John Jay Papers

Hamilton Takes Command: Editorial Note

Hamilton Takes Command

As calls for military action against France grew louder during the summer of 1798, Jay tapped Alexander Hamilton to take charge of the various efforts then underway to put the City of New York on a wartime footing. Although Hamilton’s formal duties were those of chief superintendent of fortifications, he in fact served in a much broader capacity than this title suggests. Throughout the Quasi-War, the governor frequently sought his counsel on military matters ranging from militia appointments and reorganization to supply and provisioning.1

Jay and Hamilton had worked well together over the past two decades, from promoting the Whig cause in provincial New York to their grand collaboration on the Federalist essays.2 Jay had long held Hamilton’s partisan credentials, political astuteness, and legal acumen in high regard and now sought to harness these talents and ambitions for his own administration. In April 1798, Jay offered Hamilton, then a practicing attorney and private citizen, the senatorial seat recently vacated by John Sloss Hobart.3 Hamilton appreciated “the mark of confidence” but respectfully declined the appointment as he did yet not “wish to sacrifice the interest of my family to public call.”4

Within a few months, however, Hamilton reversed course and became a state appointee when he accepted the governor’s invitation in late August to direct the maritime defenses of New York City.5 Hamilton’s preoccupation with the nation’s military affairs explains his willingness to serve as Jay’s subordinate. Moreover, his membership on the city’s Military Committee already attuned him to the financial and logistical difficulties of fortifying the port. His work with this civic body thereby served as a stepping stone to his current post and enabled him to act as a more effective liaison between local leaders and the governor’s office.6

Hamilton’s military credentials and experience were further bolstered by his recent appointment as Inspector General of the United States Army. Fearing the outbreak of Franco-American hostilities, the federal government supplemented its meager forces in the Regular Army with the creation of an Additional Army in July 1798.7 As part of the Army’s reorganization, President Adams reluctantly selected Hamilton over other senior officers to take command of the troops stationed throughout the northern states and western territories, making him the dominant figure under Washington within the nation’s military establishment.8 Along with Pickering and other prominent Federalists, Jay supported Hamilton’s meteoric rise, remarking that “his former military station and character, taken in connection with his late important place in the administration” made him an ideal candidate.9 Pickering, who actively campaigned on Hamilton’s behalf, noted in a letter to Washington that both he and Jay approved of an “elevated station” for Hamilton.10 When Hamilton’s posting was publicly announced, Jay was quick to congratulate him on the appointment and on attaining the rank of major general.11 It was certainly not lost on the governor that Hamilton’s promotion placed him in a unique position to support New York’s military endeavors.

Although he agreed to oversee the city’s defenses, Hamilton did express initial reservations about agreeing to Jay’s request. His father-in-law, Philip Schuyler, warned him that holding two active appointments might prove too burdensome, as the new posting was sure to interfere with his existing duties. It was the fear of being accused of monetary malfeasance, however, that ultimately gave him pause. Hamilton had authored a pamphlet the previous year pertaining to his role in the Reynolds scandal of 1792 in which he admitted his sexual impropriety, but defended himself against charges of financial chicanery.12 With this episode weighing heavily on his mind, he had no wish to embroil himself in another controversy involving the misuse of public funds. Sensing Hamilton’s vulnerable position, Schuyler assured him that Jay did not intend “that you should be embarrassed with Accounts, [and] that proper persons would be appointed for that purpose.”13 Hamilton wanted to confirm Schuyler’s guarantee so he raised the issue directly with the governor, noting “I am sincere in saying that a charge of this kind would on various accounts be unpleasant to me among the rest as likely to involve ill natured & foolish criticism. But I shall not decline the trust if you think proper to repose it provided the manutension of the money is no part of it”.14 Hamilton’s anxieties of being charged with any wrongdoing, however, proved short-lived. Soon after he started as superintendent of fortifications, Hamilton was assisting Jay with the disbursement of funds. Hamilton felt secure carrying out these duties as he knew that the governor had hired an individual who would audit and keep the accounts related to defense expenditures.15

The burden of directing New York City’s defenses eventually proved too overwhelming for Hamilton. In February 1799, he announced that following the completion of a comprehensive survey of the harbor, he would step down as superintendent and would not oversee the subsequent implementation of the fortification plans. Hamilton explained that he lacked the “energy & dispatch” to carry out these tasks and that they interfered with his other duties.16 He recommended Aaron Burr as his successor, but Jay chose not to accept this advice and chose another person to fulfill the role of superintendent.

1. For AH’s involvement with the New York militia, see the editorial note “Militia Matters in New York State,” above.

2. JJ and AH’s relationship during the American Revolution is discussed in AH to JJ, 26 Nov. 1775, JJSP description begins Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds., The Selected Papers of John Jay (6 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2010–) description ends , 1: 157–59; PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 1: 176–78; AH to JJ, 2 June 1777, JJSP description begins Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds., The Selected Papers of John Jay (6 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2010–) description ends , 1: 428–30; PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 1: 261–64; AH to JJ, 14 Mar. [1779], JJSP description begins Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds., The Selected Papers of John Jay (6 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2010–) description ends , 1: 607–10; PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 2: 14–19; JJ to AH, 18 Sept. 1779, JJSP description begins Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds., The Selected Papers of John Jay (6 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2010–) description ends , 1: 680–82; PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 2: 182–83. For their literary efforts to ratify the Constitution of 1787, see the editorial note The Federalist, JJSP, 4: 572–85.

