Concerning army discontent and disobedience
Document 1796Discusses military obedience and alludes to the Rochefontaine-Wilson duel. McHenry argues that the army may soon become "one huge mass of discontent and sedition" and that they must work to restore harmony and "save the corps from dissolution."
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[Docket page:]
1 July 1796
Cap. D. Wadsworth
on an application
&
[undecipherable table or matrix with numbers]
[upside down at bottom:] Col. D. Wadsworth
War Office 1 July, 1796.
[undecipherable line]
Dear [undecipherable], [undecipherable] does not admit of [undecipherable]
since the [undecipherable]; [undecipherable] with and [undecipherable] you my
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. I have read with
[undecipherable] your [undecipherable] of the 24th June, and that
you [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] and the
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] of them from you.
I have a confidence [undecipherable] are sincere,
[undecipherable] which [undecipherable] me,
and in [undecipherable] —
to conform in public [undecipherable], to rules that [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] to come more or [undecipherable],
[undecipherable]
[undecipherable]
a [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] must [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and the
[undecipherable] to [undecipherable] it to them. In the course of that [undecipherable]
[undecipherable], how difficult it is to [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] of privilege for matters, which
[undecipherable] to be [undecipherable] under the [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] only
[undecipherable] I [undecipherable] the [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
[joined?] to a [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] for better things.
[undecipherable] it submits to what [undecipherable] cannot [undecipherable]
It is in this [undecipherable] we [undecipherable] to find
an [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] from every thing [undecipherable], and at the
[undecipherable] a [undecipherable] to rank and [undecipherable] conformity to the
[undecipherable] principles of subordination, without which an
army must soon become one huge mass of discontent and
sedition.
If men of sense on such occasions, will not
give up every consideration but [their?] honour; if they will
not make sacrifices of feelings for the sake of their country,
I must relinquish the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] confined to [undecipherable]. But
I trust [undecipherable] of [undecipherable], after [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
to calm the spirits [undecipherable] been excited to restore the
[undecipherable] harmony [undecipherable] has been disturbed, and to [undecipherable] from
the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of
[undecipherable]
Relying upon your [undecipherable]operation in these
[undecipherable], you are at once [undecipherable], that it will be
best that the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] me for a
copy of Col. [Rochfontaines?: undecipherable] [undecipherable] should not be [undecipherable].
[undecipherable] that the case [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] might
take exception, [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
publication, that it [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] it [undecipherable] nothing [undecipherable]
and above all, [undecipherable] in the good opinion I [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] of [undecipherable] of
your [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
James McHenry
Cap. D. Wadsworth.
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Description
Discusses military obedience and alludes to the Rochefontaine-Wilson duel. McHenry argues that the army may soon become "one huge mass of discontent and sedition" and that they must work to restore harmony and "save the corps from dissolution."
Date
07/01/1796
Author
Recipient
Sent from
War Office
Repository
Collection
Document number
1796070100001
Page start
1
Note
Partially illegible.
Notable persons
Decius Wadsworth
James McHenry
Rochefontaine
officers
military
army
corps
Notable locations
War Office

