1Return of Captain Alexander Hamilton’s Company of Artillery, [20 April 1776] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] April 20, 1776 . The return is headed: “A Return of the Colony Company of Artillery commanded by Alexander Hamilton April 20th, 1776” and is in the form of a table showing the number of each rank present and fit for duty, sick, on furlough, on command duty, or taken as prisoner. Hamilton’s company contained a total of 69 commissioned and noncommissioned officers. AD , George...
2Bill for Expenses of George Washington’s Staff, [21 September 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
paid at Christiana for family’s breakfast, horses &c.— £6.5 paid on the road from thence to Wilmington for lodging &c— 6. paid for breakfast the morning we crossed brandywine— 1.12 pd. 1.12 15.9 Received the above from Capt Gibbs ADS , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Town on creek of same name, which flows into the Delaware near Wilmington. I.e., Washington’s staff. The...
3From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 2 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I lodged last night in the neighbourhood of New Windsor. This morning early, I met Col: Morgan with his corps about a mile from it, in march for Head Quarters. I told him the necessity of making all the dispatch he could so as not to fatigue his men too much, which he has promised to do. I understood from Col: Morgan that all the Northern army were marching down on both sides the River, and...
4From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [6] November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here yesterday at Noon and waited upon General Gates immediately on the business of my mission; but was sorry to find his ideas did not correspond with yours for drawing off the number of troops you directed. I used every argument in my power to convince him of the propriety of the measure, but he was inflexible in the opinion that two Brigades at least of Continental troops should...
5From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 10 November [1777] (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here last night from Albany. Having given General Gates a little time to recollect himself I renewed my remonstrances on the necessity and propriety of sending you more than one Brigade of the three he had detained with him, and finally prevailed upon him to give orders for Glover’s in addition to Patterson’s brigade to march this way. As it was thought conducive to expedition to...
6From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 12 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been detained here these two days by a fever and violent rheumatic pains throughout my body. This has prevented my being active in person for promoting the purposes of my errand, but I have taken every other method in my power, in which Governor Clinton has obligingly given me all the aid he could. In answer to my pressing application to General Poor for the immediate marching of his...
7From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 15 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived at this place last night and unfortunately find myself unable to proceed any further. Imagining I had gotten the better of my complaints while confined at Governor Clinton’s & anxious to be about, attending to the march of the troops, the day before yesterday I crossed the ferry in order to fall in with General Glover’s brigade which was on its march from Poughkepsie to Fish Kill. I...
8From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [before 29 January 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
There are still existing in the army so many abuses absolutely contrary to the military constitution, that, without a speedy stop is put to them, it will be impossible even to establish any order or discipline among the troops. I would, therefore, propose the following Regulations; submitting to His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, to distinguish such as may be published under his own...
9Receipt to George Washington, 29 January 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] January 29, 1778. Receipt for payment of $100 by Washington to Hamilton for Hamilton’s expenses at Morristown. DS , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
10Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot to George … (Hamilton Papers)
To His Excellency George Washington Esquire, General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America. We, the Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency, “to confer, determine and agree upon a Treaty and Convention, for the exchange of Prisoners of War, and for all matters whatsoever, which may be properly contained therein” beg leave to report— That in pursuance of Your...
11Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot to George … (Hamilton Papers)
To His Excellency George Washington Esquire General and Commander in chief of the Forces of the United States of America. We the Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency, “to confer, determine and agree upon a Treaty and Convention for the exchange of Prisoners of War, and for all matters whatsoever which may be properly contained therein,” beg leave to report— That, agreeable to Your...
12From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [26 June 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
We have halted the troops at this place. The enemy, by our last reports, were four miles from this (that is their rear) and had passed the road which turns off towards South Amboy, which determines their rout[e] towards Shrewsbury. Our reason for halting is the extreme distress of the troops for want of provisions. General Wayne’s detachment is almost starving and seem both unwilling and...
13From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [26 June 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
The result of what I have seen and heard concerning the enemy is, that they have incamped with their van a little beyond Monmouth Court House and their rear at Manalapans River abt. seven miles from this place. Their march to day has been very judiciously conducted—their baggage in front and their flying army in the rear, with a rear guard of 1000 men about 400 paces from the main body. To...
