81From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 3 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 3, 1799. “… More recruiting Instructions are necessary, there cannot be less than thirteen copies to each Regiment (one for each Company one for each field officer): you only sent ninety in the whole.” Copy, in the handwriting of Philip Church, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. See McHenry to H, March 21, 1799, note 10 .
82From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 8 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 8, 1799. “… It has been suggested … that an advance of money to the officers on account of their pay is necessary. All of them have to incur considerable expence for their equipment and many of them cannot afford it out of their own funds. I agree in the necessity of the measure. The advance ought not to be less than four Months pay and ought to extend to all the additional...
83From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 8 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Nothing can be more desireable than a well digested plan for connecting the different parts of our Military System, in regard to the procuring and issuing of supplies. I send you the outline of a scheme for that purpose. It is important that this, or a substitute more eligible, should be without delay established. It is particularly essential that the channels through which supplies are to...
84From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 8 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 8, 1799. “The Commander in Chief having approved the idea of calling the Pay Master to the Seat of Government, I send you inclosed by his direction an order for him to repair to the seat of Government.…” ADfS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. George Washington to H, March 25, 1799 . H to Caleb Swan, April 3, 1799 .
85From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 9 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 4th. instant, informs me of the contracts, which have been already made, and of the measures, which are in train for forming others in the states where none at present exist. There is an omission of New Jersey. I request information concerning this State also. You understand me rightly as to the issuing of Cloathing through the Regimental Pay Master. The execution will no...
86From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 10 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
As it will require time to form contracts where there are none already existing, I submit that it will be expedient, in such cases, to advance money to some person, to procure them by purchases on account of the Government; Where there is no Agent preferred by you the Regimental Quarter Master Naturally presents himself, as the person to whom the service may be Committed. New Jersey and...
87From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 13 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been yesterday & this morning honored with your several favours, three of the 11th and two of the 12th instant. The injunctions respecting the Indian boundary line will be carefully & promptly attended to. Speedy attention will also be paid to the affair of proclaiming Martial law at Detroit. At present I am not aware how the authority for it is found. But this as well as its expediency...
88From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 15 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 15, 1799. “… A letter from General Washington of the 10th. instant has this passage ‘Not an officer in this state has yet received his Commission to the great dissatisfaction of all and relinquishment of many, who would no longer remain in a state of suspense and idleness.’ There is a strong impatience in the officers every where to have their commissions. It seems to me that...
89From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 17 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 17, 1799. “Your letters of the 15th. and 16th. are duly come to hand.… Tomorrow I shall leave this place for Philadelphia. Several things will best be settled by personal conference which in future will be mutually convenient & will promote the service.” Copy, in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
90From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 20 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, April 20, 1799. “… As I do not conceive the United States to be now at War in the legal import of that term (which I construe to be a state not of partial but of general , hostility) I consider it as beyond my power to approve or execute such sentences as by the Articles of War are referred to the President in time of peace. But while I think it my duty on this ground to transmit...
91From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 23 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Upon a careful inspection of the Articles of War I entertain doubts, whether I can act upon, by approving or disapproving sentences of Courts Martial referred to me from the Department of War, in cases in which the Courts have been instituted by that Department through organs other than myself. As there is peculiar delicacy in inflicting punishment upon questionable authority, I shall be glad...
92From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 26 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It being urgent that the Two Regiments of Artillery should be organised into companies and disposed of to the several destinations which you have contemplated it results that a very inconvenient delay would attend the making of that arrangement in concert with General Pinckney as suggested in your late letter. As, likewise, this arrangement is mere matter of organisation, the distribution of...
93From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 26 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have reflected, as you have desired, on the most proper principles for regulating the relative rank of the field Officers of the twelve additional Regiments. It is always prudent, when no special reasons dictate a deviation, to adopt for cases of this kind a rule which steers clear of comparison of personal merit and avoids the danger of wounding the pride of any of the parties concerned....
