[Copy] [Docket: Copy of General Hamilton's Circular letter to the officers Commanding posts on the Sea Coa[st] Febr.^y 15 17[99] [undecipherable] &c [undecipherable] from New York & Circular] [underline: Circular] New York Feb^y 15^th 1799. Sir, A letter from the Sec of War places under my Superintendance the Posts and Troops under your immediate Command. All further Communications thereon respecting them, including Reports and Returns, are to be addressed to me, not as heretofore to the Sec. of War. It is my Wish as soon as possible to receive a full and particular Communication of the State of Things within your Command, embracing the Number and Condition of the Works and Buildings, the Number of Troops and their Situation as to Discipline, Equipment, and Supply, the Quantities and Kinds of Artillery, Arms, and Stores, and that you will in future keep me regularly advised of whatever may be material for the successful Discharge of your Duty & the Advancement of the Service. I cannot let this first Opportunity pass without calling your Attention in an especial Manner to the Discipline of the Troops. The cursory Observations which I have been hitherto able to make has been sufficient to satisfy me, that there exists in this Respect too general a Relaxation, an Evil which must be at all Events corrected by the Union of Care, Prudence, and Energy. No Argument is necessary to prove how essential is Discipline to the Respectability and Success of the Service, and consequently to the Honour, Interest, and individual Importance of every Officer of the Army. To the Exertions for maintaining it my firm Support at all Times may be absolutely counted upon, as it will be my steady Aim, on the one Hand, to promote to very reasonable Extent the Comfort of the Troops, on the other, to secure a strict Observance of their Duty. (Signed) A. Hamilton