Draft Letter Signed

Yellow Fever Raging in Philadelphia

Howell discusses the accounts of the following: Colonel Hamtramck, General St. Clair, Captain Pasteur, Mr. Britt, and Doctor Allison. In a second letter (10/16/1793) he complains of the malignant yellow fever that is afflicting Philadelphia and has infected the Secretary of Treasury who has recovered. The Secretary of War is in Boston and therefore has escaped infection. Howell admits that he has retreated from the city to Montgomery County. It is estimated that 3000 people have died.

1793

10

15

War Department

This document includes two additional letters that follow the first.
Enclosure: Joseph Howell to Caleb Swan 10/16/1793

Note from transcriber Altonenb: This lagging end word 'is' suggests there was another page.
I do not see a direct connection to Yellow Fever in the text, altho' the Bounty could suggest soldiers left the city, and claims are being made about their departure possibly due to yellow fever.

Caleb Swan

Joseph Howell

Samuel Hodgdon

Colonel Sargent

Congress

Alexander Hamilton

War Department, Accountant's Office

Philadelphia

Albany

Boston

Montgomery County

malignant fever

yellow fever

epidemic

sickness

illness

death

1793101521002

2

War Department
Accountants Office

== Sir == October 15th 1793

Your letters of the 1st 4". 5". &

12". of August last with their several inclosures have been
duely received. ---------- The amounts of Coll. Hamtramck
I do not see that I can act upon, they contain advances
to officers, some of whom have settled their amounts, or are not in
service or both &c such sums as you have stopped will of course
on the entry of your amounts be passed to his credit & as you
no doubt have a copy of those advances it would be will for you
to Assist the Colonel in making further stoppages or in procuring
from the Officers such evidence of the application of the monies as
will substantiate a chance for the same against the United
States. I observe the sum of 100 Doll.s lost in the action of the
4th Nov: 9 I certified to be recc'd from Genl. St. Claire is in these
amounts opposed to the amount recc'd from Mr. Hodgdon.
In Capt. Pastures accounts no evidence appears of the inlistment
of the men for whom he has charge a premium & Bounty & premium[s]

It is generally to be observed that no charge can arise against

the United States for recruiting unless evidence is produced of
the men being duely inlisted & muster'd as required by the Act
of Congress. & as this matter that must necessarily take place, I do not
see why it should be expected to be dispensed with unless in
care there is proof of an unavoidable loss of papers ---
I am not yet informed of the arrival
of Coll. Sargent with your account & vouchers -- Your
advance to Col. Sargent for his pay. Subsl & Forage of 620 Dols.

is

[see note in Discussion]