Regarding Officer & Surgeon Appointments for 5th Regiment, & Pinckney's Request for Family Leave

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I 116 War Department 30 July 1799 Sir.
I received by this mornings post your letter of the 16th of July inst. The letters of appointment for the officers of the 5th Regiment (which is composed intensely of those you recommended) were transmitted to them respectively on the same day, and all the care that was possible taken, that they should not fail of their destinations. It will be a proper precaution however what you advise: I have therefore directed duplicates to be made out, and will inclose them to you the next mail.
I shall take an early occasion to lay before the President Charles Jones Jenkins of Beaufort to fill the place made vacant by the refusal of Mr. Edward Croft.
The peculiarly strong terms I 166a in which Lt. Col Smith speaks of Doct. [Elias Mason?] as Surgeon for the 5th Regiment, cannot fail to create a prepossession in his favour. It is not in my power, at this moment to look into the list of candidates and examine that recommendations for this office; I cannot therefore say any thing positive as to the result; except, that, unless weighty reasons oppose, I shall be happy to forward the Colonels wish by submitting his name to the President. It has happened, that the vacancy in Captain Taylors company was filled previous to the receipt of your letter, by the appointment of Mr. Archibald Lee, a son of Ths Sim Lee Esqr late Governor of the State of Maryland and a very worthy man. This young gentleman will, I expect soon join the troop. And now my Dear Sir, permit me to assure you of the real concern I feel at your information of Mrs. Pinckney’s illness. Should it be found necessary, which I hope it will not for her to undertake a voyage to Rhode Island, to re establish her health, I do not see, how under such circumstances, and considering the respectful regard I must feel for Mrs. Pinckney, I could possibly raise any objection to your accompanying her; trusting to your knowledge of the situation of our affairs, as to prevent the service from suffering materially by your absence, and upon your returning as soon as her health will admit. I shall immediately communicate the subject to the President, with the urgency which has induced me to anticipate a permission which I am sure he would not refuse. I I 116 C I request you to present to Mrs. Pinckney my sincere wishes for her speedy recovery. With great respect I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obt. James McHenry Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney I 117 War Department 24 June 1799 Sir I am anxious that the appointments of a Surgeon and Mates should take place with as little delay as possible. I have therefore to request that you would be pleased to select from the persons whose names are contained in the enclosed list a suitable person to fill the Office of Surgeon and two others for those of Mate in the Regiment under your command and transmit their names that I may lay them before the President for his approbation. Should you know any person whom you wish to recommend in preference to those whose names are transmitted, you will be pleased to inform me.
I am Sir Your Mo. Ob. Serv. Signed James McHenry Lieutt Coll Richd Hunnewell and the same to Lieutt Coll Nath. Rice [4-column table] Headers: Names of Applicants: Place of Abode: Grade applied for: By whom Recommended] Caleb Marsh: Hingham: Surgeon of a Regt: Genl. Lincoln, Col: Rice Oliver Mann: Castine (maine): ditto: [blank] Seth H. Rogers: Hadley: ditto: Wm. B. Hall, Saml. W. Dana Saml. Morey Junr: Norton: ditto: [blank] Joshua Thomas: Boston: ditto: John Warren Aaron Dexter Jonathan Learned: Oxford: ditto: Thos Babbett; Salem Town, & a member of Phisicians Joseph Manning: Ipswich: ditto: Joseph Sevacy, Thomas Burnhgm Amos Winship: Boston: ditto: J. Warren Walter Hunnewell: Watertown: ditto: Marshall Spring Luther Starnes: Newton: ditto: General Brooks Josiah Dwight: Belehertown: ditto: Dwight Foster. Dr. Babbett mate Benjamin Walker: Bradford: ditto: Jona Allen, Medical Society of Vermont Charles Blake: [blank]: ditto: Colo. N. Rice. Thomas Walch: Boston: Surgeon of the Castle: [blank] John Warren: ditto: Supt. Medl. Dept.:[blank] Applicants for Surgeons Mates on the other side. [4-Column Table] Headers: Names:Residence:Grade:By whom Reommended Joshua Frost: Springfield: Surgeons Mate: Samuel Lyman +Eben.r Lawrence: Medford: ditto: Genl. Brooks Daniel Eaton: Halifax (Nova Scotia): ditto: Stephen Peabody Josiah Sanbourn: Bangor (Maine): ditto: Elijah Skinner, Jno. Blake Samuel Carrier: Hennebeck Co. ditto: ditto: Daniel Coney

List of Applicants for Surgeons & Surgns Mates from the State of Massachusetts. Rec. in the Secy of 21st July

Type

Autograph Letter Signed

Description

Informs Pinckney that the officers he recommended for the 5th Regiment have all been appointed, and sent notifications of that fact; at Pinckney's request, McHenry encloses duplicates of those letters of appointment. Promises to send a recommendation for a replacement officer to the president, as well as Lt. Col. Smith's recommendation for a regimental surgeon. Grants permission to Pinckney to travel with his wife to Rhode Island to restore her health, if Pinckney makes arrangements to avoid material injury to the service in his absence. McHenry will also bring this matter to the president's attention.

Date

07/30/1799

Sent from

War Department

Collection

Document number

1799073000101

Page start

6

Note

Enclosed in McHenry to Adams, 07/31/1799.

Notable persons

Charles C Pinckney
James McHenry
officers
5th Regiment
President
Charles Jones Jenkins
Edward Croft
Smith
surgeon
Captain Taylor
Archibald Lee
Thomas Sim Lee
Governor of Maryland
Mrs. Pinckney

Notable locations

War Department
Bufort
Maryland
Rhode Island

Notable items

letters of appointment
list of candidates
recommendations
illness
health