SIR: HAMILTON TO M'HENRY. NEW-YORK, July 30th, 1799. On a subject not very familiar to my experience, I thought it well to consult others (one at a distance), which has occasioned a delay in fulfilling the object of your letter of the 24th of June, respecting regulations for issuing straw, fuel, &c. I send you, herewith, the result of my inquiries and reflections. In regard to fuel, the late improvements in the construction of chimneys, by Count Rumford, which may be adopted in quarters and garrisons, has had influence in diminishing the quantity, which, independent of this circumstance, is conceived to be too liberal in your plan. This being, in the view of economy, a matter of great importance, I would advise that an abstract be made of those chapters of Count Rumford's treatise which are applicable to chimneys, in order that a printed copy be furnished to each commanding officer of a garrison, &c. Mr. Jonathan Williams would execute this in an eligible manner. The more simple and concise the abstract the better. The scheme of regulation now submitted, contemplates, likewise, that the officers will be arranged in messes of six to a mess. Give me leave to ask whether, in the future construction of barracks, it will not be expedient to have the rooms large enough to contain each twelve men. It has been found that messes of this number conduce to the comfort of the troops, preventing waste, and consequently rendering the supply more ample. The effect of the arrangement in relation to fuel, is very obvious. In the field, it is usual for the troops to provide themselves with fuel; and straw is furnished as it can be had. The regulations are therefore confined to troops in garrisons and quar ters. Regulations to be observed in the delivery and distribution of fuel, straw, and stationery to the army, and respecting horses furnished to officers, and respecting those which they may keep themselves. Fuel (when in garrison and quarters). From the 1st day of October to the 1st day of April in every year, is allowed: 1st. To every colonel and major, one cord and one half cord of wood per month. 2d. To every commanding officer of a garrison, one cord and one half cord of wood per month. This to include his allowance otherwise. 4th. To every other commissioned officer half a cord of wood per month, the same to each surgeon or surgeon's mate. 7th. To every eight non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, half a cord of wood per month, and the same allowance to servants, batmen not soldiers, and washerwomen. 8th. To officers, surgeons, surgeons' mates, soldiers, servants, batmen not soldiers, and washerwomen, one third the aforesaid allowance from the 1st day of April to the 1st day of October in every year. 9th. To a garrison barrack guard such quantity as may be required by the commandant of a garrison, not exceeding two cords per month. 10th. To the sick in hospital such quantity as may be required by the surgeon, with the sanction of the commanding officer. 11th. As a smaller quantity of fuel may suffice in the southern States than is allowed by these regulations, each commanding general or other chief commanding officer, is enjoined to regulate the demand for this article by the nature of the climate. The regulation to be prescribed in public orders. Straw. 1st. One truss of straw weighing twenty-four pounds, is allowed for each palliass for two men; this allowance to be renewed monthly. 2d. The same quantity of straw is allowed for servants and batmen, not soldiers, and for washerwomen attached to each company, in the proportion of one washerwoman to every seventeen non-commissioned officers and privates. 3d. The straw is to be changed for the sick in the hospital, as often as may be deemed necessary, this necessity to be determined by the surgeon, or the surgeon's mate in the absence of the surgeon. Requisitions for Fuel or Straw. 1st. Requisitions for wood or straw must state in the form of returns th number and rank of the officers, the number of non-commissioned officers and pr vates, servants, batmen not soldiers, and of washerwomen, for whom demande showing in a column the quantity for each class, which returns must be certific by the quartermaster of the regiment, if present, or person acting as such, and by the commanding officer of the regiment, corps, or detachment, for which the supply is required. In the case of the sick in hospital, the chief medical officer having charge of it will sign the return, which will be countersigned by the commancing officer. 2d. No wood or straw shall be drawn for officers or soldiers whilst on furlough, nor any allowance made to them for the same. 3d. Whenever it shall appear that more wood or straw has been drawn than there were officers, soldiers, servants, batmen not soldiers, and washerwomen actually present and entitled thereto, the officer making such requisition shall be held responsible for the value of the articles drawn beyond the quantity allowed by these regulations, and shall have his name, and the circumstances of the case, reported to the Commander-in-Chief, or the Commanding General of the Depart ment. 4th. Requisitions thus signed, and the receipts given by the officers to whom the articles are delivered for consumption, shall be produced as vouchers by the contractor, agent, or quartermaster, in the settlement of his accounts. Stationery. 