nents of the laws, and to the supporting and aiding of the civil officers in the execution of their functions. It has been settled that the Governor of Pennsylvania will be second, the Governor of New Jersey third in command, and that the troops of the several States in line, on the march and upon detachment, are to be posted according to the rule which prevailed in the army during the late war; namely, in moving towards the sea-board, the most southern troops will take the right; in moving westward, the most northern will take the right. These general instructions, however, are to be considered as liable to such alterations and deviations in the detail, as from local and other causes may be found necessary, the better to effect the main object upon the general principles which have been indicated. With great respect, I have the honor to be, sir, To Major General LEE. ALEXANDER HAMILTON. DEAR SIR: WASHINGTON TO HAMILTON. HARTLEY'S, Tuesday evening, 21st October, 1794. From Colonel Mentges' information, there are detachments of militia a considerable distance in the rear, composed in part, of those whose march was designed to be arrested. He adds, many of them are illy clad. This being the case, it appears to me, that an expense without an equivalent advantage, would result from bringing them forward; and that the clothes which they must draw to fit them for service, would be actually thrown away. Under this view of the matter, and a full persuasion that the army which is already advanced, is more than competent to any opposition that can be given by the insurgents-I request that you would advise with Governors Mifflin and Howell, (after receiving the fullest information from Mentges,) and cause all which in your opinions cannot be up in time-all who are inadequately clothed in the rear-and in a word, all who do not upon mature consideration of circumstances appear to be essential, to return, that the country may not be unnecessarily burthened with the clothing, pay and rations of them. Open all letters of a public nature which may come to the army addressed to me, and such as are in the military line and relating to the business you are upon, hand over to the Commanding General. SIR: HAMILTON TO WASHINGTON. BERLIN, 3d day's march, October 25th, 1794, We arrived here this afternoon. A very heavy rain has rendered the march extremely arduous and distressing; but we find here much better shelter than was foreseen. Our baggage and stores are just beginning to arrive. The Jersey line and brigade of cavalry took the right-hand road, about five miles back. To-morrow we shall continue our march, and I hope that we shall conform to the general arrangement, though we must shorten to-morrow's march, and lengthen that of the day following. The troops have shown all the patience that could have been expected. In short, I perceive nothing amiss. Bradford and Fulton, it is said, are gone off. By tracing time, it is not probable they were at all influenced by the arrests of Husbands and Phelson. With the highest respect, and truest attachment, I have the honor to be, &c. SIR: HAMILTON TO WASHINGTON. BERLIN, October 26th, 1794. The very late arrival of the wagons, the injury to a number of them, and the dispersed situation of the troops, render it impracticable to leave this place to-day, as was intended; but the baggage and stores go forward, and to-morrow the troops must move. I apprehend no material derangement of the general plan. An express has been dispatched to Governor Lee, advising him of the state of things here. Nothing from the Western country. With the greatest respect and attachment, &c. WASHINGTON TO HAMILTON. DEAR SIR: SUSQUEHANNA (Wright's Ferry), Oct. 26th, 1794. A little advanced of this, yesterday afternoon, I met an express with the letters herewith inclosed for you, with others for the army, with which I have directed him to proceed. Thus far, I have proceeded without accident to man, horse, or carriage, although the latter has had wherewith to try its goodness; especially in ascending the North mountain, from Skinner's, by a wrong road; that is, by the old road, which never was good, and is rendered next to impassable by neglect. I heard great complaints of Gurney's corps (and some of the artillery), along the road to Strasburgh; there I parted from their route. In some places, I was told, they did not leave a plate, a spoon, a glass, or a knife; and this owing, in a great measure, I was informed, to their being left without officers. At most, if not all, the encampments, I found the fences, in a manner, burnt up. I pray you to mention this to Governor Mifflin (and, indeed, to the Quartermaster-General), with a request (to the former) that the most pointed orders may be given, and every precaution used, to prevent the like on the return of the army. If the officers, from impatience to get home, should leave their respective commands-in a word, if they do not march with, and keep the soldiers in their ranks, and from straggling or loitering behind, the borderers on the road will sustain inconceivable damage from the disorderly troops; whose names will be execrated for, and the service disgraced by, such conduct. There were some letters put into the hands of Governor Lee, which it would be well for you to reposses yourself of; among these, were two to Messrs. Lynn, Mr. Ross's to you, and Messrs. Finley's and Redick's to me. Occasion may require them. I rode yesterday afternoon, in the rain, from Yorktown to this place, and got twice, in the height of it, hung (and delayed by that means) on the rocks in the middle of the Susquehanna; but I did not feel half as much for my own situation as I did on account of the troops on the mountains, and of the effect the rain might have on the roads through the glades. I do not intend to proceed further than Lancaster to-day; but on Tuesday, if no accident happens, I expect to be landed in the city of Philadelphia. My best wishes attend you, and all with you. Yours, sincerely, &c. P. S. I hope you will be enabled, by hook or by crook, to send B and H, together with a certain Mr. Guthrie, to Philadelphia, for their winter quarters. HAMILTON TO WASHINGTON. JONES' MILL, October 29th, 1794. SIR: The light corps, with the Jersey infantry and brigade of cavalry, are at Indian Creck, in Legnoier valley, where they continue till this division gets up, which will be this evening, as the march will commence in an hour. This division had, I believe, the worst road, and was, besides, encumbered with all the spare stores, which has thrown it a day's march behind the other. But by a letter received yesterday from Governor Lee, it appears that the right wing is fully in measure with the left. All is essentially well with both wings, and the troops continue to show as much good humor as could possibly have been expected. The meeting at Parkinson's Ferry ended, we are told, in a new appointment of commissioners to deprecate the advance of the army, and in new expressions of pacific intentions. But there is nothing which can occasion a question about the propriety of the army's proceeding to its ultimate destination. No appearances whatever of opposition occur. You desired that a table of the routes of the left wing might be sent you. None was left with any officer of this wing. With the truest respect and attachment, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obd't serv't, &c. P. S. It is hoped that the original papers have been forwarded, as the list furnished from the Secretary of State's office would be a deceptive guide. Memoranda of the Attorney-General, brought by this express, will greatly aid, perhaps suf ficiently; but the originals would be best. HAMILTON TO WASHINGTON. SIR: CAMP, 14 miles beyond Cherry's Mill, October 31, 1794. The New Jersey infantry and brigade of cavalry are at this place. The Pennsylvania infantry will be here this evening. The light corps is advanced about two miles. No official account |