To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 13 February 1802
From Horatio Gates
New York 13th: Feb: 1802
Dear Sir
I take the Liberty this way to introduce to your Notice General Ebenezer Stevens, my Friend, and Companion, in the War; He Commanded my Artillery at Ticonderoga in 76, & again at Saratoga in 77, and assisted in the Capture of Lord Cornwallis Army at York. His many Emminent Services, will I am [sure] merit your Notice. Throughout the war, & [for] Years after The Peace, he was a most decided Whigg; Dr: Eustace of Massachusetts, now in Congress, served with General Stevens in the war; & is intimate with Him; and if The Generals political principles, received any Shock from the insiduous Acts of the Torys here; I trust his old Friends Ustace, and Myself, will yet set him right; it is not every good Sailor that can Calculate the Longitude, but an Honest man, like a good Seaman, is steady to his trust; so I believe my Friend will always be;—
I wrote yesterday to Mr: Maddison, he will shew you my Letter; I expect D’Wit Clinton will be sent immediately to The Senate, in the room of General Armstrong; whose extream bad Health, obliged him to Sacrafice his seat to his Republican principles; This truly Patriotic Conduct, will I am confident have its weight with you;—Persevere & your Adminis[tration] will exalt the U States to be the best of all possible Governments.—You have The people on your Side; go on, & prosper; That you may continue to enjoy the applause of a Gratefull People is the sincere wish of your Faithfull Friend; & Obedient Servant.
Horatio Gates.
P.S. Mrs: G. presents to You her Compts:, & requests when you Journey to the North, you will remember Rose Hill is ready to receive You—
RC (DLC); torn; endorsed by TJ as received 23 Feb. and so recorded in SJL.
For criticism of the political principles of Ebenezer Stevens, who was serving as U.S. agent for erecting fortifications at New York, see Marinus Willett to TJ, 7 Sep. 1801.
I wrote yesterday: in a letter to Madison of 11 Feb., Gates noted that Armstrong had resigned because he was “afflicted with an inveterate Rheumatism, that has Tormented him all the Winter” (Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser., 2:457).