94From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 26 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have a second time maturely reflected on the proper rule for promotions in the army, and I continue to adhere to that which was adopted by the General Officers last Winter, & which is recapitulated in your letter. I am persuaded that in the general course of things it will work well and satisfactorily. A moment’s hesitation as to its universal application arose from the situation of the four...
95From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 27 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 27, 1799. “I have reflected on the idea of furnishing the Regimental Quarter Masters with money to procure Quarters Transportation &c for the Recruits. It is a service which in an extensive State (New York for example) he cannot execute personally. If he employs substitutes at the different Stations, as the Contractor must do so likewise for his objects, it will either, by...
96From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 30 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I hear of no Cloathing arrived. The recruiting service is now actually begun here and elsewhere. I trust that the cloathing and other articles will certainly reach the Regimental rendezvousses before any of the men are there. It will be a discouraging omen if it proves otherwise. I beg you to appreciate the importance of having the articles forwarded as soon as they can be, even to those...
97From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 2 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 2, 1799. “I have received yours of the 30 April. and your directions will be immediately complied with.…” Df , in the handwriting of Philip Church, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
98From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 2 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Very much attached to the idea of leaving the commanding officer of a distinct & distant army to regulate himself his particular dispositions—I have referred the employment of the Galley to Col Hamtramck on the supposition that by the departure of General Wilkinson the command has devolved upon him; with the intimation only of my opinion that probably the lower posts on the Mississippi offer...
99From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 3 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
After mature reflection on the subject of your letter of the 26th. of last month; I am clearly of opinion that the President has no power to make alone the appointment of Officers to the Batalion, which is to be added to the second Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers. In my opinion Vacancy is a relative term, and presupposes that the Office has been once filled. If so, the power to fill the...
100From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 7 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 7, 1799. “… Col Smith … recommends as his Major … Theodosius Fowler Esqr.… I do not find among the p⟨apers before⟩ me any list of the Officers of the Additional Troops of C⟨avalry⟩. Will you be pleased to have it transmitted? I promised Mr. Jones your C⟨lerk⟩ a memorandum of the number of printed copies of oat⟨hs⟩ and weekly returns which it would be expedient to ⟨send⟩ to the...
101From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 9 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It is desireable as fast as possible to execute the arrangement which you have adopted for the Distribution of the Artillery. The great distance of General Pinckney from the position of a large proportion of the companies allotted to his command seems to render the intervention of some other authority necessary in the first instance to cause them to be transported within the sphere of their...
102From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 18 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It is urgent that arms for the troops to be raised be at the respective Regimental rendezvouses as speedily as possible. Military pride is to be excited and kept up by military parade. No time ought to be lost in teaching the Recruits the use of arms. Guards are necessary as soon as there are soldiers and these require arms. When I came to see the hats furnished for the Twelveth Regiment, I...
103From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 21 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 21, 1799. “… It is … necessary that ⟨t⟩he officers generally should be possessed of ‘The Rgulations for the Order and Discipline of ⟨t⟩he Troops of the UStates.’ I mean those which were instituted in our Revolution War. This system will of course obtain ’till there shall be a substitute. I pray that a competent number may be prepared & transmitted ⟨wi⟩thout delay.” ADf , Hamilton...
104From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 23 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In consequence of the information conveyed by your letter of the 21 instant, I have authorised Col Strong, if from appearances he shall conceive there is well founded cause of alarm, to withdraw from Michilimacnac the whole or part of the Garrison for the reinforcement of his post. I did this for two reasons 1 because I did not perceive any other point from which he could be reinforced and...
105From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 24 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 24, 1799. “… I shall confer with Col Smith on the subject of his Major and communicate the result.… I am of opinion that the hat ought to be delivered with its furniture complete. It will often be no easy matter for the Officers to supply a deficiency; and it is one of those instances in which œconomy will be likely to disgust by the air of excessive parsimony. Will it not be...
