51From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 18 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
The requests contained in your letter of the 15 of April have been complied with. There are two points arising out of the Estimate of the Qr. Master General, which you transmitted, to which I beg leave to call your attention. One Item of Expenditure in the estimate is 450 Pack-Horses. It has been noticed to me by the Accounting Officers of the Treasury, that there appear to have been already...
52From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 29 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Herewith you will find a Warrant for Thirty five thousand dollars for the use of the Quarter Master generals department. I request that you will direct it to be received in Bank post Notes, which for greater security had better be made out in the Name of the Quarter Master General. Experience shews that these Notes answer as well as specie, and Considerations of the Moment induce me to wish...
53From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 25 June 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I have concluded to direct purchases of distilled spirits to be made on account of the Government and for the use of the army in the Western Parts of Pensylvania Maryland & Virginia and in the State of Kentucke, to be delivered; according to the convenience of the sellers, at the several Forts McIntosh, Washington and Steuben, and also at the Mouth of Musskingum; a mode in which I intend by...
54From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [22 July 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
The alliance is not come nor our arms, nor our powder. They probably will come with the second division we want to know what we can do in the meantime in the article of arms without those; will you send us immediately a memmorandum of what we have to your knowledge? Do you know whether the Eastern States can furnish any on loan and in what proportion. We must borrow of them and borrow of our...
55From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 3 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I transmit you, as relating to your department, a letter just received by me from Lieutenant Colonel Beckwith forwarding a copy of a paper purporting to be a speech of Lord Dorchester, in answer to an address of the deputies of certain indian tribes. You will observe that the object of this communication is stated to be “the information of the executive government.” In conversation, a reliance...
56From 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...
57From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 13 May 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inclose an extract of a letter from me of this date to General Wilkinson, on a question of some importance lately raised by the Contractors. I need not observe of how much moment it is, that the Commanding General should without delay establish with the Contractors the construction which I put on the Contract; about which I have no idea that they can mean any serious...
58From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 14 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to your letter of this day I observe I recalled your having spoken to me at the period to which you allude, concerning the contract which you were then about to make with Mr. Duer and the making of which by you was agreeable to former practice in similar cases. You stated that you had adjusted with Mr. Duer the terms of the Contract; that an advance upon it of four thousand dollars...
59From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 8 October 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Hodgsdon is a worthy man but between us incompetent to a great operation. It is impossible in my judgment that transportation should be so difficult to procure as he makes it. The troops are every where a head of their supplies. Before I left Town I directed some Cloathing to be forwarded. Not an iota of them has arrived or that I can find had been sent so late as the 6th & some of the Militia...
60From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 7 July 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] July 7, 1794 . “The Congress of the United States having … appropriated a further Sum of Thirty Thousand dollars in addition to the Seventy Six Thousand dollars heretofore granted for the purpose of fortifying certain ports and Harbours in the United States … I have to request you will be pleased to furnish me as soon as convenient with a Memorandum of the manner in which the...
61From 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...
62From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 12 February 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed you will find the copy of a letter from Mr. Habersham of the 16th ultimo. The bearer of it (who is mentioned in it) informs me that from the month of June last till he left Georgia, there had been kept on foot from a thousand to twelve hundred Militia and that arrangements appeared to be going on for encreasing the number. The expense you will perceive, has been out of all proportion...
63From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 14 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The inclosed letters, as I conclude from others which accompanied them, have been a long time getting to hand. There was a moment, when their object seemed to present itself as one not intirely chimerical—but the probability has diminished. Tis however a thing on which the mind may still speculate as in the Chapter of extraordinary events which characterise the present wonderful epoch. My...
64From 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...
65From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 22 August 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
I inclose you a petition just put into my hand. You know the General’s idea is not to force the continuance of any man in the service longer than he can be detained consistently with the terms of his engagement; attempts of this kind in a service like ours do more harm than good. This I dare say corresponds with your sentiments; and if the petitioner is not really inlisted during the war, you...
66From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 24 December [1792] (Hamilton Papers)
It being among the duties assigned by Law to the Treasury department, to prescribe forms for keeping and rendering all public accounts, I now address you for the purpose of sugg⟨est⟩ing in what manner it will be hereafter expected that the accoun⟨ting⟩ for expenditures in the Indian department be regulated and rendered for settlement. Some forms as essential checks upon the account⟨s⟩ for...
67From 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.
