91To Alexander Hamilton from William Willcocks, 12 December 1799[–6 January 1800] (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 12, 1799 [ –January 6, 1800 ]. Has remained in New York to superintend the recruiting service following the departure of Lieutenant Colonel William S. Smith and the Twelfth Regiment for winter quarters in New Jersey. Complains of “absolute want of every article” of clothing for recruits and in postscript dated January 6, 1800, states: “that the men are destitute of Shoes ,...
92To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 15 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
With the most sincere grief do I communicate to you the information of the Death of our beloved General Washington. After a short and severe illness of about twenty hours, he expired last evening, between ten and eleven o’clock. He had taken cold and complained of a sore throat on friday; but considered it only as a slight disorder. On Saturday Morning about 3 o’clock, he became ill. Doctor...
93To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 15 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Soon after writing you from Baltimore on the 21st Ulto. I discovered that Capt Geddes, who commands the vessel in which I sail, had been deceived in his calculation of time necessary to prepare for Sea, and he did not leave Baltimore until the 29th, nor reach this place until the 9th Inst., where the Store Brig had been waiting for us more than two weeks. Capt. Geddes found it necessary to...
94To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 15 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Man who has been so frequently assailed by insidious slanders as myself, cannot be too circumspect or too vigilant. As my visits from Baltimore to the lower Counties of Maryland, & the unexpected detention of the patapsco, may be either misinterpreted or misrepresented, I venture to trespass the following details on your time; for altho I may consign to others contempt, the Envies, the...
95From Alexander Hamilton to Robert W. Hamilton, 17 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, December 17, 1799. On February 26, 1800, Robert W. Hamilton wrote to Hamilton : “I had the pleasure of receiving your letter dated the 17th. Decmr.” Letter not found. ]
96To Alexander Hamilton from George Izard, 17 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
My most earnest wish since I entered the Service of my country has been to be placed in a Situation to acquire such professional Knowledge as may at a future period render me useful to it. With that view nothing can be so desireable as to be near the person of a general Officer of universally acknowledged Eminence. I accept with thanks the honor of being your aid-de-camp and hope to be...
97To Alexander Hamilton from Nathan Rice, 17 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have had the honor of receiving your favour of the 5th instant inclosing the relative rank of my officers, I feel mortifyed in bringing the subject again before you—nor should I, had you not required of me, to make known to you my definitive opinion, of the propriety of Captain Draper’s being arranged third instead of Seventh in the list. Altho you did not, Sir, suggest your motives for...
98From Alexander Hamilton to William S. Smith, 17 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, December 17, 1799. On December 23, 1799, Smith wrote to Hamilton and referred to “your Letter of the 17th.” Letter not found. ]
99To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 18 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ London, December 18, 1799. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from … Mr. King” to H, Columbia University Libraries.
100To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 18 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The inclosed, special directions, from the President of the United States, relative to the funeral honours, to be paid to the memory of their late illustrious and beloved Chief, General George Washington, by the army of the United States, you are requested to be particularly attentive to, so as to insure by your orders the most reverential testimonials, of that profound grief, with which every...
101Enclosure: [Instructions to the Army on Funeral Honors for George Washington], [19 December 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
The President, with deep regret, announces to the Army the death of its beloved Chief, General George Washington. Sharing in the grief, which every heart must feel for so heavy and afflicting a public loss, and desirous to express his high sense of the vast debt of Gratitude, which is due to the Virtues, Talents and ever memorable services of the illustrious deceased, he directs that funeral...
102To Alexander Hamilton from John F. Hamtramck, 19 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 4th Inst. Respecting my observations on the ignorance of Some Officers in the Old Regiments, I meant it Only as a Retrospective View of the many Bad appointments which have been made for some years past, the most of whom we have got Clear of. I have my Self last Indian war, made a Number quit the Service, and last Spring I Compelled a new...
103To Alexander Hamilton from John F. Hamtramck, 19 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Pittsburgh, December 19, 1799. “… I never had any Reports from Loftus’s Heights; it appears to me that the Troops on the Mississippi have considered themselves independent of my Command in the absence of General Wilkinson, for the other day a Gentleman in the Contractors imploy arrived from Loftus’s Heights, and who called on the Commanding Officer of that place, for any Commands he might have...
104From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have heretofore submitted to you a scale for the allowance of servants to the different grades of Officers with some supplementary ideas. I beg leave to add another suggestion in relation to this subject. The detaching from their corps soldiers, as servants to the various Officers of the general Staff, is productive of material inconvenience by withdrawing altogether from military service a...
105General Orders, [21 December 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
Major Gen. Hamilton , has received through the Secretary of War, the following order from the President of the United States. “The President, with deep regret, announces to the army, the death of its beloved Chief, General George Washington. Sharing in the grief, which every heart must feel for so heavy and afflicting a public loss, and desirous to express his high sense of the vast debt of...