1st. To each company is allowed one quire of paper per month. 2d. To each regimental adjutant, one quire per month. 3d. To each regimental paymaster, one quire per month. 4th. To each regimental quartermaster, one quire per month. 5th. To the Commander-in-Chief and General officers, as occasion may require. 6th. To the surgeon of a regiment, two quires of paper per month. 7th. To each regimental surgeon's mate, one quire of paper per month. 8th. To the hospitals, according to their respective wants, to be drawn for by the surgeon-general or surgeon of each hospital. 9th. To courts martial and of inquiry, what shall be required, on the return of the Judge Advocate or Recorder, and signed by the President. 10th. Requisitions for company and orderly books, forms of returns, &c., for the use of the regiments or garrisons, to be signed by the quartermasters of regi ments or garrisons, and countersigned by the commandants of the respective regiments or garrisons. Horses. If horses shall at any time be furnished by the Quartermaster-General or any of his deputies, upon the requisition of the Commanding-General or officers having the authority to make the requisition, or otherwise to any officer for his particular use, or to enable him to execute his functions, except for some temporary service, the value of the said horse shall be determined or agreed upon at the time of the delivery, and shall be deducted from the pay of the officer receiving him; and the Quartermaster-General is hereby directed to make report to the accountant forthwith, that the proper deduction of pay may be made. Officers shall not keep or be furnished with forage for more than the following number of horses. If entitled to more forage, the difference shall be paid for. A Major-General, not commanding a separate army, four. A Brigadier not commanding as above, three. Each Aid of a general officer, two. A Secretary, when one is allowed by law, two. Each Field-officer, two. Adjutant, one. Regimental Quartermaster, one. Regimental Paymaster, one. Surgeon or mate, one. two. The Inspector-General, five. A Deputy Inspector-General, with a separate army, four. A Brigade Inspector, one. The Quartmaster-General, six. Deputy Quartermaster-General, with a separate army, four. A Brigade Quartermaster, one. A principal Deputy, with a separate army, two. Commissary General, or other equivalent officer, three. A principal Deputy, with separate army, three. A Division or Brigade Commissary, one. A Division or Brigade Wagonmaster, one. An Assistant, two. Paymaster-General, or Deputy Paymaster-General, with a separate army, two̟ Each Chief of any branch of the Civil Staff, not enumerated with an army, Each principal Deputy of such Chief, one. To any other officer of the General Staff, civil or military, who, in the opinion of the Commanding General may require it, not exceeding two. SIR: HAMILTON TO COLONEL SMITH. (CIRCULAR.) NEW-YORK, August 9th, 1799. Our political situation renders it very urgent that not a moment shall be lost in disciplining our troops ss fast as they shall be raised. To this end, it is essential that every officer shall personally exert himself to the utmost; and that a very faulty practice which has occasionally prevailed in our armies, as well as others, shall be carefully avoided, namely, commanders of regiments leaving too much to their majors, these to the adjutants, and the company officers to their sergeants. It is expected that each commandant of a regiment will himself industriously exercise his regiment in the manual and evolutions; that each major will do the like in his battalion, and the company officers in their several companies. These last must charge themselves with the detail of instructing their men from the beginning; using their non-commissioned officers as auxiliaries, not as their representatives or substitutes; and the field officers must carefully superintend the company officers in relation to this detail. This course will have the double advantage of insuring the rapid improvement of the soldiers, and of giving every officer practical expertness within his sphere, without which an army nothing but a mass of disorderly elements. In the reply which I expect to make to the several corps, I hope for the gratification of observing, in the proficiency of officers and men, that the instruction contained in this letter has been carefully and zealously executed. HAMILTON TO WOLCOTT. NEW-YORK, August 10, 1799. I imagine, my dear sir, by the letter which the post of yesterday brought me from you, that you had supposed that something, not quite satisfactory to me, had occurred, in relation to the erection of a hospital' at Rhode Island. This, I assure you, has not been the case, nor has any thing come under my view which could lead me to think that there has been cause for blame in any quarter. |