From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 23 October 1794

To George Washington

Bedford [Pennsylvania] October 23. 1794

Sir

Col Mentges1 delivered me your letter from Hartley’s.2 Upon interrogating him, I do not find that there are more than two detachments of Militia on the way—one of New Jersey which by his account is likely to be pretty far advanced of Carlisle—the other of Pensylvania from Allen Town, about fifty or sixty, more in arrear. Mentges is not very perspicuous which may have led you to a different apprehension. I found Governor Howel3 anxious that the Jersey Detachment which is so near at hand should be permitted to come up, so as to make it difficult to urge their return. That from Pensylvania will I hope be arrested. If the Jersey Men should not arrive tomorrow it may be adviseable to halt them at Bedford, till the column gets through the mountains & then if pacific appearances continue send them back.

The advanced corps moved this morning. The main body will move tomorrow.

Nothing new has occurred. With the truest respect & attachment I have the honor to be Sir Your obed servant

A Hamilton

P S No doubt the measures taken ⟨re⟩specting Clarkes4 encroachment on the Indians ⟨–⟩ issue will be noticed ⟨to⟩ Congress.5 Together with other events it will serve to give great credit to the Govert.

The President of the UStates

ADf, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

1. Francis Mentges.

2. Washington to H, October 21, 1794.

3. Richard Howell, governor of New Jersey.

4. Elijah Clark, major general in the Georgia militia. For information on Clark’s expedition, see H to George Mathews, September 25, 1794.

5. On November 20, 1794, Washington forwarded to Congress papers relating to the Whiskey Insurrection, Anthony Wayne’s campaign against the Indians, and the Georgia-Creek frontier (Annals of Congress description begins The Debates and Proceedings of the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and All the Laws of a Public Nature (Washington, 1834–1849). description ends , IV, 793). The letters about Clark’s “encroachment on the Indians” included Constant Freeman to Henry Knox, September 29, October 12, 1794 (ASP description begins American State Papers, Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States (Washington, 1832–1861). description ends , Indian Affairs, I, 500–01), and a letter from James Seagrove to Knox, dated October 30, 1794 (ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress), which Knox transmitted to Washington on November 3, 1794 (LS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress).

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Source Project: Hamilton Papers
Title: From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 23 October 1794
Author: Hamilton, Alexander
Recipient: Washington, George
Date: 23 October 1794

Reference

Cite as: “From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 23 October 1794,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-17-02-0325. [Original source: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, vol. 17, August 1794 – December 1794, ed. Harold C. Syrett. New York: Columbia University Press, 1972, p. 341.]

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