To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 24 February 1800
From James McHenry
War Department, February 24, 1800. “… The selection of Col. Ogden for Deputy Quarter Master General1 is very judicious. He is well qualified in my opinion to discharge the duties, provided he gives himself up entirely to them.… There is a question however which it may not be amiss for you to examine relative to this appointment previous to your making a final communication to Colonel Ogden. A Division Quarter Master may be thought competent under present circumstances, and if it is, the appointment of a Deputy Quarter Master General considered unnecessary.”2
LS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; LS, letterpress copy, James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress.
2. Section 12 of “An Act for the better organizing of the Troops of the United States; and for other purposes” reads: “And be it further enacted, That to any army of the United States, other than that in which the quartermaster-general, who shall be a field officer, and who, in addition to his other emoluments, shall be entitled to fifty dollars per month, which shall be in full compensation for his extra services and travelling expenses, but the provisions of this act are not to affect the present quartermaster-general of the army of the United States, who in case a quartermaster-general shall be appointed by virtue of this act, is to act as deputy quartermaster-general, and shall hereafter have the rank of lieutenant-colonel; and that to every division of an army, there shall be a division quartermaster, who, in addition to his other emoluments, shall be entitled to thirty dollars per month, which shall be in full compensation for his extra services and travelling expenses; and that to every brigade there shall be a brigade quartermaster, who, in addition to his other emoluments, shall be entitled to twenty-four dollars per month which shall be in full compensation for his extra services and travelling expenses; each of which officers shall be chosen by the quartermaster general, from among the regimental officers” ( 752–53 [March 3, 1799]).