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of logs and slabs as might be wanting. His motive for engaging Mr. Mackie in the business was, that, he had been in the habit of procuring Articles for the public use in that part of the Country, he could do it to more advantage than any other person, and his enquiries for them would not be so likely to raise the price as would those of another Agent. Had any other place been fixed upon for hutting the Troops, the purchase of timber, fuel &c. &c. would have been as necessary as at this; and in no situation proper for the Troops, could they have been procured cheaper.

From the foregoing account, which is given to me by Mr Lear (to whom Colo. Parker refered me for particular information respecting the arrangements he had made for hutting the Troops) you will see that Barracks were not contemplated by Colo. Parker, and that the huts were to be built in as œconomical a manner as could be expected. I have, however, as I observed before, repeated my instructions to Colo. Parker, that the Troops should be hutted in the manner they were in the late war, which he must well recollect.

Presuming that the plan of Barracks has never been substituted by Colo. Parker for that of huts, it is, in my opinion, unnecessary to make any arrangements for quartering the 9th and 10th Regiments in the places which you suggest, vizt. at Fredericktown and Carlisle. From the view which I had of the Barracks at the latter place in the year 1794, I am convinced that the expense of repairing them, fit for the Soldiers during winter, would be much greater than that of building huts. What the situation of the Barracks at Frederick town is, I am unable to say; but I presume they are not much, if any, better than those at Carlisle. And, at any rate, this dispersed situation of the troops would defeat a primary and important object, I mean that of having them in one body, where they can be under the eye of a General Officer, and where the disciplining and

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training the Soldiers can be much better effected than if they were in detached Corps.

From the information of a Gentleman lately from Winchester, I have reason to believe that Colo. Parker's Regiment is at Harper's Ferry before this; and I think no time should be lost in ordering the other Regiments to the same place; for there cannot be a doubt, from the circumstances mentioned in this letter, but that Colo. Parker has taken measures for hutting the Troops agreeably to our original idea; and as the Soldiers will build their own huts, it is necessary they should begin them ás soon as possible.

I cannot close this letter without mentioning that I have heard of repeated complaints for want of money to pay the Troops raised in this quarter, as well as for other purposes relating to them. If these complaints are well founded, you know, as well as I do, the evils which must result from such defect, and I cannot but be astonished at it, when it is well known that appropriations are made for the and support of the Troops, and the money is undoubtedly in the Treasury. I would wish you to inquire into this matter, and if the complaints are founded, it would be well to know from whence proceeds the inattention or deficiency. With very great estee metc.52

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TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL THOMAS PARKER

Mount Vernon, October 26, 1799.

Sir: You will perceive, by the enclosed letter from General Hamilton, that he has taken up an idea, founded upon your communication to him on the subject, that you had substituted Barracks, instead of Huts, for the Winter Quarters of the three Regiments at Harper's Ferry.

"In the writing of Tobias Lear in the Hamilton Papers in the Library of Congress.

I presume that General Hamilton must have had an erroneous impression made on his mind by some expression in your letter to him; for, agreeably to the instructions contained in his first letter to you, which were confirmed by me in my letter of the 28 ultimo, nothing more was intended than that huts should be built for the temporary accomodation of the troops, in the same manner as they were in the late war for the Winter Quarters of the Army, and I recommended to you a regularity in building similar to what was observed on the like occasions during the Revolution.

The information which I received from Mr. Lear, to whom you refered me for particulars on this subject, was, that upon the examination of the ground, and every enquiry you could make, no place was found more eligable for hutting the Troops than the public ground at Harper's Ferry; that you had fixed upon a spot for that purpose as mentioned in your letter to me; that you had determined to have the huts built by the Soldiers, of rough logs and covered with slabs as the cheapest covering, to be about 16 feet sqr. to accommodate 12 men in each; that, as the timber on the public ground would not afford logs enough for more huts than would accommodate one or one and an half Regiments, you had requested Mr. Mackie," Agent for the War Department at Harpers Ferry, to engage slabs and such logs as could not be furnished from the public ground; that, altho' it would have been desireable to have had timber and fuel on the spot sufficient for hutting and furnishing the Troops; yet, as this could not have been done in the vicinity of Harpers Ferry without making a purchase of those Articles, it was concluded that, under all circumstances, they would come as cheap to the public at Harper's Ferry as at any other place. And, that as you conceived the present accommodations would be merely

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temporary, you should make them as œconomical as circumstances would permit.

Under the impression made by this information, I approved the measures you had taken for hutting the Troops, and I am persuaded that General Hamilton must have been under some misapprehension when he concluded that you intended to substitute Barracks for Huts. I have therefore written to him fully on the subject, explaining it agreeably to the information given me by Mr. Lear, and have desired him to order the other Regiments to Harper's Ferry without delay, where I presume your's is already, and I trust that every arrangement in your power will be made to enable the Troops to commence building their huts immediately on their arrival.

You will see the necessity of your Answering General Hamilton's letter without delay, and giving him every information on the subject of it. You will also be pleased to let me know if you have seen cause to deviate from the general plan of hutting the Troops which you at first proposed, and which was communicated to me by Mr. Lear, as stated in this letter. With great esteem etc.54

*To DANIEL MORGAN

Mount Vernon, October 26, 1799. Dear Sir: Your favour of the 8th instt. came duly to hand, and I should have given it an earlier acknowledgment, but waited to see Mr. Lawe. Lewis, whom I expected here every day, before I did so.

He is now arrived, and informs me that his brother John (as Executor of his father's Will) is determined not to pay your demand against that Estate unless he is compelled to it; and that

"The draft is in the writing of Tobias Lear. A copy, also by Lear, is in the Hamilton Papers in the Library of Congress.

he has requested a suit might be brought to try the merits of the case.

Under these circumstances I conceived it would be needless to write to him on the subject, and therefore return his father's letter to you, under this cover, by the Post, as the most certain means of its getting safe to your hands. With great esteem etc.

TO DANIEL MORGAN

[N.Y.P.L.]

Mount Vernon, October 26, 1799.

Dear Sir: I have been duly favoured with your letter of the 19th instant, recommending the Revd. Mr. Hill as Chaplin to the Troops to be stationed at Harper's Ferry.

I do not know whether any provision has been made for Chaplins, and, at any rate, I cannot tell whether or not it will be thought proper to engage a temporary Chaplin, which, from the tenor of your letter seems to be Mr. Hill's object. I shall, however, transmit your letter to the Secretary of War, and will communicate to you whatever he may give me in reply on the subject.

If provision is not already made for Chaplins I think it will be done, and it would certainly be very desireable to engage in that capacity such respectable Characters as Mr. Hill appears to be. Wishing a perfect restoration of your health, I am, etc.55

*TO ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD

[H.S.P.]

Mount Vernon, October 27, 1799.

Dear Sir: Your letter of the 30th Ulto. came duly to hand, but as it appeared from the tenor of it, that I might soon expect another from you, with my Deed in the hands of Mr. Jno. Brooke

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