3. JJ to AH, 19 Apr. 1798, ALS, DLC: Hamilton (EJ: 10775); LbkC, N: Governor’s Lbk. 1 (EJ: 03139); PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 21: 433; JJ to AH, 19 Apr. 1798, ALS, DLC: Hamilton (EJ: 10776); LbkC, N: Governor’s Lbk. 1 (EJ: 03140); PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 21: 434.

4. AH to JJ, 24, Apr. 1798, DftS, DLC: Hamilton (EJ: 10778); PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 21: 447.

5. JJ to AH, 30 Aug. 1798, ALS, DLC: Hamilton (EJ: 10782); WJ description begins William Jay, ed., The Life of John Jay: With Selections from His Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers (2 vols.; New York, 1833) description ends , 2: 285–86; HPJ description begins Henry P. Johnston, ed., The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay (4 vols.; New York, 1890–93) description ends , 4: 249–50; PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 22: 169.

6. For AH’s involvement with the Military Committee, see the editorial note “Defending New York,” above.

7. For the reorganization of the U.S. Army during the Quasi-War, see PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 22: 383–87.

8. For AH’s appointment as Inspector General, see PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 22: 4–17. For AH’s subsequent service during the Quasi-War, see Richard H. Kohn, Eagle and Sword: The Federalists and the Creation of the Military Establishment in America, 1783–1802 (New York and London, 1975), 243–55.

9. JJ to TP, 18 July, 1798, below. For more on the correspondence between JJ and TP discussing AH’s ascendancy, see TP to JJ, 20 July, below; JJ to TP, 26 July, below; TP to JJ, 28 July 1798, ALS, NNC (EJ: 12545).

10. TP to GW, 1 Sept. 1798, PGW: RS description begins W. W. Abbot et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series (4 vols.; Charlottesville, Va., 1998–99) description ends , 2: 573. TP had sent a letter in favor of AH earlier that summer. TP to GW, 6 July 1798, PGW: RS description begins W. W. Abbot et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series (4 vols.; Charlottesville, Va., 1998–99) description ends , 2: 386–87.

11. JJ to AH, 28 July 1798, ALS, DLC: Hamilton (EJ: 10780); PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 22: 33–34.

12. Observations on Certain Documents contained in No. V and VI of “The History of the United States for the Year 1796,” in which the Charge of Speculation against Alexander Hamilton, late Secretary of the Treasury, is fully refuted. Written by Himself (Philadelphia, 1797; Early Am. Imprints description begins Early American Imprints, series 1: Evans, 1639–1800 [microform; digital collection], edited by American Antiquarian Society, published by Readex, a division of News-bank, Inc. Accessed: Columbia University, New York, N.Y., 2006–19, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/ Early American Imprints, series 2: Shaw-Shoemaker, 1801–1819 [microform; digital collection], edited by American Antiquarian Society, published by Readex, a division of Newsbank, Inc. Accessed: Columbia University, New York, N.Y., 2006–19, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/ description ends , series 1, no. 32222). For more on the pamphlet and the Reynolds Affair, see PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends : 21: 121–44.

13. Schuyler to AH, 17 Aug. 1798, PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 22: 79–80.

14. AH to JJ, 8 Sept. 1798, ALS, NNC (EJ: 05630); PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 22: 176–77.

15. JJ to JA, 26 Sept. 1798, LbkC, N: Governor’s Lbk. 1 (EJ: 03168); HPJ description begins Henry P. Johnston, ed., The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay (4 vols.; New York, 1890–93) description ends , 4: 250–51. JJ forwarded this letter to AH, 26 Sept. 1798, LbkC, N: Governor’s Lbk. 1 (EJ: 03169); to JJ, 17 Oct. 1798, ALS, NNC (EJ: 05437); C in JJ to AH, 24 Oct. 1798, ALS, DLC: Hamilton (EJ: 10783); JA to AH, 17 Oct. 1798, ALS, DLC: Hamilton; PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 22: 200–201; JJ to AH, 24 Oct. 1798, ALS, DLC: Hamilton (EJ: 10783); LbkC, N: Governor’s Lbk. 1 (EJ: 03176).

16. AH to JJ, 12 Feb. 1799, ALS, NjP: C.P. Greenough Fuller; C (incomplete), NNC; PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 22: 476–77. AH was still carrying out his duties as superintendent in the summer of 1799. See AH to JJ, 29 July 1799, ALS, NNC (EJ: 05633); C, DLC: Hamilton (EJ: 10791); PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 23: 291–92. See also AH to JJ, 12 Feb. 1799, ALS, NNC; PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 22: 476.

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    “Hamilton Takes Command: Editorial Note,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-06-02-0332. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 6, 1794–1798, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2020, pp. 662–665.]