Answering the Charges Brought Against Me
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
Answering the Charges Brought Against Me
Description
Rivardi responds in detail to Capt. Bruff's charges against him.
year created
1799
month created
02
day created
21
author
recipient
in collection
in publication
in image
note
Syrett listed this document in the Appendix to Vol. 22. Enclosed in Lear to Hamilton, 03/30/1799.
notable person/group
Tobias Lear
John Jacob Rivardi
Court of Inquiry
soldiers
teamster
axe-man
mason
blacksmith
Sergeant Brown
infantry
artillery
detachment
Orderly Sergeant of Capt. [James] Bruff
woman with child
servants
women of the garrison
our neighbors
notable item/thing
charges brought against me
my character
extra duty
public services
trades
vexatious transfer
superabundance of commissioned officers
clothing
promotion
papers of the garrison
dipatches
cruel treatment
guard house
dispute between two soldiers
stolen camp kettle
invasion of his prerogatives
public property
furniture
table made for me
floor of my office
chairs
material repairs of the works
quarters
house where I live
expense
sickness
rations
Doctor's returns
purity of my intentions
my innocence
accusations of a darker dye
democratical venom
instructions
long postscript
notable phrase
I prevented the cruel treatment of Captain Bruff to a woman with child when he wanted them to work and to act as servants in his house.
document number
1799022190201
transcription
Military only
pg 18.
The time which must elapse before a Court of Enguiry can determine on the charges brought against me, is a painful circumstance; and the Idea that during that interval, my character remains attached and impeached, induces me to add a few observationes to those contained in my letters - I detailed Soldiers out of their turn for extra duty, because it is an impossibility to perform such duty in rotation, without injuring the public Service. - a Man may write well and be a bad Teamster, or Axe-man; and a Mason or Blacksmith,
when one is to be had out of the line, cannot be replaced by such men, as know nothing of thoses trades.
3. The only vexatious transfer I ever made is that of Serjeant Brown from the Infantry to the Artillery, because in the former detachment there was a superabundance of non-Commissioned Officers and no Clothing whereas the Artillery wanted an an appointment of that kind and had no Soldier that could be commanded for promotion, as mentioned in my letters.
4. The orderly Serjeant of Capitain Bruff was the only one who could attend to the papers of the Garrison; I gave him leave as soon as the monthly dispatches were over, to write for Capitain Bruff, who to the last, used him as orderly Serjeant.
5. I prevented the cruel treatment of Capitain Bruff to Woman with child: when he wanted them to work, and to act as Servants in his house. I fancy, I even took them out of the Guard House: where he had confined them in that situation.
6. I heard once a dispute between two Soldiers, concerning a stolen Camp Kettle; but on Captain Bruff's complaining of an invasion of his prerogatives, I referred the matter to him.
As to the wasting public property by dismantling the Barracks &c for
for furniture, I had only one Table made for me - The floor of my office is so decayed, that the Chairs go through, I might have a new one laid, but the mere material repairs of the works prevented me from doing it. At my arrival, I found no quarters prepared; the house
where I live, and which had been abandoned by Captain Bruff was not worth repairing is now at very little expence in a condition to
be inhabited for years.
Lastly - I ordered rations to the Women of the Garrison when they were confined by sickness, and that on the Doctor's Returns. Having thus gone briefly through the whole of Captain Bruff's charges, I shall, with the consiousness of the purity of my intensions wait for the
opportunity to vindicate my innocence. - My retorting accusation of a darker dye against Captain Bruff would be out of place at this moment, but in time I may prove that his democratical venom nearly alienated the whole of our neighbours and that the orders which he issued while commanding were totally in contradiction with his Instructions. - Please to excuse this long Postscript and permit me to repeat the assurance of any respect.
J.J.U. Rivardi
Maj. A & E
pg 18.
The time which must elapse before a Court of Enguiry can determine on the charges brought against me, is a painful circumstance; and the Idea that during that interval, my character remains attached and impeached, induces me to add a few observationes to those contained in my letters - I detailed Soldiers out of their turn for extra duty, because it is an impossibility to perform such duty in rotation, without injuring the public Service. - a Man may write well and be a bad Teamster, or Axe-man; and a Mason or Blacksmith,
when one is to be had out of the line, cannot be replaced by such men, as know nothing of thoses trades.
3. The only vexatious transfer I ever made is that of Serjeant Brown from the Infantry to the Artillery, because in the former detachment there was a superabundance of non-Commissioned Officers and no Clothing whereas the Artillery wanted an an appointment of that kind and had no Soldier that could be commanded for promotion, as mentioned in my letters.
4. The orderly Serjeant of Capitain Bruff was the only one who could attend to the papers of the Garrison; I gave him leave as soon as the monthly dispatches were over, to write for Capitain Bruff, who to the last, used him as orderly Serjeant.
5. I prevented the cruel treatment of Capitain Bruff to Woman with child: when he wanted them to work, and to act as Servants in his house. I fancy, I even took them out of the Guard House: where he had confined them in that situation.
6. I heard once a dispute between two Soldiers, concerning a stolen Camp Kettle; but on Captain Bruff's complaining of an invasion of his prerogatives, I referred the matter to him.
As to the wasting public property by dismantling the Barracks &c for
for furniture, I had only one Table made for me - The floor of my office is so decayed, that the Chairs go through, I might have a new one laid, but the mere material repairs of the works prevented me from doing it. At my arrival, I found no quarters prepared; the house
where I live, and which had been abandoned by Captain Bruff was not worth repairing is now at very little expence in a condition to
be inhabited for years.
Lastly - I ordered rations to the Women of the Garrison when they were confined by sickness, and that on the Doctor's Returns. Having thus gone briefly through the whole of Captain Bruff's charges, I shall, with the consiousness of the purity of my intensions wait for the
opportunity to vindicate my innocence. - My retorting accusation of a darker dye against Captain Bruff would be out of place at this moment, but in time I may prove that his democratical venom nearly alienated the whole of our neighbours and that the orders which he issued while commanding were totally in contradiction with his Instructions. - Please to excuse this long Postscript and permit me to repeat the assurance of any respect.
J.J.U. Rivardi
Maj. A & E
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (2 pages) | WGO14 (2 pages) | Collection: Alexander Hamilton Papers | R: 16 |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Publication: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | John Jacob Rivardi | [unknown] | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Tobias Lear | [unknown] | [n/a] |