101To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, [19 June 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote a letter yesterday to the Secy. of the Navy respecting the propriety of being alert at our port, knowing that the French fleet is at sea, and the expediency of the measure suggested. Something will be done; but not much partly through want of means. All these things help forward the army, and the army and the expences attending it, are not to all views equally desirable. The Secy. of...
102To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 19 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, June 19, 1799. “I received this morning your letter of the 17th instant. I have ordered two thousand dollars to be forwarded to the Paymaster of the 12 and an equal sum to the Paymaster of the 13th Regiment.… There has been also delivered to the Paymaster of the Tenth Regiment One thousand five hundred and forty four dollars and fifty cents.…” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of...
103To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 20 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received this morning from on board a vessel from London 4 set of military figures for the practice of tacticks one of which I send you for your amusement. It may be made a substitute for the game of chess. There is a book which I would advise you to send to England for intitled the Officers manual in the field with 10 copper plates price in boards 15/Sg. It displays a series of military...
104To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 21 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, June 21, 1799. “… I wish you … to direct … the Quarter Master of the 13th. 14th: and 15th: Regiments to send his order to Mr: Williams Storekeeper at Springfield for the articles to be drawn from thence for these Regiments.… It is expected that Muster Rolls will be made out and precede any disbursement of money to the recruits for their pay. If this is not done I apprehend...
105To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 24 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are certain regulations respecting the delivery of Fuel, Straw and Stationery, and Horses furnished to Officers. I wish you to consider them, and to offer such additional ones to, or alterations in those proposed as in your opinion may be proper. The last has been conceived necessary to check an evil which may grow to magnitude. I request you particularly to determine how many Horses...
106To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 24 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, June 24, 1799. “I received this morning your letter of the 21st: Instant. The remarks you have offered relative to the Cavalry are deserving of attention, and the course you propose which combines a temporary saving, with immediate employment for the Officers in a mode conformable to the constitution of this kind of Troops will be considered. I shall inform you of the result. I...
107To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 26 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I find from frequent and repeated conversations that we have not been able to remove any one of the prejudices entertained by the Secretary of the treasury against the augmentation of the army: that he thinks, or seems to think, that the means of resources of the U. S. which can be called forth without annual loans, are inadequate to the expenditures required for the support of the army and...
108To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 27 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose a copy of a Letter to me, from John King, the Contractor for District No. 2 including the Counties of Essex, and Morris, in the State of New Jersey, relative to an order issued by you, on the 15th. instant, directing the Contractors, to issue fresh meat to the military. five days in each week; together with a Copy of my answer, and an extract from the particular contract with Mr....
109To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 27 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
My dear Sir. I answer to yours (just rcd.) of the 25th inst. It will be agreeable to me to see a troop of horse completely organised, that we may ascertain, as far as it is practicable, with so small a model, the improvements of which cavalry are yet susceptible. You may write therefore an official letter on the subject proposing it, and request my final directions. I shall give them. General...
110To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 2 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
You will find by copies of the several contracts for the garrisons under your command (with which you have been furnished), compared with the returns of troops in garrison, at which of them it will be proper to provide for the issues of the provisions by an officer appointed and paid by government. The late Major General Wayne was instructed by me, by letter dated 25th June 1796, as follows...
111To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 2 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, July 2, 1799. “If you find any thing to alter or propose which will make the enclosed regulations more perspicuous or perfect, I wish you to mention it and return them as soon as possible.” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. McHenry sent the same letter on the same day to George Washington ( LS , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress). On the back of this letter...
112To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 8 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, July 8, 1799. On July 9, 1799, Hamilton wrote to McHenry : “I have the honor to acknowlege the Receipt of your letter of yesterday with the list of some new appointments, in the 7th 8 & 9 Regts.” Letter not found. ]
113To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 8 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, July 8, 1799. Discusses Major John J. U. Rivardi’s account of conditions at Fort Niagara. Refers to McHenry’s letter of July 2, 1799, concerning former quartermasters. States that Rivardi disbursed extra pay for extra work and points out that such payments should not be given “for procuring supplies or performing work in the ordinary line of a soldiers duty.…” Encloses...
