To Alexander Hamilton from Nathan Rice, 24 April 1800
From Nathan Rice
Oxford [Massachusetts] April 24 1800
Sir
Colonel Peck1 the Martial at Providence hath applyed to me for a guard to take charge of some French Prisoners there. I have also received an application from Major Jackson of the 2d Regiment of Arts. & Engineers at Fort Wolcott to relieve a detachment of his men doing that duty,2 intimating, as he had other duty for them, a doubt of the propriety of their doing such duty.3 As by a late general order4 all the officers & men of the twelve new regiments were directed to join their respective corps, and not having received any instructions to detach any men from this post, I doubted my autherity to comply with the request.
With the utmost consideration I am Sir your Obt Servt
N: Rice L Colo.
command 14 Reg.
General Hamilton
LS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. William Peck was marshal for the District of Rhode Island.
3. Fort Wolcott was located on Goat Island, Newport, Rhode Island. For the French prisoners at Newport, see Quasi-War, Naval Documents, April, 1799–July, 1799, 134; January, 1800–May, 1800, 230.