106From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 25[–27] May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 25 [ –27 ] 1799 . “I recur to two of your letters of the 9th. & 10th. instant. The reflections in the first respecting the inlistment of foreigners intirely accord with my impressions, as you have heretofore seen. I adhere to the opinion, that none but natives or naturalised citizens ought to be engaged. Of the latter, residence in this Country anterior to our Revolution to be...
107From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 27 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The returns from every quarter shew that desertion prevails to a ruinous extent. For this the remedies are 1: greater attention to discipline 2. additional care in furnishing the Supplies due to the Soldiery of such quality and with such exactness as will leave no real cause of dissatisfaction 3, the forbearance to inlist foreigners, and, lastly, energy in the punishment of...
108From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 29 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The inclosed my Dear Sir was written on the idea that though the Troops in Tennessee are annexed to the command of General Pinckney as far as a distinct supervision on the sea-board is concerned, yet they remain a part of the Western army and are subject to the general superintendance and direction of The Commander of that Army . This connection seems necessary to the due course of service in...
109From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 30[–31] May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 30 [ –31 ] 1799 . “… I have this moment recd. your letter of the 29th. instant. I intirely agree with you on the subject of Apprentices & shall instruct accordingly. Indeed I ⟨th⟩ought it was universally to be understood that they were not to be enlisted.… The Court Martial at West Point being a Nullity it is my first impression that I can with propriety order another to try...
110From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 5 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 5, 1799. “… As yet I have to regret that I am without the needful assistance to enable me to keep pace with the various objects of service—which occasions more delay in respect to the less urgent than is agreable to my plan. Measures are in train to obtain efficient aid and I hope ere long the whole Machinery will be in complete operation.…” Copy, in the handwriting of Ethan...
111From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 6 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I return Mr. Patterson’s letter. It is not my intention immediately to withdraw more than Cochran’s & Henry’s Companies. The other troops may remain on the insurgents scene. I should prefer their remaining together. Perhaps the vicinity of Easton may be the best single station. But I am not without apprehension that the Troops may be corrupted by remaining long in a disaffected scene. Is there...
112From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 12 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
A late letter from you suggests some doubts whether in the case of the Serjeant, who was convicted of Destertion and Embezzlement, the form in which the proceedings were at first transmitted ought not to prevent the execution of the sentence. My first impression was to defer a reply till the proceedings had been acted upon by the President; but on further reflection I have concluded to submit...
113From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 12 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 12, 1799. Quotes from a “letter from Col: Hall of the 10th. instant” and states: “… In the commencement of similar operations, a good Zeal will occasion some wondering, which must be sanctionned as to the past and checked as to the future. I recommend that provisions be made for reimbursement.…” Copy, in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
114From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 14 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I use, my Dear Sir, the privilege of an old friend to write to you in language as explicit as the occasion requires. The fact is that the management of your Agents as to the affair of supplies is ridiculously bad. Besides the extreme delay, which attends every operation, articles go forward in the most incomplete manner. Coats without a corresponding number of Vests —Cartouch Boxes without...
115From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 14 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you copies and extracts of letters from Colonels Taylor and Smith and from Major Willcocks. These shew that further advances of money will be speedily necessary and that there ought to be increased exertion in the business [of] the supplies. It is my duty to observe that the dilatory and incomplete manner in which supplies are furnished, if not corrected, will quickly have an effect...
116From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 16 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Seeing the terrible delays which take place is it not adviseable immediately to authorise your Agents at New York & Boston to take prompt measures for increasing your supply of Cloathing tents and such other articles as are in Arrear? Considering past experience can you possibly depend on the present plan for the future supply? If blue Cloath cannot be found for the whole, better to take some...
117From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 16 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 16, 1799. States: “… the recruiting service … is … now in a course of execution in all the states from Massachusetts inclusively to Virginia inclusively. Thus the necessity of expedition in regard to the supplies becomes more & more urgent.…” ADf , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
118From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 17 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor of your letter of the 15 instant. The several points mentioned in it have been attended. In the commencement of a new branch of service it is necessary for dispatch to wave the usual forms. Hence the omission of returns. But I shall speedily send you an exact statement of the various articles of supply requisite for each Regiment—and which from the accounts received it will be...
