Contemporary Copy of Letter

Need to Facilitate the Return of Detachments of Sick Men

Hamilton inquires about the need to facilitate the return of detachments of sick men and the necessity of advancing money to them. He assumes that the amount should not exceed two thousand dollars so he has instructed the Treasurer to send a bank draft for that amount.

1794

12

02

Treasury Department

Edward Carrington

Alexander Hamilton

Governor Lee

[Edward] Smith

sick men

detachments

Treasurer

supervisor

collector of Virginia

Bank of United States

cashier

agent for military supplies

Governor Virginia

Virginia

Treasury Department

Alexandria

blank drafts

money

illness

transportation of sick

1794120290101

1

2

Treasury Department

December 2nd 1794

Sir

Your letter of the 23rd of November is this moment received___

Governor Lee while in the Western Country informed me after the steps had been taken, that he had been under a necessity in two in-stances to facilitate the return of detachments of sick men, of calling upon Mr. Smith to ad=vance Moneys to Them ___ The inconviences of the Measure could not but strike at fuih exes, you the motices were laudible, and in collateral aspects the measure capedient __ But it was to late to disapprove or remedy. My answers would of course accord with the State of things _ __ __

Unapprised of the means in yours of Mr Smiths Command on the extent of this extra demand I am wholly at a loss how to meet in with accuracy. But as I ought to suppose it cannot exceed two thousand Dollars
Dollars. I have instructed the Treasurer to send you Blank Drafts for that [undecipherable] to be placed on yourself as Supervision on the Collection of Alexandrai or the Cashier of the Bank of the United States as occasion may require.
For the next I must interest you to do the Best which circumstances admit, in order that no body may be compromolled and the public interest may not finally suffer.
With Great consideration & Esteem
I am Sir
Your Obedient
Servant.
[Editors Note: Written on the left side, vertically (Recorded)]
Edward Carington Esq
Agent for Military Supplies __