Massachusetts Historical Society
450 documents
Discussion of Two Courts Martial
Appears to forward proceedings and sentencing of the court martial of an officer of the 1st Regiment of Infantry, Lt. Jacob Krumer [?]. Reminds Adams both of the lieutenant's sentence as governed by …
John Adams PapersDiscussion of Proposed Military Storehouse & Laboratory; Forwarded Recommendation for Marine Officer's Post
Adams says he has only one possible objection to the proposed military campus (laboratory, powder house and warehouses) outside of Philadelphia: that the government is moving to the new city of …
John Adams PapersDiscussion of Officer Appointments, Relative Rank, & President's Power to Appoint Officers (2)
Discusses the men Adams has recommended for officer appointments, as well as the president's power to appoint officers, based on a recent Congressional act concerning this issue. Regarding the issue …
John Adams PapersDiscussion of Officer Appointments, Relative Rank, & President's Power to Appoint Officers
McHenry notifies Adams that he will announce the new officers' appointments, as per Adams' instructions. Discusses the ramifications of a recent act of Congress concerning the right of the president …
John Adams PapersDiscussion of Military Positions to Be Offered to Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford
Reminds Adams of the wish of the American-born Count Rumford to return to America; forwards some correspondence with him, noting that he has applied for an appointment in the U.S. military, which, …
John Adams PapersDiscussion of Legal Questions Surrounding Accused's Refusal to Plead at Court Martial
Discusses the legal particulars arising from Ensign David Fero's refusal to lodge a plea at his court martial; believes any different action by the court would not have affected Fero's stance, and so …
John Adams PapersDiscussion of Insurrection in Pennsylvania
Discusses the current insurrection in Pennsylvania, comparing it to the previous one in the state, and considering a plan concerning the region.
John Adams PapersDiscussion of Hugh McAlister & Issue of Citizens Entitled to Reward for Returning Deserters
Quotes a letter from General Hamilton, who agrees with McHenry that soldiers who apprehend deserters should be rewarded for doing so, as it would make them "zealous, and active in the search," and …
John Adams PapersDiscussion of Hugh McAlister & Deserter Bounty Issue, Requesting Additional Consultation & Explanation
Reviews the case of Hugh McAlister and the general practice for payments to those who apprehend deserters; points out that the regulation of this system depends on the construction of the governing …
John Adams PapersDiscussion of Envoys to Portugal and the Ottoman Empire, & of Treaty Negotiations
Adams is pleased that the instructions for envoys will be prepared in a few days; asks McHenry's advice on the deployment of them and the frigate that will carry them -- some will go to Lisbon, one …
John Adams PapersDiscussion of Bounty System for Citizens or Soldiers Apprehending Deserters, & Grounds for Rejection of Hugh McAlister's Certifiate for Payment Under This System
Discusses the payment of bounties to citizens or soldiers apprehending deserters. Reports that it has been the practice of the War Department Accountant's Office to pay money to soldiers searching …
John Adams PapersDiscussion of Appointment of Officers, Medical Staff, & Chaplains; Disposition of Old and New Regiments
Forwards letters concerning General Pinckney, as well as the issue of appointing surgeon's mates for Hunnewell and Rice's regiment. Advises against recourse to the "act to regulate the medical …
John Adams PapersDetails Surrounding Construction & Naming of Fort [Pickering] at Salem
Acknowledges receipt by the Salem Board of Selectmen of federal money for the strengthening of fortifications at Salem, Massachusetts; discusses details of the construction of the works. Also …
John Adams PapersDenial of Cannon Loan to Militia; Medical Appointments for 14th and 15th Regiments
Explains reasons for denying the loan of army cannons to the Northampton, Massachusetts militia, because of the need to keep army materiel in the best condition possible. Also encloses appointments …
John Adams PapersContinuance of July 22 Letter, with Enclosure from William Hawkins
McHenry continues a matter addressed in his letter of July 22, and encloses a copy of a letter from William Hawkins.
John Adams PapersConstruction of Fort McHenry to Proceed, on Funds Both from Baltimore & the War Department
Notes that as a result of communication both with Robert Gilmer and with other members of the Baltimore Naval Committee McHenry has authorized construction of Fort McHenry to continue based on Mr. …
John Adams PapersConsideration of MacPherson's Plans
Appears to address approval of General MacPherson's plan for the occupation of the rebellious Pennsylvania counties, as well as a pardon for a soldier.
John Adams PapersConsideration of Creek Indians' Refusal to Allow Running of Line Between U.S. & Spanish Florida
Quotes a recent letter from General Pinckney reporting that the Creek Indians are reneging on their promise in the Treaty of Coleraine to allow the running of the boundary line between the U.S. and …
John Adams PapersConsideration & Signing of Death Warrant for Court-Martialled Private
Adams notes that he has weighed the case of Joseph Perkins, a recently court-martialled private, and signed a warrant for his execution. In the manner of the discussion of Sgt. Richard Hunt's court …
John Adams PapersConsent to Exchange of Names Proposed by General Pinckney
Adams consents to the "exchange of names" proposed by General Pinckney in a recently received letter.
John Adams PapersConcerning Records of Officers at Court Martial, & the Appointment of Southern Officers
Responds to Adams' inquiry about the commission status of the officers comprising the court-martial of Richard Hunt -- McHenry believes that at least some of them are from the new regiments and thus …
John Adams PapersConcerning Officer Appointments
Notes a difference of opinion concerning the "construction of the Constitution" [apparently referencing Constitutional law concerning officer appointments, as the frigate Constitution had already been …
John Adams PapersConcerning Armory Employee & Proposition Establishment of Military Laboratory & Storehouse Near Philadelphia
Forwards a letter showing how he has settled the account of an assistant, now discharged, at Springfield [Armory]. Discusses recommendations for the appointment of several officers. Recommends that …
John Adams PapersConcerning Additional Companies of Cavalry
Stresses the need of clothing and other supplies for new recruits and asks why no issues have yet been ordered to Major General Hamilton to raise six additional companies of cavalry.
John Adams PapersCircular Letter from Secretary at War to Department Heads [Cabinet] Concerning Officers & a Court Martial
At the request of the president, McHenry lays out Adams' concerns over the propriety of a recently concluded court-martial in New York [presumably that of Richard Hunt], and asks for the department …
John Adams Papers
