flaws, new stocked & dressed perhaps to fulfil a contract, certainly not render essential service; of one hundred and ninety men inspected, including music, I...
39To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 9 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that Lt. R. L. R. Livingston has this moment arrived in Camp, in consequence of orders founded on your communication on the Subject of Lt. Hoffman— I have the Honor to be Sir, Your most obedt. Humble Servt. ( ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
40To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 21 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your letter of yesterday’s date by Lt. Ludlow, and at 3 oClock this morning, and immediately dispatchd the Qr. Mr. Sergeant to West Chester, provissions were regularly issued at six, without any thing unpleasant taking place, except the desertion of three men between one and two oClock this morning, as soon as the provission was issued I detached Lt. Wands in...
41To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 26 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honor of presenting the 3d. monthly recruiting return of the 12th. Regt—It has been thus long necessarily delayed, for want of the returns from the second Grand divission, and paper to make it out upon—there are also fifty eight attestations of enlistment, you will observe there are 287. total enlisted & 251. deffinitively approved on inspection I have the honor to be Sir, With...
42To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 28 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Permit me to introduce to you Mr. Abraham Fowler, he has always expressed an earnest desire to join this Regt. I formerly addressed you in his favour for a Company—I now solicit for him the oldest second Lieutenancy vacant in the Regt. and permit me to say, I am very anxious that he may have the appointment, fully confident, he will do honor to the station. I have never before expressed myself...
43To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 28 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that on the 26th. Capt. Bennet sent to the Regimental Rendezvous 1 Sergeant & six Privates & yeasterday Capt. Kirkland arrived with 36. recruits in good order—Enclosed are 18. attestations received last evening from Capt. Fondey— I have the honor to inform you that I have reconnoitred the Country, agreable to your wish, and cannot find any more eligiable Camp,...
44To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 30 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have this morning received your private and confidential Letter of the 19th. inst, from the post office at new Rochelle; it pains me to have the appearance of being so long inattentive to your communications. I have written to the Asst. Ajt. Genl. expressing my wish, that some more direct mode of communication, may be adopted, injury and inconvenience, may arise, if some alteration does not...
45To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 2 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th. ulto. and of enclosing the original Letter of Capt. Kissam dated the 19th. of Septr. expressive of his wish to resign. I also inclose you the accounts of the Paymaster of the 12th. Regt. relative to the receipts and disbursement of the several sums of money forwarded to him by the Pay Office— No. 1. states the receipt on...
46To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 7 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your Letter, relative to the Winter Quarters of the 12th. Regt. I submit to your consideration the propriety of calling all the recruiting Parties to the Regiment before it marches, that when we go to our grounds, sufficient arrangements, may be made, for the accommodation of the whole, and when they are once definitively fixed, such recruiting...
47To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 8 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your Letter of the 4th. inst. relative to the Winter Quarters of the 11th. 12th. & 13th. Regts. I wrote yesterday to General Stevens & he is now here, I am making the necessary arrangements for the fulfilment of your orders—as I am not conscious that the good of the service will be promoted by my remaining, here, I shall give the necessary...
48To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 12 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honor to inform you, that agreable to your orders of the 4th. inst. which unfortunately I did not receive untill the 8th. I struck my Camp at Rivellie Beating this morning, marched the Regt to Hunts point, embarked and landed safely at this Post, between six and eight this evening—the Camp is pitched & I shall remain untill monday morning finding the 11th. Regt. still at Elizabeth...
49To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 14 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Referring to my Letter of 12th. I have the Honor to inform you, that Colo. Ogden was with me yesterday, I find the necessary tools are not yet forwarded and the Land not yet paid for—in full confidence that every essential point, which rests with the executive departments of Government, will be carried promptly into effect, and that we shall be furnished without delay, I have ordered the 11th....
50To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 20 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Considering the disposition, military knowledge, and pointed attention of Capt. George W. Kirkland to the duties of his station—I should not do justice to his military merit, were I not to recommend him to your particular notice—Finding by the General principles relative to rank, as designated in the General orders of September the 9th. That the Relative Rank of officers, who have not been in...