Discussion of Hugh McAlister & Issue of Citizens Entitled to Reward for Returning Deserters

Item

Type

Letter Signed

Title

Discussion of Hugh McAlister & Issue of Citizens Entitled to Reward for Returning Deserters

Description

Quotes a letter from General Hamilton, who agrees with McHenry that soldiers who apprehend deserters should be rewarded for doing so, as it would make them "zealous, and active in the search," and avoid expense in other means of catching deserters. Gives the account of Hugh McAllister, who received a certificate of entitlement to $10 reward after delivering a deserter to a captain of the 2d Regiment of Artillerists & Engineers at Carlise, Pennsylvania. Notes that Simmons refused to honor this certificate. McHenry is following the president's request that he investigate the matter. Asks that Simmons and the Comptroller of the Treasury investigate whether the resolution in the Appendix to the Articles of War, quoted by Hamilton, can allow for private citizens to be entitled to advertised rewards if they apprehend and deliver deserters.

year created

1799

month created

10

day created

14

author

sent from location

War Department, Trenton

recipient

in collection

in image

notable person/group

William Simmons
James McHenry
Major General Alexander Hamilton
deserters
President of the United States
Captain Miller
Infantry
Callander Irvine
2nd Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers
Hugh McAlister
Francis Gibson
Comptroller

notable location

War Department, Trenton
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Reading

notable item/thing

Articles of War
reward
apprehension
claim
certificate

document number

1799101440101

page start

12

Transcribe this document

Document instances

In image In source Location in source
[view document] (2 pages) IDI17 (26 pages) Collection: John Adams Papers R: 396

Document names

Type Name Location Notes
Author James McHenry War Department, Trenton [n/a]
Recipient William Simmons [unknown] [n/a]