Massachusetts Historical Society
450 documents
Regarding Letter Received from Court-Martialled Officer
Appears to state that Adams received a letter from Ensign David Fero, recently court-martialled and sentenced to be dismissed from the service, inquiring about the status of his case; remits the …
John Adams PapersRegarding Laws Concerning Military Courts Martial
Forwards the proceedings of a court martial convened on the Natchez in July 1798. Ensign David Fero has been sentenced to dismissal from the service, which Adams must approve. Apparently Fero …
John Adams PapersRegarding Hamilton's Plan for Military Supply, with Consideration of the Measure of a Powerful Nation in the Eyes of the World
Forwards General Hamilton's plan for connecting the U.S. military supply system. McHenry recommends it as taking into account regulations, examples from the Revolutionary War period, and the current …
John Adams PapersRegarding Further Improvement of the Works at Fort McHenry
Directs the superintendent engineer of the Fort McHenry construction to alter the original plan as he sees fit, regardless of cost, to ensure the defensibility of the fort. Reiterates that no …
John Adams PapersRegarding Duties & Definition of Officer Appointments & Commissions, in Relation to a Military Death Sentence
Returns various officer recommendations, with approvals, as well as the report of a court-martial of a deserter. Writes that he believes that strong examples of military discipline are necessary, and …
John Adams PapersRegarding Defenses of Baltimore & Boston, & Medical Establishment of the Army
Defends his actions surrounding the appropriations for the defense of Baltimore, promises to transmit all his correspondence with the Baltimore Naval Committee to Adams, as well as information on the …
John Adams PapersRegarding Allowance Certificate of Hugh McAlister.
Simmons notes that McAlister's certificate for allowance could not be paid.
John Adams PapersRegarding Additional Funds for Fort McHenry's Construction
Appears to state that Mr. Foncin, the superintendent engineer for Fort McHenry, will be paid out of government funds; says that no additional federal money can be allocated directly for the defense of …
John Adams PapersRecommendations of Thomas Pinckney as Lieutenant in 1st Regiment of Artillerists & Engineers
McHenry forwards a letter from General Pinckney, recommending his nephew Thomas Pinckney for a lieutenancy in the 1st Regiment of Artillerists & Engineers. McHenry concurs, noting that Thomas …
John Adams PapersRecommendations for Medical Staff & Chaplain; Approval of Officer Appointment Substitute
Adams recommends several individuals for medical staff in the 14th Regiment, as well as a man who has applied for a chaplaincy, whom he wishes added to the list. He also approves the appointment of a …
John Adams PapersRecommendation of Engineer for Fort McHenry's Construction in Baltimore
Recommendation of the engineer contracted to oversee Fort McHenry's construction, a Mr. Foncer [or Foncen].
John Adams PapersRecommendation of Doctor for 6th Regiment
Recommendation of Dr. Rover Cutler for the post as surgeon of the 6th Regiment, based on his experience and his education at Edinburgh
John Adams PapersRecommendation of Count Rumford, & Authorization to Offer Him Military Appointment
Adams lists the qualities of Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, acknowledging that it it is complicated to offer positions to those who left the country as he did [as a Tory], but authorizes …
John Adams PapersRecommendation & Request for Appointment of Lieutenant & Surgeon
Approves General Hamilton's recommendation of a man for a lieutenancy in the 1st Regiment of Artillerists & Engineers; also asks that a surgeon be appointed for the 10th Regiment, as its previous …
John Adams PapersReasons for Discontinuance of Augustus de Grasse, Engineer; Explanation for Letter Supposedly Lost in Postal System, & Recommendations for 6th Regiment Ensign
Lists reasons for Augustus de Grasse being "left out of the service" after being employed as an engineer, citing gambling with government money and lack of usefulness as an engineer. Advises that the …
John Adams PapersRe-Submission of Letter Requesting Engineer for Fort McHenry
Gilmer re-submits a letter from mid-February for which he never received a reply, which asked for the sending of an engineer to oversee the Fort McHenry construction.
John Adams PapersPossibility of Additional Funds for Fort McHenry
Addresses Foncin's new plan for Fort McHenry, and the additional funds needed to execute it. McHenry regrets that Tousard's original plan was not sufficient, and agrees that Baltimore's importance as …
John Adams PapersOn the Necessity of Both the Army & the Navy, & Congressional Approval for Military Supply Plan
States that the army and navy are equally necessary for the safety and prosperity of the U.S., and that "we must own the risks" as other nations do. Discusses the application of Hamilton's plan of …
John Adams PapersOn Army Discipline & a Sentence of Death
Concurs with McHenry on the need for enhanced discipline and punishment in the armed forces; asks for more information regarding the death sentence of an enlisted man.
John Adams PapersOfficers Required to Complete Pennsylvania Regiment, & Recommendations
Declares the number of officers needed to complete the set for the new regiment being raised in Pennsylvania, namely one captain and five lieutenants, and encloses recommendations for each post.
John Adams PapersOfficers Proposed to Fill Regimental Vacancies
Submits a list of names proposed to fill officer vacancies in the 16th Regiment, as well as the post of Major in the 12th Regiment, along with the recommendations which governed the choices. Quotes a …
John Adams PapersNumbering of Regiments & Its Effect on Relative Rank
Discusses need to number the new regiments, so that recruiting may begin and buttons may be issued, in a fashion that does not affect the relative rank of the officers now being appointed for those …
John Adams PapersNotification of Recommendations for Medical Personnel for 13th Regiment
Notifies Adams of the recommendations for several men for medical appointments [likely a surgeon and surgeon's mates] to the 13th Regiment, commanded by Lt. Col. Taylor. Asks for permission to make …
John Adams PapersNotification of Commissioning of Three Officers
Acknowledges receipt of Adams' order for the commissioning of several individuals -- one captain, one first and one second lieutenant -- and states that he has mailed their commissions.
John Adams PapersNotification of Bad Fever at Philadelphia, War Office's Move to Trenton
McHenry compares this year's fever to the bad ones of certain past years. Notifies Adams that his offices are moving to Trenton, and laments both the human cost of the sickness and the inconvenience …
John Adams Papers
