1To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 26 December 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, December 26, 1793. On January 5, 1794, Hamilton wrote to Stevens : “Your letter of the 26 of December is received.” Letter not found. ] Stevens had served as a lieutenant colonel in the artillery of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. After the war he moved from Providence to New York City, where he became a successful merchant with extensive interests in foreign...
2To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 1 December 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I will thank You to direct John Lamb Esqr to make me a further advance on account of the United States for fortifying the Harbour of New York. I have vouchers for the whole amount of the appropriation made by Congress and will forward them to the proper office agreeable to Your written instructions to Mr Lamb under date of the 13. of April last. I wish to be informed whether the Chief Engineer...
3To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 8 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to your request, and to ease the minds of some of our Citizens with respect to the Solidity of our Batteries I have this day loaded the guns with a Service charge—that is One third the weight of the Shot, and fired them by angles, by word of Command (similar to Plattoon firing) and have the pleasure to inform you, that they have not started in the least degree. This piece of...
4To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 15 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
The Batteries on this Island being completed it is necessary a guard should be appointed to take charge of the Artillery to prevent their being spiked. I have been with the Military Committee this day to view them and they think the Government of the United States ought to take care of them. But it will not do for the Troops to furnish guards, they will desert, and I am sorry to add that three...
5To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 17 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
The fifty thousand Dollars loaned by the Corporation, for the Batteries, Cannon, Carriages, and Military Stores, are expended: and Mr Furman the Treasurer wishes me to write you on the subject. I suppose that Ten thousand Dollars more, would pay what remains due, and that it would be best for Mr. F to pay the whole, and not be blending the accounts—but this, Sir, you can best judge of, as you...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 23 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 19th instant, inclosing a Letter for our Governor, which after I had spoken to General Clarkson, I forwarded by mail immediately. He thinks, I had best write his Excellency respecting money to pay the Bills off, which I will do, by the mail next monday. Inclosed is the Law passed the last sessions by our State respecting the fortifications, by which you will be...
7To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 29 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I hope you will excuse me for troubling you with my letters which I would not intrude on you, if I were not press’d by the occasion to do it. In my last, I informed you, that the military Committee wanted money, to pay off the Bills contracted for our Batteries &c—and as the people employed are in want of their respective balances I wish you to make some arrangement either for mr Furman or...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 18 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I have seen Mr. Furman, and we calculate that what is unpaid by him, and myself, for account of Gun Carriages, shot, Blacksmiths Work, and Laboratory expences, for the state, will amount to about Fourteen thousand Dollars I wish you to recommend me, to be the Agent for laying out the Money that is appropriated by this State for our defence. I have always had the labouring part, and if any...
9To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 23 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I promised you to commit to writing what I think ought to be done, for the compleating the Defence of this City, and the neighbouring Islands; with some other observations incident thereon—and submit them herein, for your government. First. To compleat Fort Jay & build, another Barrack in that Fort. the ensuing Summer. second. For Government to purchase Ellis’s Island, and this state to cede...
10To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 28 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
On my being appointed by the secretary of War, agent for the War department in this City, he directed me to appoint an Engineer, to act in conjunction with messrs. Hills and Flemming, to view Bedlow, Oyster, and Governor’s Island, and to form plans, Estimates &c &c. I forthwith appointed Mr Mangin to that Office under date of the 18th June last, and they compleated their business by the 10th...