1799] AN APPOINTMENT 107 Beall, as pr. receipt enclosed; and feel very much obliged by your kind attention to my interest in these matters. With very great esteem etc. *To BARTHOLOMEW DANDRIDGE Mount Vernon, January 25, 1799. Dear Sir: Your letters of the 11th of May, 16th of July, 20th. of August and 10th. of October are all before me. The receipt of the two first I have acknowledged; but as my letters wch. travel across the Atlantic have not been fortunate in getting to their Address, these may have shared the usual fate. Being of little importance, however, no duplicate was sent, nor copy taken. Nor is it at all material now, whether they got to hand or not. Your letter of the 20th. of August found me in Philadelphia, whither I had gone at the request of the Secretary of War, to aid in the formation of the new Corps, about to be raised; and in some other Military arrangements which were necessary, at that time, to be adjusted: and coming in the nick of time, your then wish to engage in a Military career was attended to, and you were, accordingly, appointed to the Command of an Infantry Company, in the first Regiment of Virginia, to be Commanded by Colo. Thomas Parker 62 of Frederick; which has been rendered valid by the President and Senate, since. The business which carried me to Philadelphia, detained me in the City from the 10th of Novr. until the 14th. of Decr, and occasioned an absence from home of near Seven weeks, during which time I was so much occupied as not to be able to give you Lieut. Col. Commandant Thomas Parker. He is listed as commanding the Eighth Infantry, and his residence given as Winchester, Va. Washington used the old name of Frederick, by which Winchester was known in colonial times. advice of this occurrence; and soon after my return, your letter of the 10th. of October came to hand informing me of your having been received into the family of Mr. King, as his Secretary. 63 You have now, I presume, the option of remaining there, or of accepting the Commission before mentioned. In the choice of which you have your own inclination, and some other considerations to consult. Both are attended with uncertainties, but which most so, is not easy to decide. The augmented Corps, in which you are appointed, are by Law, to exist no longer than the dispute with France shall continue; but how long this will be, will require more wisdom than I possess to foretell; and you know, without information from me, what a bug-bear a standing Army (as a few Regiments with us, are called, though liable to be disbanded at any moment, by withholding the appropriation for yr. support) is, in the eyes of all those who are continually raising Spectres and Hobgoblins to affrighten themselves and alarm the People: and how certain it is that ours (with their consent) will not exist a momt. longer than it can be avoided by their endeavors; whether the cause which gave rise to it ceases, or not. Of the prospect before you in the Diplomatic line, you are as competent to judge of it as I am; But, as it is probable the Commission will be held for you until your determination is known, no time should be lost in announcing it to me, or at the War Office. Lawrence Lewis is appointed a Captn. in the Corps of light Dragoons; but before he enters the Camp of Mars, he is to engage in that of Venus with Nelly Custis, on the 22d. of next month; they having, while I was at Philadelphia, without my having the smallest suspicion that such an affair was in Dandridge declined this commission of captain. He is listed by Dr. Carlos E. Godfrey's Organization of the Provisional Army, 1798–1800, as assigned to the Seventh Infantry. 1799] 64 DEATH OF A NEPHEW 109 agitation, formed their Contract for this purpose. Washington Craik * is appointed a Lieutenant in the said Corps, and Washington Custis is made Cornet in Lewis's Troop; for it was found impracticable to keep him longer at College with any prospect of advantages; so great was his aversion to study; tho' addicted to no extravagant or vicious habits; but from mere indolence, and a deriliction to exercise the powers of his mind, and those talents with which nature had blessed him. The Army, generally, will be very respectably Officered. The General Assembly of this State is in Session; and, by the accounts of its proceedings running into every kind of opposition to the measures of the General government, and into all the extravagant Resolutions which folly can devise; in what they will issue, it is difficult to say. I am sorry to inform you that your brother John Dandridge is no more. He paid the debt of nature a few days since; after having (as we have been informed) been in bad health for sometime. Your Aunt, who is as well as usual and Nelly Custis, Washington is from home, unite with me in every good wish for you; and with thanks for your offer of rendering me any Services in your power, I am etc. Present me most respectfully to Mr. and Mrs. King [illegible]. *To THE SECRETARY OF WAR [N. Y.P.L.] (Private) Mount Vernon, January 27, 1799. My dear Sir: The enclosed letter for Mr. McAlpin (my Tayler in Philadelphia) left open for your perusal, may be delivered, or not, as you shall judge best. And if the former takes "George Washington Craik. He was honorably discharged in June, 1800. place, to be accompanied with your sentiments on the doubtful parts of it. It is predicated first, on the supposition that the Uniform for the different grades of Officers, is conclusively fixed, and to be established as a standing regulation. and secondly, on the presumption that no attempts will be made this Session of Congress, to repeal the Law for augmenting the army of the United States, or to reduce it below its present establishment. If the first is liable to no change, and there is no indication of an attempt to effect the latter, I would go to the expence of providing a uniform previously to the spur of the occasion; conformably to the regulations Ordered by the War Department, agreeably to the Presidents Command. On the other hand, if either of the above things is likely to happen, I shall suspend doing it. On re-considering the Uniform for the Commander in Chief, it has become a matter of doubt with me (although, as it respected myself, personally, I was against all Embroidery), whether embroidery on the Cape, Cuffs and Pockets of the Coat, and none on the Buff waistcoat, would not have a disjointed, and aukward appearance. It is neither required, nor forbidden. Which then, in your judgment, or that of Connoisseurs, if you should converse with any on the subject, would be most eligable in itself, and accordent to what is expected. Το you I submit the matter. As I also do whether the Coat shall have slash Cuffs (with blue flaps passing through them) and slash pockets, or both to be in the usual manner. These, apparently, are trifling matters to trouble you with; but, as it is the commencement of a New Scene, it is desirable that the thing should take a right direction. I have therefore, upon the whole, and since I began this letter, determined to direct Mr. McAlpin to apply to, and follow your directions in 1799] THE UNIFORM EAGLE 111 making the Uniform. I should not prefer a heavy embroidery, or one containing much work. a light and neat one, would, in my opinion be more elegant, and more desirable; as well for the Coat, as for the Waistcoat, if the latter is to receive any. If there are workers in this way in Philadelphia (and the French are most likely to understand it) they will, no doubt, have a variety of Patterns to chuse from. and I pray you to examine them. The Eagle too, having become part of the American Cockade; has any of them been brought into use yet? My idea of the size is, that it ought not to be larger than would cover a quarter of a dollar at most and should be represented (for the Officers) as clothed with their feathers. this any ingenious Silver Smith can execute; and if four were sent to me, I would thank you; and would remit the cost, as soon as known to me. I I must further beg, that proper Stars for the Epaulets (the latter I possess) may be sent to me with the other articles, that may be equipped in dress at least; and if there are any tasty Cockades (but not whimsically foolish) in wearg., or any one, who can make them, I should be glad if they were sent with the Eagles fixed thereon, ready to be placed in the hats. Does the Presidt. and yourself wear them? Excuse this scrawl and trouble, as I wish to set out right; and be assured of the sincere esteem and regard of Dear Sir etc. 65 *To JAMES MCALPIN Mount Vernon, January 27, 1799. Sir: The Secretary of War, by Command of the President of the U: States, having announced to the Army the Uniforms which are to be worn by Officers of the different grades, I have From the McHenry Photostats in the Library of Congress. |