Although the Accountant of the War Dept. has instructed Ogden to charge those officers who have drawn forage with the sums specified by law, this direction is in violation of both law and justice and Hamilton sanctions disobeying the instruction.
Accountant of War Department instructed Ogden to settle accounts of officers who drew forage "by crediting them with the sum specified by law to be received in lieu of the Article when the Article itself is not furnished." This is a violation of law and justice. Hamilton authorized Ogden to ignore the Accountant's order.
General Orders: Maj. Gen. Hamilton assures the troops who are about to retire from the field that they carry with them his sense that they deserve the highest merits. They have exemplified how speedily American soldiers can be prepared to meet the enemies of their country.
Peter Hagner, War Department clerk subbing in for the absent accountant William Simmons, informs Samuel Hodgdon, Commissary of Military Stores, of the settlement of the account of Nichlin and Griffith, for the sum of 383 dollars. This sum is the amount of the purchase of two iron nine-pound cannons.
Certification of payment; $28 for retained rations to Major Jacob Sawersroy, 1st Regiment, Philadelphia County Militia, commanded by Colonel Francis Gurney, called out to suppress an insurrection in the Western counties of Pennsylvania.
Largely illegible letter from Benjamin Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy, and Samuel Hodgdon, Commissary of Military Stores, to John Harris, Keeper of the Military Stores.
Delivery of powder in the state magazine to the credit of Tench Francis, some powder delivered by Daniel Smith was damaged, he will remanufacture the quantity damaged.
Major Craig forwards receipts and discusses final accounting matters with Samuel Hodgdon. Craig expresses a forlorn hope that their "old friend Henry" Knox may yet receive an invitation to return as Secretary of War.
The man [Adams] is more mad than Hamilton ever thought him and he shall soon be led to say he is as wicked as he is mad. Hamilton asks to be kept apprised of the probability of coalitions with Mr. Jefferson.
Account information pertaining to Col. O'Hara's settlement. No time to handle some accounting due to office being "on the wing" to settle in new offices in City of Washington. Barrel of coffee and sugar to go to Pittsburgh shortly.
Certification of payment; $969.15 to James Thackare for engraving folio plates descriptive of a new system of artillery, and for copper and polishing plates.
Regarding movement of War Department from Philadelphia to Washington, William Marbury of Georgetown has been requested to settle with Captain Ellis agreeable to contract. Ellis is to call on Marbury and provide receipts for cargo.
Author possibly Israel Whelan, who succeeded Tench Francis, has undertaken to supervise the removal of public property from Philadelphia to Washington. Secretary of Navy has recommended that William Marbury take on this task.
Williams is apprehensive respecting the round-about way the letters from the southward are sent to his post at Springfield. They are still sent by way of Boston and he fears that the directions of the postmaster at Hartford are not explicit. Remitting money in this irregular manner is truly alarming and embarassing.
