Autograph Letter Signed

My Account and My Health

Among numerous complaints, Rivardi questions the accountant's rejection of extra pay for extra duty and laments the state of his health which has been sorely diminished by intermittent fevers and violent headaches due no doubt to the harsh climate at Niagara.

1799

04

28

Niagara

Alexander Hamilton

John Jacob Rivardi

first clerk of the Accountant's Office

Quartermaster's department

my predecessor in this post

hay and woodcutters

artificers

Secretry of War [McHenry]

whole Army

English merchants

Doctor [John] Coffin

Niagara

Detroit

pay of the soldiers

law

extra pay

order

monthly pay

extra duty

general regulations

precedents

stroke of a pen

unprecedented act of cruelty

Captain [James] Bruff's affair

state of my health

intermittent fever

climate of West Point

sufficient strength

advance of a few month's pay

season for travelling

journey

quarters and beds for 150 men

repairs

unwelcome news

subsistance of my waiters

rations

violent attacks of headaches

Resting on such precedents and encouragement it is a matter of no small astonishment to me to see my expectations overturned by the stroke of a pen.

1799042860301

1

Military
pg 212,
Niagara April 28th - 99
Sir

I receive this Moment a letter from the first clerk of the Accountants
Office with this Paragraph
"The Statement forwarded by you for the Pay of the Soldiers
employed in the Quarter Master's Department is inadmissible
there is no authorising a Soldier to receive extra pay"
I had the direction of the Soldiers employed in the quarter
Masters Department at Detroit; Signed their certificates
on which they were always paid five doll.rs extra pr Month
My Predecessor in this post issued an Order dated Junr 9th
which has these words "the quater Master will Settle
with pay & woodcutters who are to receive a compensation
To Make their Monthly Pay equal to the Artificers
finally: - A letter of the Secretary of war dated August
1st 98 has this passage: "With respect to the money
due the Soldiers for extra duty, it will be forwarded
as soon as Some general regulations Shall be made
which will apply to the whole Army".
Resting in Such precedents & encouragement it is
a Matter of No Small astonishment to me- to see
my expectations overturned by the Stroke of a pen
The men employed in the Q.M.rs Department have been
nearly all discharged from Service & paid for
their extra duty by order of the Quarter Masters
which have been bought by English Merchants
who look to Doct.r Coffin for the taking up of these
orders --- Indeed it would be an unprecedented Act
of Cruelty to make him buy so dearly the pleasure
of Serving the public for nothing
Should Captain Bruff Affair -much against my wish
Not be carried on - My stay at Niagara should cease
to be of consequence to me & in that ease I would
taken the liberty respectfully to represent that the
State of my health is Such as to induce me to Sollicit
to be relieved - At this moment I am So reduced by
the intermittent fever that I can hardly walk across
my Room -. The Climate of West Point would probably
restore me Sufficient Strength to make me fit
for Service -- In case I should be ordered from
here - I would beg besides a Settlement of what
would be due me at the time, an advance of
a few Months pay to enable me to leave without
difficulties a place which is excessively expensive -
I do myself honor of mentioning this Circumstance
in order to avoid Starting difficulties Should I receive
your direction for a charge of Situation
The Season for Travelling will Soon be at hard - &
I Should wish if possible to perform the Journey if
I am to undertake it Either in Six or seven weeks
or in case Captain Bruffs affair is to be examined
in the latter end of August Next. - I have now
Quarters & beds prepared for 150 Men - As to repairs
the Number of our Men is so reduced that nothing of
Importance can be undertake —
With the Most respectfull consideration I have
the honor to be
Sir
Your most obedient &
very Humble Servant
J J Ulrich Rivardi
Majr. 1st Regt [undecipherable]
Major General Alex.r Hamilton &a
P. S.
I received the unwelcome news that I could get no Settlement
for the Subsistance of my waiters while I was at Detroit
It is an object of 130 Drs for which I have the contractors
Due bill - I asked of the accountant whether I could not
draw those rations here an expedient which I would adopt
although I would by it lose one forth of the Sum - bit
I could obtain no definitive answer - I hope you will
have the goodness to excuse the incoherencies of letters which
I write during a violent attack of head ache —
J J U R
Major Rivardi
April 28. 1799