System of Military Supplies for the Armies of the United States
Document 1799Pending the revision of the existing system of procuring and distributing military supplies and paying the troops, McHenry insists on the necessity of adhering to that system and explains it in some detail.
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Type
Letter Signed
Description
Pending the revision of the existing system of procuring and distributing military supplies and paying the troops, McHenry insists on the necessity of adhering to that system and explains it in some detail.
Date
09/20/1799
Author
Recipient
Sent from
War Department, Trenton
Collection
Document number
1799092000200
Notable persons
Alexander Hamilton
James McHenry
the President [Adams]
Heads of Departments
Secretary of the Treasury [Oliver Wolcott, Jr.]
Secretary of War [McHenry]
Superintendent of military stores whose duty it becomes to see that the clothing is carefully made up...conformably to the returns and directions of
the Superintendent...is to deliver the whole of the packages to the Quartermaster General or deputy...who immediately becomes accountable for their
experienced physicians
Paymaster General [Caleb Swan]
the Purveyor
Comptroller
Captain Issac Guion at the Natchez
Colonel David Henley at Knoxville
Major Constant Freeman in Georgia
deputy quartermaster generals for the separate armies
upon he events of General Washington taking the field and an actual state of war
Notable locations
War Department, Trenton
public arsenals or stores
Notable items
old and existing system is defective in particulars
clothing
additional quantity always ordered to meet contingencies
returns are to be transmitted to the Secretary of War by the Commanding General or officer
ordnance, and arms
military stores
camp equipage
appropriation is sometimes particular or specific
much is left to the discretion...of the Head of the War Department
medicines
surgical instruments
hospital stores
complaints of inattention to the safe keeping and due distribution or wanton waste of medicines and hospital stores
no provision has ever existed for an apothecary
the course has been for the senior surgeon of a hospital...to make returns to the commanding general
means of transportation
things necessary for the transportation of troops are to be procured by and from the Quartermaster General
pay of the Army
muster and payrolls in due form shall be made out and presented previous to payments in any case to the troops
heretofore the law had made no provision for deputy paymasters
no credits have ever been allowed at the Treasury without rolls in due form as exhiibits or vouchers
my approbation of the appointment of distant [deputy paymasters] for General Pinckney and yourself [Hamilton]
next session of the Senate
you will give to the existing system all possible efficacy