James Madison Papers
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To James Madison from William Chilton, 2 February 1816

From William Chilton

Cincina. Feby: 2nd. 1816.

Sir

In a late paper I saw that there had been a Bill reported for incorporating an invalid Force; and that the present peace establishment force would not be Augmented with an addition of Regiments. Then of course there will be no more officers to appoint in that Corps. Respect, Sir induces me to solicit an appointment in the Us service, Having spent some time in it during the late war, and being one among the number of officers disbanded in the late consolidation. I presume it unnecessary to make any long preamble or to Recommend my abilites to you in any manner whatever as there has already sufficient Recommendation to you or to the members in Congress while sitting in the Spring of 1814.

I shall therefore conclude with telling you that although I have not spent as much time quite in your service as some of the officers that was disbanded, and more than some that has been Retained I can’t see why my claim is not as great at least as some that has been Retained. And shall conclude myself, to be your Devoted Subject,

William Chilton 1

RC (DNA: RG 107, LRUS, C-1816). Postmarked Cincinnati, 5 Feb. 1816.

1. William Chilton of Tennessee was discharged as a third lieutenant from the Second Rifle Regiment in June 1815 (Heitman, Historical Register, description begins Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, from Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903 (2 vols.; 1903; reprint, Baltimore, 1994). description ends 1:299). As there was no bill reported for an invalid force, Chilton may have been confusing it with two bills, one for invalid pensioners and one for an increase in invalid pensions, passed on 24 and 30 Apr. 1816, respectively (U.S. Statutes at Large, description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America … (17 vols.; Boston, 1848–73). description ends 3:296–97; Annals of Congress, description begins Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). description ends 14th Cong., 1st sess., 1903–8).

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    Madison Papers
    Title
    To James Madison from William Chilton, 2 February 1816
    Author
    Chilton, William
    Recipient
    Madison, James
    Date
    2 February 1816

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To James Madison from William Chilton, 2 February 1816,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-10-02-0209. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Presidential Series, vol. 10, 13 October 1815–30 April 1816, ed. Angela Kreider, J. C. A. Stagg, Mary Parke Johnson, Katharine E. Harbury, and Anne Mandeville Colony. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2019, p. 204.]