1From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 9 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, January 9, 1800. “… The Adjutt: General is busied in preparing the Return you require. But his materials are unavoidably defective. The monthly returns heretofore sent you contain the substance of our information. All that is possible will be done.” Df , in the handwriting of Philip Church, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. See McHenry to H, January 6, 1800 .
2From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 14 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November 14, 1799. On November 18, 1799, McHenry wrote to Hamilton : “I recd two hours ago your letter of the 14th.” Letter not found. ]
3From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 20 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, May 20, 1799. The dealer’s catalogue description of this letter reads: “Original draft of a letter with attestation by his son John C. Hamilton.” Letter not found. ] ADf , sold at Goodspeed’s Book Shop, Boston, Catalogue 129, Lot 997.
4From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 7 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I shall doublly bear in mind the Intimation of Mrs. Adams—and shall take great pleasure in fulfilling her wish if there shall be occurrences which shall render it not incompatible with the good of the Service. On the disposition of the troops for the ensuring summer I shall ere long make you an official communication. Copy, in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of...
5From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 17 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have but just returned to this city, having been unavoidably detained at Albany much longer than I had expected. Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. See H to James McHenry, January 15, 1800 ; H to Elizabeth Hamilton, January 26 , 30 , February 5 , 10, 1800 .
6From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 15 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
There are many officers in Town who have entirely worn out their Uniforms, and are anxious to procure new ones, their uncertainty as to the Plan however prevents them; fearful of being led into expence which would be very inconvenient by not adopting the proper one. Let me urge your immediate determination on this subject. with great respect I am Sir Your obed Sevt. Df , in the handwriting...
7From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 9 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 9, 1800. “Enclosed are … instructions relative to certain objects of incidental expenditure.…”
8From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Cases, every day, occur to shew the immense inconvenience of being obliged to resort, for all articles of military supply, to the seat of government. The good of the service appears to me indispensibly to require the establishment of magazines in the great military districts with a small supply of the articles of constant necessity. This would obviate many difficulties, and produce, as I see,...
9From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 13 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to send you the return of the Army of the UStates which you lately required and which was delivered to me this morning. It is accompanied by a letter from the Adjutant General which furnishes some necessary explanations. Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. McHenry to H, January 6, 1800 . William North to H, January 9, 1800 .
10From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 3 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 3, 1799. “… In conformity with your letter of the 25th of November I have written to Colonel Hamtramck requesting him to point out the individual officers whose ignorance is so strongly spoken of in his letter of the 5th of October. The remark of the Colonel did not appear to me to be directed particularly against late appointments but to embrace all appointments for the...
11From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 4 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 4, 1799. “I take the liberty to request of you information whether the claims of old Soldiers who served in the Revolution war, are still admissible. I make this inquiry to Serve an old Soldier who has consulted me on the subject.” Df , in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. In MS this word is “Served.”
12From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 23 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The letter with the inclosed came to hand the day preceding my leaving the City for this place. The hurry of the first moments here prevented my sending it sooner. Oh mad! mad! mad! Yrs. Affecly. ALS , The Sol Feinstone Collection, Library of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. McHenry to H, first letter of May 20, 1800 . See H to Aaron Ogden, May 8, 1800, note 1 .
13From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [17 March 1800] (Hamilton Papers)
I send you the draft of a third Bill. I shall quickly send you that of a fourth which will comprise whatsoever may remain. Yrs. truly ALS , The Sol Feinstone Collection, Library of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia; ALS (photostat), James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress. The draft has not been found, but this was the draft of a “bill relative to the articles of war.” See...
14From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to send you enclosed, for your information, a Copy of a letter which I have written to Colonel Ogden. With Copy, in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. H to Aaron Ogden, April 15, 1800 .
15From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 26 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor of forwarding to you the definitive arrangement of the relative ranks of the officers of 16 Uni States Infantry which has been approved of by me. with great respect &c Df , in the handwriting of Philip Church, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. On February 26, 1800, in a letter listed in the appendix to this volume, H wrote to Lieutenant Colonel Rufus Graves, commanding...
16From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 7 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Ethan A. Brown has acted, for some time, in my office, in the character of Assistant Secretary; and I shall continue to have occasion for his services. It would therefore be gratifying to me if the President would bestow on him the appointment of second Lieutenant in the twelfth regiment. Mr: Brown has heretofore received a monthly salary. Should he be appointed to the office of Lieutenant...