114To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 10 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose you Copies of a letter from J Jackson Esqr. Supervisor at Boston, with my indorsement of reference, to the accountant of this Department, and of the Accountants answer, or report, dated the 6th instant. The difficulties you will percieve, are almost daily occurring in the Accountants Office, relative to settlements for quarter Master’s supplies, by Contractors, or agents, and for...
115To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 10 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the 6. of July containing a paragraph from a letter from Colonel Parker, by which it appears that his supply of Clothing had not then arrived except some hats and shoes. The articles in the annexed list No. 1. which comprehends the whole of your requisition left this City as appears by a note made on it by the Assistant Quarter Master General on the 29. May and June...
116To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 16 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received this morning your letter of the 12th July instant on the subject of a modification of the invitations to supply rations for the troops of the United States on the Sea board. You will recollect that the advertisement, calling for proposals for the year 1799, is dated the 21st March ulto., and that the time within which proposals may be received is limited to the 25th July instant....
117To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 20 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, July 20, 1799. “Mr Jonathan Williams the gentleman I had intended for an assistant to Mr. Francis has suggested to me that he would be glad you should read certain papers explanatory of his conduct in a transaction relative to his Father in law Mr Alexander, which Mr Francis, on a representation by Mr Morris had viewed in a criminal light, and objected to the proposed association...
118To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 22 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, July 22, 1799. “I recd. this morning your letter of the 17th July inst. and have submitted Mr. Ths. Y. How to the President to fill the office of 2d Lieutenant, and recommended the appointment.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. McHenry to John Adams, July 22, 1799 ( ALS , Adams Family Papers, deposited in the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston). On July 27,...
119To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, [25 July 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
I request your opinion, upon the inclosed circular, to the different contractors &c for supplies of rations for the ensuing and the present year, predicated upon the ideas, communicated to me, by your letter of the 12th inst. and that you will return it to me and your opinion without delay if it, or any thing like it is to be acted upon. Some doubts have rested on my mind, whether such a step,...
120To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose a Warrant, under the signature of the President, and the seal of the War office of the United States, for the execution of Richard Hunt, a Serjeant in a Company of the Second regiment of Artillerists, and Engineers, commanded by Captain James Stille, who was tried on a charge of desertion, and also of carrying away the money for their pay entrusted to him, by the men of his company,...
121To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 2 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I always receive from my friend, his intimations, with at least a disposition to benefit by them. Your private note of the 31st ulto. recd yesterday morning with the proceedings of the general Court martial on Capn. Frye, suggests to me, either that the Court ought not to have suffered, my letter of the 10th of Jany to have weighed in their decision, or if it ought to have had influence, that...
122To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 10 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I am fully satisfied my dear Hamilton from what you say, that you had no intention to insinuate in the general order, any thing that could affect my character in the eye of the public or army, and I am no longer uneasy. Upon the other point, let me assure you, that the military rule of correspondence, which I have departed from, in some instances, as relative to General Wilkinson, did not take...
123To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 12 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department August 12, 1799. “I transmit under cover to you for each of the Officers named in the enclosed list a Copy of the elements of fortification, and request that you would have the same forwarded to them respectively.…” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. “Names of the Officers for whom the Elements of fortification have been transmitted to Major General Hamilton” (copy,...
124To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 14 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, August 14, 1799. “Governor Davie of North Carolina, lately transmitted to me, three copies of the inclosed work, entitled ‘Instructions, to be observed for the formations, and movements of the Cavalry,’ published agreeably to a resolution of the Legislature of North Carolina. One of these copies, the Governor requested I would present to you.…” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of...
