Dividing the State of Virginia into Divisions and Sub-Divisions
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
Dividing the State of Virginia into Divisions and Sub-Divisions
Description
Washington provides his suggestions for altering the plan for dividing Virginia into military divisions and sub-divisions.
year created
1799
month created
04
day created
10
author
sent from location
Mount Vernon
recipient
in collection
in image
notable person/group
Alexander Hamilton
George Washington
General Lee
Bushrod Washington
General Morgan
Colonel Carrington
notable location
Mount Vernon
rendezvous
new counties
Hobbs-hole
Bowling Green
8th rendezvous
Caroline County
Fairfax & Loudon Counties
Fairfax and Fauquier Counties
Alexandria
Prince William County
Dumfries
Yorktown
Williamsburg
Northumberland Courthouse
Westmoreland or Richmond Courthouse
notable item/thing
design of dividing the State of Virginia into divisions or sub-divisions
headquarters
convenience of the recruiting service
names
alterations
map of Virginia
headquarters
navigation
supplies
provisions
point of centrality
General Lee's absenses
election of representatives to Congress
letters to Colonels Parker and Bentley
safe conveyance from Richmond
Post Office
commission
dissatisfaction of all
state of suspense
document number
1799041090101
page start
1
transcription
Private [in another hand:] p. 201 218 220
Mount Vernon 10th April 1799
[in another hand:] 93
My dear Sir,
I have received your letter of the 27.th ult.o, enclosing a deisgn of dividing the State of Virginia into Divisions, & Subdivisions, for the head quarters of the Rendezvouses in each; asking my opinion of the proper distribution of them, for the convenience of the Recruiting Service.
The Grand division of the State, I conceive to be well allotted -- and with the following alterations, the subdivision of it may be so like wise: but of the latter, I can speak with no precision, because of the number of New Counties which have been established, the situation of which I know not,and even the names of some were unknown to me before.
The alterations I propose, are as follow-- 1.st to make Hobbs-hole, instead of the Bolling Green, the 8th Rendezvous (refering to the plan you sent me) - because, as you will perceive by the Map of Virginia, Caroline County is the uppermost in that subdistrict, and the
Bolling
[in another hand:] 221
Bolling Green lyes at the upper corner of the said County. -- 2.d Let Fairfax & Loudoun Counties (which were formerly one) form a subdivision in place of Fairfax & Fauquier, which are seperated by other Counties. Alexandria, or ? Leeburgh may be the head quarters of that Rendezvous. The first is (comparatively) large & populous, & on Navigation, -- the other is 40 miles above navigation, & a small village -- both unhealthy, and well supplied with provisions &c.a --3.d Prince William and Fauquier ought to be annexed, instead of Prince William & Loudoun, which join at the extreme corners only. Dumfries in Prince William, or Fauquier Court H.o might be the Rendezvous. The first is on Navigation; the latter 40 miles above, & more central. -- 4.th York Town is more in the centre of the 6.th subdivision than Williamsburgh; & 5th, Northumberland Court House is too low for the 9.th subdivision; either Westmoreland or Richmond Court Houses in point of centrality, would be more eligable.
General Lee's absences from home, canvassing for the ensuing Election of Representatives to Congress, and an indisposition with which he has (as I have lately heard) been siesed [?],
from
[in another hand:] p. 201 222
from it, has been, I presume, the cause of your not having received an answer to your letter; for I am certain Mr. Bushrod Washington w.d have left it at his house as he returned home, agreeably to his promise to me.
Your letters to Colonels Parker and Bently I have forwarded by the Post; the 1.st under Cover to General Morgan, to whom Parker is a neighbour; the other to Colo Carrington who will be able to give it a safe Conveyance from Richmond; to the Post Office in which, it must have proceeded.
Not an Officer in this State (that has come to my knowledge) has yet received his Commission, to the great dissatisfaction of all, & relinquishment of many; who would no longer remain in a state of suspence and idleness.
With great truth, I remain
My dear Sir
Your Affect.e Hble Servant
G.oWashington
Maj.r Gen.l Hamilton
General Washington
April 10, 1799
[in another hand:] Genl Wa
General Washington
April 10. 1799
Mount Vernon 10th April 1799
[in another hand:] 93
My dear Sir,
I have received your letter of the 27.th ult.o, enclosing a deisgn of dividing the State of Virginia into Divisions, & Subdivisions, for the head quarters of the Rendezvouses in each; asking my opinion of the proper distribution of them, for the convenience of the Recruiting Service.
The Grand division of the State, I conceive to be well allotted -- and with the following alterations, the subdivision of it may be so like wise: but of the latter, I can speak with no precision, because of the number of New Counties which have been established, the situation of which I know not,and even the names of some were unknown to me before.
The alterations I propose, are as follow-- 1.st to make Hobbs-hole, instead of the Bolling Green, the 8th Rendezvous (refering to the plan you sent me) - because, as you will perceive by the Map of Virginia, Caroline County is the uppermost in that subdistrict, and the
Bolling
[in another hand:] 221
Bolling Green lyes at the upper corner of the said County. -- 2.d Let Fairfax & Loudoun Counties (which were formerly one) form a subdivision in place of Fairfax & Fauquier, which are seperated by other Counties. Alexandria, or ? Leeburgh may be the head quarters of that Rendezvous. The first is (comparatively) large & populous, & on Navigation, -- the other is 40 miles above navigation, & a small village -- both unhealthy, and well supplied with provisions &c.a --3.d Prince William and Fauquier ought to be annexed, instead of Prince William & Loudoun, which join at the extreme corners only. Dumfries in Prince William, or Fauquier Court H.o might be the Rendezvous. The first is on Navigation; the latter 40 miles above, & more central. -- 4.th York Town is more in the centre of the 6.th subdivision than Williamsburgh; & 5th, Northumberland Court House is too low for the 9.th subdivision; either Westmoreland or Richmond Court Houses in point of centrality, would be more eligable.
General Lee's absences from home, canvassing for the ensuing Election of Representatives to Congress, and an indisposition with which he has (as I have lately heard) been siesed [?],
from
[in another hand:] p. 201 222
from it, has been, I presume, the cause of your not having received an answer to your letter; for I am certain Mr. Bushrod Washington w.d have left it at his house as he returned home, agreeably to his promise to me.
Your letters to Colonels Parker and Bently I have forwarded by the Post; the 1.st under Cover to General Morgan, to whom Parker is a neighbour; the other to Colo Carrington who will be able to give it a safe Conveyance from Richmond; to the Post Office in which, it must have proceeded.
Not an Officer in this State (that has come to my knowledge) has yet received his Commission, to the great dissatisfaction of all, & relinquishment of many; who would no longer remain in a state of suspence and idleness.
With great truth, I remain
My dear Sir
Your Affect.e Hble Servant
G.oWashington
Maj.r Gen.l Hamilton
General Washington
April 10, 1799
[in another hand:] Genl Wa
General Washington
April 10. 1799
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (4 pages) | WGU11 (4 pages) | Collection: Alexander Hamilton Papers | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | George Washington | Mount Vernon | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Alexander Hamilton | [unknown] | [n/a] |