17From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 11 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the seventh instant has been received. I have upon reflection, thought it expedient to order all the recruiting Officers of the additional regiments, with the men they may have enlisted, to their regimental rendezvouses; as it would be impossible to adopt any arrangements which would effectually prevent the enlistment of more men than are wanted to complete the old...
18Enclosure: William Bingham to James McHenry, [18 November 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
It Surely must have escaped Genl Hamilton’s Recollection, that the Papers he alludes to, never were deposited with me. After reading the publication, in which he mentioned this deposit being thus made, I was Surprized at the omission of which, in Case I had been applied to for a View of them, I Should certainly have reminded him—under any other Circumstances, it would not have been delicate to...
19From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 24 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Frequent applications are made to me concerning the relative rank of the Field Officers. It is very desirable that this should be universally settled & promulged without delay. I shall submit to you, before long, some ideas respecting the relative rank of the company officers of the different regiments. Enclosed are the commission of Lieutenant Flagg and a letter in which he offers to resign...
20From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 31 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
There is a probability that the two Regts. of Artillerists can now be completed. According to the plan heretofore approved two battalions were to be reserved for the services of field —one to serve under the Command of Genl. Pinckney, the other to serve under my immediate command. These two Battalions, the additional Infy having been disbanded, may now be united in a Camp of instruction, and...
21From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 30 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The preparation of a good system for the Tactics and police of the different portions of our Army is probably the most valuable service which it may be in my power to render the UStates in my present station & there are urgent reasons why this should be accomplished in the course of the present winter. To do it at all would in every situation require the aid of others; since I do not pretend,...
22From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 12 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Colonel Smith states to me that Captain White, of the eleventh regiment, has acted as Judge Advocate of all the General Courts Martial which have been held since the second of November, at Union Camp, and enquires whether he is entitled to any thing for the performance of this duty. The subject of compensation to persons acting as Judge Advocates has been heretofore matter of correspondence...
23From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 28 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
A letter just received from General Wilkinson contains the following—“I beg you to bear in mind that my continuance here will depend much on the Secretary of the navy, for I can not in prudence hazard my family on the gulph without a convoy which he has engaged to me for the tenth or twentieth of the ensuing month.” I beg you to confer with the S of the navy without delay, in order that it may...
24From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 13 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The Artillery stations on the seaboard within my command are divided into two districts, each of which is under the superintendance of a Major. It appears to me very desirable that there should be an Inspector of Artillery to each of these districts charged with duties similar to those which belong to an Inspector of Infantry. I can appoint the Officers but have not power to give a...
25From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 22 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Your two letters of the 20th instant have come to hand. The disbandment of the six additional troops of Cavalry has been announced in General Orders. The General and other Staff were not included in those Orders, not only because it might as conveniently be communicated by letter, but because it will be necessary that their power be considered as existing after the troops shall have quitted...
26From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 26 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
After reading the enclosed confidential letter you will please return it. I remember what the General states. The idea was that the relative position between first and second Major in the interior of the Regiment should be fixed & selection was made with this view. Similar inconvenience will attend the 15th. Regiment. Major Walker was intended to be first. By the same construction he will be...
27From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 3 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I am told, though I really have not seen the law, that one has passed suspending the Recruiting Service for the Twelve Additional Regiments. You are aware that an instruction from your Department ought to precede my agency upon that law. Yrs. truly ALS , Columbia University Libraries; ALS (photostat), James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress; copy, in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton...
28From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 23 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have directed the Pay Master General to deliver to his Deputy with General Pinckney, bounty money for four companies of Infantry. To Lieut. Richmond bounty money for four companies of Infantry, To Lieut. Woolstencraft bounty money for six companies of Artillerists. This I consider as a sufficient provision for completing the two Regs. of Artillerists including the additional battallion as...
29From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 15 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
If, My Dear McHenry, your retreat is from any circumstances painful to yourself I regret it with all the sincerity of a real friend; otherwise I congratulate you. It is impossible that our public affairs can proceed under the present chief or his Antifoederal rival without loss of reputation to all the Agents. Happy those who are released from the fetter. But my friend we are not to be...
30From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 19 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The inclosed letter speaks for itself. I think upon the whole unless there are objections of which I am not aware it will be expedient to place Mr. Wilson in the new Batalion so as to reinstate him fully in the situation in which he would have been if he had not left the service. He appears to me a genteel sensible young man—and as to his morals has been well spoken of. You best know if there...