125To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 16 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, August 16, 1799. On August 21, 1799, Hamilton wrote to McHenry : “Your letter of the 16 instant respecting Cloathing for the Western Army did not reach me till yesterday.” Letter not found. ]
126To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 29 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received at Trenton on the 27th: instant, your letter dated the 22nd: enclosing a Return and letter from General Wilkinson, relative to Supplies of Cloathing for the Troops on the Northern and Southwestern Frontier, and designating the quantity requisite for the present numbers of the Troops as well as the portions for each post, also a letter from Captain pasteur dated Massac the 30th: June...
127To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 29 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, August 29, 1799. Writes in reply to Hamilton’s letter of August 25 and states: “It is understood to have been the general custom in the Army to act, pro hac vice, as Judge Advocate on General Courts Martial, whenever the Judge Advocate to the Army, could not be present, or that Office, as is now the case, was vacant; it is not known that any established pay or compensation was...
128To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 30 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received yesterday evening your two letters dated the 25th: and 27th: instant. On the subject of late Military appointments, presented by a letter from Lieutenant Colonel Bently dated the 17th: copy of which you enclose —I have to observe, First—That it was the established practice of the Department of War, previous to my coming into it, to fill vacancies in newly created Regiments or Corps...
129To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 2 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Trenton, War Department, September 2, 1799. “I have received your letter of the 28th August ulto representing that the number of Officers of the four old Regiments, who have reported themselves to you in pursuance of my notification, bear no comparison to the number actually absent, and requiring some more decisive measure. I shall issue, in conformity with your suggestion, the inclosed...
130To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 3 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are regulations adopted by the President of the United States, relative to military rank and promotion. The Commander in chief, to whom they were submitted, made no objection to take upon himself, to determine the relative rank of those officers who had not been in service. I have therefore prefered leaving this point as it stood originally. I shall transmit to the Commander in Chief...
131To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 7 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is copy of a letter from Colonel Stevens to me dated the 6th inst and of one to him from Major Jackson dated the 29th Ulto. You will perceive that Major Jackson conceives Colonel Stevens to be the proper person to apply to for authority to procure a Boat for the use of the Garrison on castle Island, to make carriages for Cannon, and for the erection of Barracks, or other buildings at...
132To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 13 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, Trenton, September 13, 1799. “I herewith transmit you a Copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Navy of this date requesting that the Marine Guard at Norris Town may be relieved by a competent number of Infantry of the Army. You will be pleased to take such order thereon as to you may appear proper.” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; LS , letterpress copy, James...
133To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 16 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to the last paragraph of your letter of the 13~ instant, just received—I observe—That I have already informed you, Law and express instructions from the Treasury Department, to the Pay Master General, have opposed obstacles to making advances of pay to the troops. After a mature deliberation on the subject, by the Comptroller, he appears indisposed to alter the instructions to the...
134To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 18 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received this morning your letter of the 16~ instant inclosing extracts from Lieutt. Coll. Smiths letter to you of 7~ instant. I cannot doubt the correctness of the Colonels representation relative to the state of the muskets. It is probable the old stock, long since provided, from which the delivery to his regiment may have been made is generally as he has represented. The muskets which...
135To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 20 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Upon the repeated representation of Judge peters to the Secretary of State for a Guard of Regular Soldiers to be stationed over certain State prisoners confined in Norristown Goal, and his request for an immediate order to Major Adlum for the purpose, I directed a letter to that Officer of which the enclosed is a copy. I return your letter to Colonel Moore received yesterday, that it may...
136To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 20 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The ill state of Mrs. Pinckney’s health, has been such as to induce a permission to be granted to the general, to accompany her to New Port Rhode Island, where I expect he now is or soon will be. It is not impossible that the alarming indisposition of Mrs. Pinckney may have engaged for a considerable time past much of the generals solicitude and attention, and his removal with her to Rhode...
137To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 20 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 16~ instant containing very important, and detailed observations, on a system of military supplies, for the armies of the United States. Altho’ I fully agree with you, that the old and existing system, is defective in particulars, too weakly manned in some of its branches, and susceptible of amelioration —I must recollect, that it is yet the existing system,...