119From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 18 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 18, 1799. Quotes an extract from Major Daniel Jackson’s letter of June 6, 1799 , concerning the shortage of clothing and lack of money to pay recruits. Copy, in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
120From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 18 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
You will be pleased to receive herewith a statement of the articles of supply requisite for a Regiment of Infantry. It is necessary that the full quantity, including what has been heretofore forwarded, should be transmitted as fast as possible. With all the diligence that can be made, it is not probable that they will arrive too soon. After the proportion, which was indicated in the first...
121From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 21 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you My Dear Sir for the military figures you have sent me. Tactics you know are literally or figuratively of very comprehensive signification. As people grow old they decline in some arts though they may improve in others. I will try to get Mrs. Hamilton to accompany in games of Tactics new to her. Perhaps she may get a taste for them & become better reconciled to my connection with...
122From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 21 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 21, 1799. “The suggestion respecting the Cavalry in your letter of the 18th. instant leads to the supposition that the actual raising of the additional troops will be postponed for a considerable time. Though I have no doubt that powerful motives will have influenced this intention; yet I cannot but regret their existence; as well because the body of Cavalry provided for would...
123From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 22 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 22, 1799. Encloses a letter from William S. Smith and suggests that it be forwarded to President Adams for his decision. States: “Let me recall to your mind the establishment of rules of promotion & especially the principle that when the field officers of the new Regiments are once appointed the Routine begins.” ALS (photostat), James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress; copy,...
124From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 24 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 24, 1799. Discusses duties and salary of Ebenezer Stevens. States: “The necessity of a more adequate organisation of our Departments of Military supplies (to which adequate compensation is an essential idea) presses more and more upon my conviction. The details of execution are extremely defective.” Gives examples of defects in supply system and concludes: “These are small...
125From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 25 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I conclude from your letter by todays post, that your own opinion in regard to the raising of a Troop of horse is made up and that you only delay a determination from the necessity of a reference elsewhere. This is a point, which I have so much at heart that I should be sorry any thing should be risked about it. If you think there is the least danger of disappointment, I will write to the...
126From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 25 June[–1 July] 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 25 [ –July 1 ] 1799 . Summarizes the contents of “letters … from Major Rivardi, at Niagara,” which “contain very unpleasant representations of the state of things at that post.” Describes steps taken to meet some of Rivardi’s complaints. States: “It appears by the statement of which a copy is enclosed that debts have been contracted for purposes of the garrison to the amount of...
127From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 27 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It is a pity, My Dear Sir, and a reproach, that our administration have no general plan. Certainly there ought to be one formed without delay. If the Chief is too desultory, his Ministers ought to be the more united and steady and well settled in some reasonable system of measures. Among other things—It should be agreed what precise force should be created naval and land , and this...
128From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 2 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I beg leave to recall your attention to the suggestion contained in my letter of the 21st. of June, respecting the raising mounting and equipping of one of the Six additional troops of Horse together with the Non commissioned Officers of the other Troops—and to request your final direction on the subject. The service of the Cavalry in this Country has never been but imperfectly understood....
129From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 3 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I transmit you the proceedings of a Court Martial in the case of Joseph Perkins, who is sentenced to death for desertion aggravated by very atrocious circumstances. I see nothing to occasion a doubt as to the regularity of the proceedings or the propriety of the sentence. I observe indeed that in this as in a former instance the articles on which the sentence is founded are not specified. But...
130From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 6 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 6, 1799. Quotes from Colonel Thomas Parker’s letter of June 30 concerning lack of clothing for recruits and states: “If any thing remains to be done to accelerate the arrival of the Cloathing I pray that it may be done and that inferior considerations may give way to the necessity of preserving contentment among the troops and maintaining in their eyes the justice and...