Deployment of Forces and Erection of Fortifications
Item
Type
Autograph Draft Document
Title
Deployment of Forces and Erection of Fortifications
Description
Hamilton expresses in detail his recommendations regarding the deployment of forces and the erection of fortifications. He believes strongly that the soldiery should be used for this purpose whenever practicable.
year created
1799
month created
10
day created
31
author
sent from location
New York
recipient
in collection
in publication
notable person/group
James Wilkinson
Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of War [McHenry]
regiments of infantry
batallion of riflemen
regiment of dragoons
Eventual Army
Major Daniel Bradley in North Carolina and Virginia
Major Jonathan Cass in Delaware
Major John H. Buell in Vermont
Inspectors of Divisions and Brigades
Judge Advocate
Negroes
whites
watermen
Ebenezer Stevens
mathematical teachers
Spanish governor
deserters
citizens of the western country
notable location
New York
posts below the confluence of the Ohio with the Mississippi
rapids of the Ohio
Norfolk, Virginia
Frederick Town, Maryland
West Point, New York
Loftus's Heights
seaboard of South Carolina and Georgia
Fort Stoddard
confluence of the Rivers Tennessee and Cumberland with the Ohio
Savannah, Georgia
Spain
Tennessee
Kentucky
north and southwestern territories
notable item/thing
obstacles of the navigation
ration
recruiting for the corps
bounty money
clothing
fortification
skills as an engineer
fort
redoubt
citadel
coup de main
battery
territorial boundary
seige
brick
wood
obstacle from the climate...in reference to out southern frontier
heats of July and August
sultry damps of September
aid of blacks
exertions of whites
gallies
mathematical instruments
military academy
winter
arrears of pay due to the troops of the western quarter
affair of boats
Indian affairs
emergencies
economy
notable phrase
the reserve force shall not be stationed more westward or southward than the vicinity of the rapids of the Ohio
by the contract for the ensuing year the ration is at least 2 cents and 8 milles cheaper there than on the north side
it is possible that the troops there may be exposed to vexations and in danger of seduction from the arts of disaffected persons
I recommend to you the south side for the station of your reserve force
the propriety of strongly fortifying Loftus's Heights being on all sides admitted
it appears to me adviseable to occupy the summit of the height with a fort or redoubt in nature of a citadel
the idea of resisting a seige presupposes a work of solid materials as well as of regular design
a revetement of brick with an interior of wood and earth mingled will form a strong fortress
doubtless utility and usage both unite to recommend the employment of soldiery in the construction of works as far as may be practicable
it may be requisite to hire the labor of Negroes but even then there may be things to which that of whites can without injury be applied
there is an intrinsically strong objection to the keeping of a post [Fort Stoddard] to which the access must be through a foreign territory
in the permanent arrangement for the gallies, watermen ought to be engaged for the mass of the crew
a regular military academy appears to me indispensable
your convention with the Spanish governor respecting deserters...appears to me a measure of convenient operation
the policy of our government toward Spain continues as heretofore pacific and conciliatory
a firm and cordial union is certainly the vital interest of every part of our country
document number
1799103137200
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | [unknown] |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Publication: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Alexander Hamilton | New York | [n/a] |
| Recipient | James Wilkinson | [unknown] | [n/a] |