George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, 27 April 1781
To Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton
New Windsor 27th Apl 178⟨1⟩
Dear Sir,
Your letter of this date has not a little embarrassed me—You must remember the ferment in the Pensylvania line the last Campaign occasioned by the appointment of Major McPhearson;1 and you know the uneasiness which at this moment exists among the Eastern Officers on Acct of the commands conferred upon Colo. Jemat and Major Galvan2 although it was the result of absolute necessity.3
Should circumstances admit of the formation of another advanced Corps of which I see very little prospect from present appearances4 it can be but small and must be composed almost entirely of Eastern Troops, and to add to the discontents of the Officers of those lines by the further appointment of an Officer of your Rank to the command of it, or5 in it, would, I am certain, involve me in a difficulty of a very disagreeable & delicate6 nature; and might perhaps lead to consequences more serious than it is easy to imagine—While I adhere firmly to the right of making such appointments as you request I am at the same time obliged to reflect that it will not do to push that right too far, more especially in a Service like ours—and at a time so critical as the present.
I am convinced7 that no Officer can with justice dispute your merit and abilities—The opposition heretofore made has not been for the want of those qualifications in the Gentlem[e]n who are & have been the objects of discontent—The Officers of the line contend, without having reference to particular persons, that it is a hardship and reflection upon them to introduce Brevet Officers into commands (of some permanency)8 in which there are more opportunities of distinguishing themselves than in the line of the Army at large, & with the men they have had the trouble to discipline and to prepare for the field.9
My principal concern arises from an apprehension that you will impute my refusal of your request to other motives than those I have expressed, but I beg you to be assured I am only influenced by the reasons which I have mentioned.10 I am—Dr Sir Yr Obedt Hble Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, DLC: Hamilton Papers; DfS, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW wrote the dateline, salutation, and closing on the draft, which otherwise is in the writing of his aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman, except for GW’s emendations (see notes 3–6 and 8–9 below).
1. GW refers to Maj. William Macpherson’s appointment in the Light Infantry (see Majors of the Pennsylvania Line to GW, 2 Aug. 1780; Anthony Wayne and William Irvine to GW, 10 Aug.; and Pennsylvania Field Officers to GW, 20 Aug.; see also General Orders, 1 Aug.).
2. For the controversial appointments given Lieutenant Colonel Gimat and Maj. William Galvan, see GW to William Heath, 17 Feb. 1781, and Heath to GW, 2 March; see also GW to Heath, 21 March, and his first letter to Lafayette, 22 April.
3. GW wrote the preceding eight words in the left margin on the draft and marked them for insertion here. He initially wrote “at the time” following “although” but struck out that phrase.
4. GW wrote the preceding ten words in the left margin on the draft and marked them for insertion here.
5. GW wrote the preceding three words above the line on the draft.
6. GW wrote the preceding two words above the line on the draft.
7. Tilghman intially wrote “certain” on the draft. He then struck out that word and wrote “convinced” above the line.
8. GW wrote the preceding three words with parentheses above the line on the draft.
9. GW wrote the conclusion of this paragraph on the draft as “and with the men they have had the trouble to discipline & prepare for the field.”
Tilghman then struck out the next paragraph on the draft: “I cannot foresee the operations of the Campaign, but there may be enterprises in which, as the service will be but temporary, you may be employed without creating the uneasinesses which might arise upon a more permanent command—Should such opportunities present themselves, I shall be very willing to give you a share in them.”
10. Hamilton replied to GW on 2 May.