14From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [20 July 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed I transmit your Excellency a letter from the Count Destain. He has had the River sounded and finds he cannot enter. He will sail for Rhode Island tomorrow evening; in the mean time he is making demonstrations to deceive the enemy and beget an opinion that he intends to operate in this quarter. He would sail immediately but he waits the arrival, or to hear, of a frigate which carried...
15From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 23 July [1778] (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote to your Excellency the evening of the 20th. by Major Neville. I remained in the neighbourhood of Black Point ’till the afternoon following. The Count had received his expected dispatches from Congress and was to sail, as I mentioned before, the first fair wind. At Brunswick yesterday, Mr Caldwell joined me. He was immediately from the Point and brought intelligence that the fleet got...
16Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [15 December 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
Report of Lieutenant Colonels, Robert Hanson Harrison & Alexander Hamilton Commissioners &ca. To His Excellency General Washington— We, the Commissioners appointed by your Excellency for the purposes specified in the powers to us given on the 30th of November last—Beg leave to Report— That in pursuance of your instructions, we repaired to Amboy on Monday the 7th instant at 11 oClock; where we...
17Brigadier General Louis Le Bèque Du Portail and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 26 October … (Hamilton Papers)
We are honored with two letters from Your Excellency of the 10th. and 21st to the contents of which we beg leave to assure you of our strictest attention. That of the 18th. is not yet come to hand, it is not improbable it has gone round by Lewis Town, which has occasioned the delay. Col Hamilton wrote to your Excellency from Philadelphia acquainting you with our arrival there and our intention...
18Brigadier General Louis Le Bèque Du Portail and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 1 November … (Hamilton Papers)
[ Great Egg Harbor Landing, New Jersey, November 1, 1779. On November 8, Brigadier General Du Portail and Hamilton wrote to Washington : “We hope before this you will have received our two letters of the 26th of October and 1st instant.” Letter of November 1 not found .]
19Brigadier General Louis Le Bèque Du Portail and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 2 November … (Hamilton Papers)
We last night received the honor of Your Excellency’s letter of the 25th. of October; on the 26th. we had the pleasure of advising you fully of our situation and motives for coming to this place. We have since received no further intelligence of the Count, his operations, or ultimate intentions; on which account and from the late period of the season, we have given over all expectation of any...
20Brigadier General Louis Le Bèque Du Portail and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [8 November … (Hamilton Papers)
Your Excellency’s letter of the 30th. of October reached us yesterday. We hope before this you will have received our two letters of the 26th of October and 1st instant. We have received no late advices from the Southward, which confirms us in the ideas of our last. Major Lee will no doubt have communicated to Your Excellency what he mentions to us, that the enemy are preparing at New York for...
21From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [14 January 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
On our present plan, It appears to me the quantity of ammunition proposed by General Knox for the Artillery is insufficient. A larger consumption may be necessary. The Stone house, in which the enemy may attempt to defend themselves may be obstinate and we should have it in our power by the severity and duration of our fire to bring them to reason. I take the liberty to suggest these matters,...
22From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 17 March 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 14th. and shall not fail in conjunction with General St Clair to attend to the military object of it. I am much obliged to your Excellency for the communication of your Southern advices. The enemy are still in the dark about their fleet and army gone that way as we gather from the Commissioners. They pretend to have little European news, though a vessel...
23Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to George Washington … (Hamilton Papers)
To His Excellency George Washington Esqr. General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of The United States of America. We The Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency “to treat, confer, determine and conclude upon a General Cartel for the exchange and accommodation of prisoners of war including the troops of The Convention of Saratoga and all matters whatsoever which might be properly...
24Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 26 … (Hamilton Papers)
In addition to the official report of our proceedings at Amboy, which your Excellency will perceive have terminated in the manner you expected, we have the honor to give you an account of the steps we took, in consequence of the second part of your instructions, relative to a private conversation. But before we enter upon this, we think it our duty to inform you, that we have every reason to...
