To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 21 July 1794
From Tench Coxe1
Treasury Department, Revenue Office, July 21, 1794. “I beg the favor of being informed what measures have been taken for the supply of the Recruits & troops at places other than those which are comprehended in the general Contract for the main Army and the western posts. An enquiry from the War Office has been produced by the sailing of the detachment for Charleston. Three months supply will go from hence and I have written to Mr. Stevens2 to asscertain whether orders have been given, and if not, to attend to the business untill he shall hear again. It would be very useful to have a statement (detailing times, places, quantities &ca) of rations, Clothing, quarter masters & hospital stores, for the past, and for the current year.… The Secretary at war urging the completion of the deliveries of the Clothing contemplated by your Contract with Messrs. Giberts, I have, in your absence,3 pressed them upon the subject.”4
LC, RG 75, Letters of Tench Coxe, Commissioner of the Revenue, Relating to the Procurement of Military, Naval, and Indian Supplies, National Archives.
1. For background to this letter, see H to Coxe, April 4, 1794.
2. Daniel Stevens, supervisor of the revenue for the District of South Carolina.
4. On November 30, 1793, George and Jacob Gilbert of Philadelphia had contracted with H to supply the Army with clothing for the year 1794 (D, RG 217, Miscellaneous Treasury Accounts, 1790–1894, Account No. 6568, National Archives). On July 18, 1794, Coxe wrote to the Gilberts: “It appears by a return from the Secy. at War that a considerable deficiency of Clothing yet remains. Tho’ your Contract is of a time prior to my Connection with the purchase and Contracts for the War Department, yet the absence of the Secy of the Treasury obliges me to call upon you on this subject. I request the favor of seeing you at the Office as soon as possible. The Secy at War presses for the immediate forwarding of the remaining Clothing” (LC, RG 75, Letters of Tench Coxe, Commissioner of the Revenue, Relating to the Procurement of Military, Naval, and Indian Supplies, National Archives).