Instructions for Winter Quarters & Paying the Troops
Item
Type
Letter Signed
Title
Instructions for Winter Quarters & Paying the Troops
Description
General Washington discusses his orders for the disposition and quartering of troops during the winter months. He considers the erection of huts more economical than renovating existing barracks. He is disturbed at the reports that money has not been provided to pay the troops since he knows that funds have been appropriated for that purpose.
year created
1799
month created
10
day created
26
author
sent from location
Mount Vernon
recipient
in collection
in publication
note
Letter in the handwriting of Tobias Lear.
Cited in Washington to Hamilton, 10/27/1799, and Hamilton to Washington, 11/18/1799.
Cited in Washington to Hamilton, 10/27/1799, and Hamilton to Washington, 11/18/1799.
cited note
Cited document that was neither sent to nor from the War Office
notable person/group
Alexander Hamilton
George Washington
Colonel Thomas Parker
Tobias Lear was in Berkley
Mr. [John] Mackie, agent for the War Department at Harpers Ferry
notable location
Mount Vernon
public ground at Harpers Ferry
Frederick Town
Carlisle
Winchester
notable item/thing
my instructions for hutting the troops
winter quarters for the three regiments
rough logs
slabs
barracks were not contemplated by Colonel Parker
want of money to pay the troops
appropriations
money is undoubtedly in the Treasury
notable phrase
it was determined that no situation in the vicinity of Harpers Ferry...was so eligible as that belonging to the United States
huts...should be made of rough logs, 16 feet square, each to contain 12 men, and covered with slabs
troops should be hutted in the manner they were in the late war
I am convinced that the expense of repairing [the barracks at Carlise] would be much greater than that of building huts
...a primary and important object, I mean that of having [the troops] in one body where they can be under the eye of a general officer and where the disciplining and training the soldiers can be much better effected than if they were in detached corps
I have reason to believe that Colonel Parker's regiment is at Harpers Ferry before this and I think no time should be lost in ordering the other regiments to the same place
as the soldiers will build their own huts, it is necessary they should begin them as soon as possible
I have heard of repeated complaints for want of money to pay the troops
if these complaints are well founded, you know as well as I do the evils which must result for such defect
it is well known that appopriations are made for the pay and support of the troops and the money is undoubtedly in the Treasury
document number
1799102660200
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | [unknown] |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Publication: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | George Washington | Mount Vernon | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Alexander Hamilton | [unknown] | [n/a] |