25Enclosure: Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to George … (Hamilton Papers)
3 Brigadiers at 200 600 11 Colonels 100 1100 5 Majors 28 140 20 Captains 16 320 56 first Lieutenants 6 336 72 second Lieutenants and Ensigns— 4 288 2784 9 Reg Qr. Mrs. & Adjutants,
26Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to George Washington … (Hamilton Papers)
We beg leave to inform Your Excellency, that in the private report of our proceedings at Amboy dated the 26th. March, we omitted mentioning, (though it is to be inferred) that in the conversation which passed on the subject of accounts, it was explicitly declared by us, that if any particular sum should be accepted agreeable to the ideas of The British Gentlemen, it was not in any manner to be...
27From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 2 May 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
I am extremely sorry your Excellency has been troubled with the affair to which the papers transmitted in your letter of this morning relate. Admitting the possibility of Doctor Gordons not being the author of what I must always call a calumny, and had he not been an irreconcileable enemy to plain dealing, the matter might have been brought to a very easy issue, without the necessity of an...
28From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [8 June 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
I have seen the enemy; those in view I calculate at about three thousand; there may be and probably enough are others out of sight. They have sent all their horse to the other side except about fifty or sixty. Their baggage it is agreed on all hands has also been sent across and their wounded. It is not ascertained that any of their infantry have passed to the other side. There are four or...
29From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [25 September 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
You will see by the inclosed we are too late. Arnold went by water to the Vulture. I shall write to General Greene advising him without making a bustle to be in readiness to march and even to detach a Brigade this way, for though I do not believe the project will go on, it is possible Arnold has made such dispositions with the Garrison as may tempt the enemy in its present weakness to make the...
30From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [22 November 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
Sometime last fall when I spoke to your Excellency about going to the Southward, I explained to you candidly my feelings with respect to military reputation, and how much it was my object to act a conspicuous part in some enterprise that might perhaps raise my character as a soldier above mediocrity. You were so good as to say you would be glad to furnish me with an occasion. When the...
31From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [19 December 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Renselaar who has the direction of the Armory here tells me that the Board of War, write him they are unable to support it any longer, on the present establishment for want of supplies and propose to him to endeavour to have it carried on by contract. This he declares is impossible. The armory must either continue on the present footing or cease. As far as I understand the matter, there is...
32From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [9 April 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
I had the inclosed letters for you in my Portmanteau without knowing it, as they were given me among several others just as I was coming away. I send them by express. I find here nothing new more than you were acquainted with. No second action in the South. Genl. Greene thinks his little defeat will be of service to his affairs. I have the honor to be With Sincere esteem Yr Excellys. ...
33From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [27 April 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
I imagine your Excellency has been informed that in consequence of the resolution of Congress for granting commissions to Aide De Camps appointed under the former establishment, I have obtained one of Lieutenant Colonel in the army of the United States, bearing rank since the 1st of March 1777. It is become necessary to me to apply to your Excellency to know in what manner you foresee you will...
34From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [2 May 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
I am extremely sorry to have embarrassed you by my late application, and that you should think there are insuperable obstacles to a compliance with it. Having renounced my expectations, I have no other inducement for troubling Your Excellency with a second letter, than to obviate the appearance of having desired a thing inconsistent with the good of the service, while I was acquainted with the...
35From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 7 August 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
The other day I applied to Col. Tilghman for an order for Shoes for the Two Companies of levies. He thought on a general principle it could not be granted; but as from the best of my own recollection confirmed by inquiry of others, I have reason to believe a distinction was made last campaign in favour of the advanced corps; in the case of Cortland’s regiment, I am induced to submit the matter...
36From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [1 March 1782] (Hamilton Papers)
I need not observe to yr Excellency that, Respect for the opinion of Congress will not permit me to be indifferent to the impressions they may receive of my conduct. On this principle, though I do not think the subject of the inclosed letter of sufficient importance to request an official communication of it, yet I should be happy it might in some way be known to the members of that honorable...
37From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [1 March 1782] (Hamilton Papers)
Your Excellency will, I am persuaded, readily admit the force of this sentiment, that though it is the duty of a good citizen to devote his services to the public, when it has occasion for them, he cannot with propriety, or delicacy to himself, obtrude them, when it either has, or appears to have none. The difficuties I experienced last campaign in obtaining a command will not suffer me to...
