News: Document Guides
America’s Birthday
Patriotism runs deep within the War Department documents. This spirit is more of an unspoken common vision, expressed in how the officials deal with legal procedures, assess the use of public money, foreign relations, powers of the Executive Dept, and so on. A search of documents written on July 4th by ANYONE to or from the War Department does not discuss the nations birth, growth, and progress. There is a lone document by Samuel Hodgdon that gives a nod to the celebration of another year of independence. Has anyone found other documentation within the archive that discuss patriotism and independence on the “birthday” of the United States of America?
Read moreCompensation for Refugees
The War Department has a surprising number of documents related to the compensation of refugees from Canada. Most documents cite patriotism, military service, and good morals as reasons for compensation. Men and women left their homes, property, and livelihoods in Nova Scotia and Quebec due to the invasion of American troops. Congress approved the fiscal support of these refugees in 1798 and shortly thereafter claims were filed in New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. A more complete overview of these documents can be found with the search keyword, “refugees” in the War Department Papers database. Oddly enough, the number of documents related to these claims are limited to a small number of people. John McGown, the De Lesdernier family were two groups that communicated extensively on the subject.
Read more