68From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 29 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received a letter from the Comptroller of the Treasury of this date of which the inclosed is a copy. The practice therein mentioned, illustrated by the papers to which it refers, is directly in the face of law and instructions—absolutely inconsistent with order and due responsibility in the public expenditures—and consequently both inadmissible and inexcuseable. I must therefore request...
69From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 18 March 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I have before me your letter of the 8th. instant, transmitting sundry accounts for supplies at Post Vincennes, during the year 1791, to the neighbouring Indians. From the nature of the case, it appears to me proper to request your more explicit opinion concerning the propriety of allowing these claims. Though I entertain a favourable opinion of the Officers concerned and readily accede to the...
70From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 20 June 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
A Commissary of Stores having been appointed, it is necessary to fulfil the main object of that appointment that a very regular system of accountability should be established. As the accounts of the expenditures of money are connected with the subject I submit to you whether it will not be adviseable to instruct Mr. Hodgdon to concert with the Comptroller of the Treasury a plan for regulating...
71From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [4 June 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Gilliland, the most helpless mortal in the world, and the most ignorant of every thing he ought to know, represents that he has been two years without pay. He begs this line to you to have justice done him and seems even not to know to whom he ought to apply. In pity give him such information and advice as you can and at least enable him to have some idea of his own affairs & to give me...
72From Alexander Hamilton to Brigadier General Henry Knox, [9 July 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
We wish to know the number of heavy cannon we might bring into an operation against New York—already in the possession of The Continental distinguishing the Iron from the Brass. We are writing to The French General. Yr most Obed also the Mortars their different sizes. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. These cannons were to be used for an attack on New York City, which Washington...
73From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 17 October [1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The following are the particulars in the Presidents Letter which he expects you to prepare. Expeditions against the Indians. Every pacific measure was previously tried to produce accom~ & avoid expence. More pointed laws with penalties to rest⟨r⟩ain our own people. This & good faith may produce tranquillity. Treaties with Cherokees & six Nations & reasons . I annex to the first the hints in...
74Enclosure: James McHenry to Henry Knox, [19 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
An answer to your letter of the 5th instant has been delayed by some degree of ill health on my part. The general disposition it marks accords with the patriotic sentiments you have so consistently manifested. It is extremely regretted that any circumstance should induce you to hesitate about the acceptance of an appointment in which it is not to be doubted your services would be eminently...
75From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 10 December 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
An arrangement has been made in consequence of your representation to the comptroller of the Treasury, of the 13th of August last, for discharging at the office of the accountant such part of the pay due to the Commissioned officers of the Army as they may desire to have paid here. The following plan has been devised for the purpose: Let the officers who wish to be availed of the arrangement,...
76Enclosure: Josiah Harmar to Henry Knox, 4 November 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, ⟨th⟩at on the 30th September I marched with 320 federal troops, and 1133 militia, total 1453. After encountering a few difficulties, we gained the Miami village. It was abandoned before we entered it, which I was very sorry for. The villainous traders would have been a principle object of attention. I beg leave to refer you to my orders which are enclosed—The...
77From David Humphreys to Henry Knox, 2 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
Mr Merrit, who has permission to go into New York with a Sum of Money for the Naval Prisoners of Massachusetts, waits upon you in his route for your advice and assistance—If it shall be thought a small escort is necessary for the protection of the Money he is possessed of, the Commander in Chief wishes you would order one to attend him to Dobbs’s ferry—I am Dr Sir with perfect respect Your...
78From David Humphreys to Henry Knox, 14 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency the Commander in Chief desires that such Men as are acquainted with the repairs of Boats may be employed under the Quarter Master’s direction, in repairing those Batteaux which will be fit for service on the Western Waters. Those Boats will be wanted to proceed to Albany as soon as possible. I have the honour to be &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
79From David Humphreys to Henry Knox, 25 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief desires you will have as much of the hard Bread, which was delivered by the late Contractors into Elderkins Store, issued to the Detachment as they can carry with them—and that you will have the remainder of that Bread served out occasionally, that it may not be lost by the Public, whose property it now is—I have the honor to be &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
80From David Humphreys to Henry Knox, 21 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
It having been reported to Head Quarters that there is an error in the Arrangement of Officers in the Masstts Corps of Artillery, by the omission of Capt. Sargeant (without his knowledge or consent, the Commander in Chief directs me to refer the matter to you with the Enclosure, that in case there has been a Mistake it may be rectified, and that a complete Return may be sent back to Head...