35341To Alexander Hamilton from Abraham Ellery, 14 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] May 14, 1799 . “… Adjutant General North, in a letter, of the 30th. ult., did me the honor to offer me, the appointment of Assistant Adjutant Genl. and requests me to communicate to you, my answer, in case of acceptance. From a total inexperience of its duties, I felt a hesitation in making my determination, resulting from doubts of my adequacy to the employment, & it...
35342Circular to the Artillery Field Officers, 15 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you for your information the arrangement which has been adopted for the organisation and disposition of the Regt. of Artillerists. You will perceive that the batalion which you are to command is to be stationed in You will do well to apprise without delay the officers who are to compose this batalion of the arrangement—so that such of them who may not at present be with their companies...
35343General Orders, 16 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 16, 1799. States: “The following disposition of the two Regiments of Artillerists and Engineers has been adopted. Of the first Regiment, one battalion commanded by Major Rivardi is assigned to the Western Army, another Battalion commanded by Major Freeman is to garrison the posts in Georgia and South Carolina, another Battalion commanded by Major Ford is to garrison the posts in...
35344To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 18 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 18, 1799. “The enclosed papers are, No 1 a copy of a letter from Major D. Bradley, No 2 a copy of a letter from Colo Hamtramck, No 3 a copy of a letter from Colo Strong No 4 the Speech of Kesas, Nanqui, Okia, Abeeway & Machibas Kisegan, lately returned from Philada., and Cotowaso, pesoto, and peswas chiefs of the Chippiewa, Ottawa, and Potowatomie nations, No 5 My answer to...
35345From 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...
35346From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 18 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I stand extremely in need of a capable prudent and trust worthy man to aid me in capacity of Secretary. He must possess a clear comprehension and a perspicuous correct and neat Style. I wish the emoluments which the law allows me to offer were a more adequate inducement to such a character. They are only the pay and emoluments of a Captain in the Army—in other words forty dollars per month and...
35347From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Hunewell and Nathan Rice, 21 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The following are the different contractors of the State of Massachusetts Joseph Ruggles Nathl: Ruggles Ralph Smith Aaron & Charles Davis all of Roxbury. You will please as soon as be to make arrangements with them for the supply of the troops at the several Recruiting Rendezvouses. with true consideration Copy, in the handwriting of Philip Church, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
35348To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 21 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 21, 1799. “The house of Panton and Leslie, of Pensacola, had several trading establishments, for supplying the Indians with goods, within that part of the territory of the United States, lately evacuated by Spain, agreeably to Treaty. As these Gentlemen established, and carried on their trade with the Indians, under the protection of Spain, they expect their agents, will be...
35349From 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...
35350Circular to the Commandants of Regiments, 22 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 22, 1799. “It has happened in one instance which has come to my knowledge that the hats sent on for the Recruits have been destitute of Cockades and Loops. In a similar case I authorise you to procure the deficiencies to be supplied and I will take care that the expence be defrayed. Where there is an Agent of the war Department, you will first apply to him to have what is...
35351From Alexander Hamilton to David Strong, 22 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of War has sent me your letter of the 22d. of March with the copy of a speech lately delivered by certain Indians. The pretension which they urge and the manner of urging it are alike to be discountenanced. It will be well to keep a watchful eye upon the affair and to endeavour to discover their instigators, who if discovered must be reported to Governor St Clair that he may...
35352Circular to the Commandants of Regiments, 23 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It is important to the service in every way that vacancies which happen in the several Regiments should be as speedily as possible filled. As no persons can be more interested in this being done, and with a careful selection of character, than the Commandants of Regiments, it is desireable that they should from time to time propose to the General, under whose command they may be, candidates...
35353From Alexander Hamilton to John F. Hamtramck, 23 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I send an extract of a letter from the Secy of War of the 21st instant on the subject of the house of Panton and Leslie; and I desire that you will as far as shall depend on the military give effect to his views. He will no doubt have made a similar communication to the Superintendants of Indian Affairs for their government. I know of no particular orders which the nature of the subject...
35354To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 23 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I received yesterday your two letters of the 18. and 21. instant. You will see by the enclosed schedule No. 1. the quantity of Clothing Arms accoutrements &c. which has been ordered for the several regiments. Money for the recruiting service and pay and forage for the Officers has been forwarded as is mentioned in Schedule No. 2. It is to be understood that the whole Clothing for no one...