106From Alexander Hamilton to William North, 21 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose to you some regulations relative to the funeral honors to be paid to our departed chief. They will govern generally in the celebration, altho’ I have not definitively adopted them. The ceremonies will be performed in this city on Thursday next, and I should wish them to be performed in New York at the same time. If this is practicable you will immediately make the necessary...
107From Alexander Hamilton to William Macpherson, 22 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you the copy of an order which will govern you relative to the funeral honors to be paid to our departed Chief. You will be prepared I hope by Thursday. I must request you to render the ceremony as solemn as possible. Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Macpherson was in charge of the military ceremonies which were to be held in Philadelphia...
108From Alexander Hamilton to William North, 22 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed is a General Order which you will be pleased to circulate thro’ the district under my command. A copy has been sent to General Pinckney. I would repeat the wish expressd in a former letter that the celebration take place in N York as well as in this city on Thursday. It was my intention to have set out to day, but circumstances render it proper for me to continue till Friday. Df , in...
109From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, [22] December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The death of our beloved commander in Chief was known to you before it was to me. I can be at no loss to anticipate what have been your feelings. I need not tell you what are mine. Perhaps no friend of his has more cause to lament, on personal account, than my self. The public misfortune is one which all the friends of our Government will view in the same light. I will not dwell on the...
110From Alexander Hamilton to Lewis Tousard, 22 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to suggestions heretofore made I request that you will forthwith commence in conjunction with Major Hoops the preparation of a system of Regulations for the exercise of Artillery and for the police & service of the Corps of Artillerists in Camp Quarters and Garrisons. I forbear to enter into a particular detail of the course to be pursued relying upon the indications of the Subject...
111To Alexander Hamilton from James Wilkinson, 22 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Since I had the Honor to address you on the 15th Inst: delays unexpected (which to me are in a great measure incomprehensible) have occurred, to detain me in Hampton road until this Day, & I avail myself of the return of the Pilot Boat to make this communication to you. Whilst smarting with chagrin at the delays & disappointment I have experienced, so repugnant to my expectations & my Habits,...
112To Alexander Hamilton from William North, 23 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor this moment, to receive yours of the 21 inst. & have ordered the field ps &c to be sent to Lt Col. Comdt Smith. The arrangements with respect to the approaching solemnity, as far as relates to the Citizens of this place, are to take place on the last day of the present Year. The Cincinnati have sketched out the plan, which is to be in the Stile of the pageantry whi⟨ch⟩ took...
113To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 23 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your orders of the 21st. relative to the funeral Ceremony, which is to take place at this Camp on Thursday next, agreeably to your orders I immediately dispatched an officer to The Ajutant Genl. who I doubt not arrived at new york before 10. oClock the last night—of course, I have reasons to expect, the necessary supply of field artillery, blank...
114Enclosure: [Inscription for a Monument to George Washington], [23 December 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
Sacred To The Memory of The Illustrious George Washington General of The Armies of The United States of America, Who paid the Great Debt of Nature, The 14th. of December, 1799. On Mount Vernon Sol occubuit, nox nulla sequitur. To Commemorate his virtues. To hand down to Posterity, The Great The dignified Character of Their Exalted Chief, The Commandant And Officers of the Union Brigade,
115To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 23 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Union Brigade [ Scotch Plains, New Jersey ] December 23, 1799 . “In your Letter of the 17th. you mention your intention of retaining Capt Church with you, to this I cannot with propriety object, but I can with propriety say, the Regt. feel his loss, & I, particularly regret his absence, his pointed attention to duty, & his Gentlemanlike deportment has endeared him much to the Corps, I now see...
116To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 23 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Union Brigade [ Scotch Plains, New Jersey ] December 23, 1799 . “… I have not seen the Contractor, for a fortnight. I suspect he does not like the rotundity of my Phiz. I have been much fretted by his supplies. I have of course several times refused them—& have for Some time past, made it the duty of the field officer of the day, regularly, to inspect the provisions on the day’s of Issue, and...
117From Alexander Hamilton to William North, 24 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just received your letter of yesterday with it’s enclosure. The Artillery will remain, agreeably to your suggestion, on the island. As a regular plan appears to have been formed for the celebration of the day in New York, it is not my wish that the regulations which I sent you should be followed where they are inconsistent with that plan. You will understand the whole Ceremony is to be...
118To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 24 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 23d. this inst. by the hands of the Post Master of Brumswick—the Orders contained in it, of the 21st. shall be minutely attended to, and executed with the deepest solemnity. I did myself the honor of addressing you last night which Letters I sent per stage this morning at seven oClock to the New Ark post office, to which I beg...
119To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 28 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Scotch Plains, New Jersey, December 28, 1799. On January 3, 1800, Hamilton wrote to Smith : “Your different letters of the 23rd 24th and 28th. of December have been delivered to me.” Letter of December 28 not found. ]
120From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Pursuant to an instruction some time since received from you, I have now the honor to offer to your consideration a new plan for the uniform of the army. You are too sensible of the influence of good appearance, in point of dress and equipment, upon the spirit and Temper of an army, to make it necessary to illustrate its importance. The present uniform is materially defective in this respect....