38From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [13 February 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
Flattering myself that your knowlege of me will induce you to receive the observations I mak⟨e⟩ as dictated by a regard to the public good, I take the liber⟨ty⟩ to suggest to you my ideas on some matters of delicacy and importance. I view the present juncture as a very interesting one. I need not observe how far the temper and situation of the army make it so. The stat⟨e⟩ of our finances was...
39From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [5 March 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor of writing to your Excellency lately on a very confidential subjec⟨t⟩ and shall be anxious to know as soon as c⟨on⟩venient whether the letter got safe to han⟨d⟩. The bearer Shattuck thinks he can poin⟨t⟩ out the means of apprehending Wells & Knowle⟨ton⟩ the two persons whom Your Excellency was authorised to have taken into custody. I hav⟨e⟩ desired him to call upon you to...
40From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 17 March 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
I am duely honored with Your Excellency’s letter of the 4th. and, 12th. instant. It is much to be regretted though not to be wondered at, that steps of so inflammatory a tendency have been taken in the army. Your Excellency has in my opinion acted wisely. The best way is ever not to attempt to stem a torrent but to divert it. I am happy to find You coincide in opinion with me on the conduct...
41From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [24 March 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
Your Excellency will before this reaches you have received a letter from the Marquis De la Fayette informing you that the preliminaries of peace between all the belligerent powers have been concluded. I congratulate your Excellency on this happy conclusion of your labours. It now only remains to make solid establishments within to perpetuate our union to prevent our being a ball in the hands...
42From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 25 March 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
The inclosed I write more in a public than in a private capacity. Here I write as a citizen zealous for the true happiness of this country, as a soldier who feels what is due to an army which has suffered everything and done much for the safety of America. I sincerly wish ingratitude was not so natural to the human heart as it is. I sincerely wish there were no seeds of it in those who direct...
43From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [25 March 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote to Your Excellency a day or two ago by express. Since that a Committee appointed on the communications from you have had a meeting, and find themselves embarrassed. They have requested me to communicate our embarrassments to you in confidence and to ask your private opinion. The army by their resolutions express an expectation that Congress will not disband them previous to a...
44From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [8 April 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s letters of the 31st of March & 4th. of April, the last to day. The one to Col Bland as member of the Committee has been read in Committee confidentially and gave great satisfaction. The idea of not attempting to separate the army before the settlement of accounts corresponds with my proposition. That of endeavouring to let them have some pay had also appeared...
45From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 9 April 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Congress having appointed a committee consisting of Messrs. Maddison Osgood, Wilson, Elseworth and myself to consider what arrangements it will be proper to adopt in the different departments with reference to a peace; I am directed by the Committee to address your Excellency on the subject of the military department. The Committee wish Your Excellency’s sentiments at large on such...
46From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [15 April 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
There are two resolutions passed relative to the restoration of the British Prisoners and to making arrangements for the surrender of the posts in the possession of the British troops, the first of which is to be transacted by you in conjunction with the secretary of War—the latter by yourself alone. I will explain to you some doubts which have arisen in Congress with regard to the true...
47From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [30 September 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
I think I may address the subject of this letter to Your Excellency with more propriety than to any other person, as it is purely of a military nature, as you are best acquainted with my services as an officer, and as you are now engaged in assisting to form the arrangements for the future peace establishment. Your Excellency knows that in March 82, I relinquished all claim to any future...
48From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [30 September 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
As I flatter myself I may indulge a consciousness that my services have been of some value to the public, at least enough to merit the small compensation I wish, I will make no apology to your Excellency for conveying through you that wish to Congress. You are able to inform them if they wish information, in what degree I may have been useful, and I have intire confidence that you will do me...
49From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [10 March 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
I am requested by Mr. Oudinarde to transmit you the Inclosed Account. I observed to him that it was a little extraordinary the account had not been presented before; and that it was probable your accounts with the public had been long since closed, and that, by the delay, you may have lost the opportunity of making it a public charge, as it ought to have been. But as the person was very...
50From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [25 November 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
Major Fairly is just setting out on a visit to You I believe on some business relating to the Cinninnati. The society of this state met some short time since and took into consideration the proposed alterations in the original frame of the Institution. Some were strenuous for adhering to the old constitution a few for adopting the new and many for a middle line. This disagreement of opinion...