138To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 23 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 19th: instant. On the 30th: ultimo I detailed my conceptions on the subject of late appointments to the new Regiments, these were grounded on former usage, on principles suggested by the Commander in Chief, as I thought on expedience and utility, and on calculations to ensure to the different Grades in a small establishment, the best selection of Officers. I...
139To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 24 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter dated the 17th: instant, and shall not fail to give the project of regulations it contained, as early and deliberate a consideration as possible. You will however be pleased to direct a stop to be put to the issue of Rations to the Children of Soldiers, because such issues had grown into abuse, and I know of no law that authorizes them; they are besides extra of any...
140To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 28 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have understood this morning that the monies expended on the works which have been directed to be erected by Brig. Gen. Wilkinson at Loftus’s heights have already occasioned an expenditure of above 80,000 Dolls. I can hardly beleive in the information, and yet it is sufficiently circumstantial to create no little uneasiness. The works at this place, were undertaken without orders. I shall...
141To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 28 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter dated the 21st instant, pressing that measures, may without fail, and speedily, be taken to pay the sums due to the troops of the United States. Observations in your letter, relative to the causes, which have prevented the exhibition of muster and pay rolls, would seem to convey an idea, that in your opinion some delay or failure in this particular is attributable...
142To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 16 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter dated the 13 instant. It has been communicated to the President, from whom I have received instructions to make the following reply. The Plan you detail, for the disposition of the four regiments, on the former permanent establishment, as the result of communications with General Wilkinson, and the commander in chief, and according with the communications of the...
143To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, Trenton, October 25, 1799. “I this morning received your Letter, dated the 23d. instant.… Entertaining the same opinion I request, you will accordingly give such orders as you may deem proper, and expedient, for the comfortable accomodations of both regiments at as little expence as possible, and without a purchase of Land.… The orders on the subject should proceed directly...
144To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I this moment received your letter of the 24 ~ instant containing one to the Pay Master General. I have sent it to him with an earnest injunction that no time be lost in complying with your expectations, and desired him to engage an express to carry the money to the appropriate officers should he think it best so to do. It is certainly my wish to keep the Troops regularly paid, and to do every...
145To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 2 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, Trenton, November 2, 1799. “I received this morning your letter of the 31st Octbr. ulto. enclosing and submitting for appraisal, a project of a new arrangement of the officers of the four old Regiments of Infantry. The books and records of this office being packed up, it is out of my power to make any comparison between the project and the order in which these officers stand in...
146To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 8 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the 29th. ulto. prior to the return of the Public offices from the City of Trenton to the Seat of Government. As it presents objects of considerable expenditure, I thought it my duty to lay it before the President, and have since given to the subjects it embraces, an attentive consideration. You inform me, that General Wilkinson furnished estimates which you enclose...
147To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 12 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter dated the 25th. ulto: at Trenton, when the business of the Office, had closed there and preparations were making to return to the Seat of Government. This letter relates to claims against the United States for Services rendered by Lieutenant Campbell Smith, which are stated to be of two kinds. 1st: For Services as Judge Advocate for more than two years previous to the...
148To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 15 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Since the return of the War Office to the City of Philadelphia, I have reverted to your letter of the 31st: ulto: and given as mature a consideration as circumstances would permit to the new arrangement of the Officers of the first, second, third and fourth Regiments of Infantry, as proposed by Brigadier General Wilkinson, and approved by yourself provisionally, but subject to a negative from...
149To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 16 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the 13th and one of the 14th. instant each inclosing a letter to Caleb Swan Esqr Paymaster left open for my perusal. Immediately upon receiving the first mentioned I wrote to Mr Swan a letter of which the enclosed is a Copy. It pains me exceedingly that either from the delay of the Officers in forwarding Muster and pay Rolls, a defective arrangement for forwarding the...
150To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 18 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I recd two hours ago your letter of the 14th, begging me to call upon and send you certain papers you had lodged with Mr Bingham. As he has not yet returned to the City I dispatched my servant with a note to which I have received the answer inclosed. I do not remember to have seen the papers aluded to. Yours truly & Affectionately ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For background to...