35355To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 23 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The President thinks it highly expedient, that no time should be lost in selecting proper characters to officer the twenty four regiments of Infantry, the regiment and Battalion of Riflemen, the Battalion of Artillerists and Engineers and the three regiments of cavalry which may be raised in pursuance of the act giving eventual authority to the President of the United States to augment the...
35356From 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...
35357To Alexander Hamilton from Nathan Rice, 23 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In your favour of the 4th you have expressed your assent, that a change in the association of the Officers, might be made for good reasons. On a more mature consideration of the Division of my circle into subdistricts, from the information I have obtained, I am led to fix on Brookfield as the rendevous of a subdistrict; I am confident it will be more beneficial for the recruiting service, the...
35358From Alexander Hamilton to James Wilkinson, 23 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I begin now to be anxious to learn that you had received my letter desiring you to repair to the seat of Government, in conformity with an intimation from the Secretary of War, to the end that with the aid of your lights and experience, a general plan for the arrangement of the affairs of the Western army, with an eye to the existing posture of our political Concerns, might be digested and...
35359To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 24 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Letters similar to the enclosed have been transmitted to the Senators of each State from New Hampshire to Maryland, and to Generals Washington Pinckney and Davie for the States of Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia. Messrs Watson and Lawrence find it difficult, if not impracticable to co-operate in the object of this letter from the distance of their places of residence from each...
35360From 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...
35361To Alexander Hamilton from Nathan Rice, 24 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
By your favour of the 9th you have given me a latitude to exercise my judgment, in entering on the recruiting service or not, previous to the arrival of the cloathing, as I shall judge expedient. I have this day issued my orders for the officers to enter on that service, & I hope it will not be long before the cloathing arrives; I think a district deposit & issue thereof the best mode & the...
35362From Alexander Hamilton to Ebenezer Stevens, 24 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I understand from the Secretary of War, that in the capacity of Agent for the War Department I am to look to you for the Duties usually performed by the Quarter Master General, Clothier General and Commissary of Military Stores. I shall look to you accordingly for these services, and therefore shall direct all returns relating to the proper objects to be made to you, in the Expectation that...
35363To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 24 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Natchez [ Mississippi Territory ] May 24, 1799 . “Immediately after I received your Letter of the 12th: Feby: I dispatched an Express over land to Mobile, to gain intelligence of the Detachment, which had marched to take post on that River.… The Night before the last, I had the satisfaction to receive assurances from the Commanding officer, that He had reached the point of his destination …...
35364To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 24 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed I have the honor to transmit to you, the copy of a Letter from the Surveyor General of the United States in Answer to my enquiries respecting the time when and the place where the troops required to assist in marking the Indian boundary line would be wanted. The opinion of the Surveyor General in relation to this business, confirms the expediency of directing the Commanding Officer in...
35365From Alexander Hamilton to John F. Hamtramck, 25 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 25, 1799. “The Secretary of War has transmitted me a copy of your letter of 1st April. Mine of the 24th indicates the train in which it is desired that Indian Affairs may proceed. But I shall be glad to be regularly advised of every interesting matter respecting their movements & views.…” Copy, in the handwriting of Philip Church, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. James...
35366To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 25, 1799. “I enclose you the Proceedings of two Garrison Courts Martial.… The rules and Articles of War, do not it is supposed, require, a reference to the Secretary of War, or to the President in any instance, of the proceedings of a Garrison Court Martial, for approval or otherwise. It is only the Sentence of a General Court Martial, when capital, that is to be with the...
35367To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
War Department, May 25, 1799. “… I transmitted last Tuesday by a Mr: Jones (lately appointed Consul at Orleans) a Duplicate of your letter to General Wilkinson.… For the present I should not incline to give the Indians any encouragement on the subject of their illegal Sales, or respecting the possibility of a treaty to repurchase &c. Let us see a little more of the development of the plot of...
35368From 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...
35369General Orders, 26 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, May 26, 1799. Hamilton’s general orders, March 13, 1800, refer to “the general order of May 26th. 1799.” General orders not found. ]
35370From Alexander Hamilton to William MacPherson, 26 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secy of War has instructed me to digest & propose a plan for the organization and arrangement of the volunteer corps throughout the United States. As this subject has particularly occupied your attention, I shall be glad to be assisted with your ideas at large concerning it. You will be sensible that it is necessary to order that every part of our military system should as nearly as may be...