Autograph Letter Signed

Discusses rules for rank and promotion.

04/26/1799

Philadelphia

1799042640001

1

James McHenry

Alexander Hamilton

field officers

regiments

Philadelphia

I have reflected

proper principles for regulating relative rank of the field officers of the twelve additional regiments

special reasons dictate a deviation

rule which steers clear of comparisons of personal merit and avoids the danger of wounding the pride of any of the parties concerned

all such of the field officers who have joined the army

to let their relative rank and the close of the war govern

most likely to be satisfactory to all

those who may not have served

considerations of personal merit and weight of character can alone decide, except that were they may have served in the militia

their relative rank there may guide

as between those who have joined in the army and those who have not

prefer the men who have served in the army except

very superior qualifications may claim a superiority.