Regarding Losses from War Department Fire
Item
Type
Typed Document
Title
Regarding Losses from War Department Fire
Description
War Department accountant responds in conformity with Resolution of House of Representatives of 2 February 1801 regarding losses in the office of Secretary of War. Fire took place on 8 November 1800. Papers destroyed were those lodged on the 3rd story of the building. Accountant lists accounts of the Old Army.
year created
1801
month created
02
author
sent from location
War Department
recipient
sent to location
War Department
in collection
in image
notable person/group
accountant war department
William Simmons
Samuel Dexter
Secretary of War
House of Representatives
Congress
Old Army
paymasters
agents
paymaster general
commissioner of army accounts
William Colfax
contractor
Robert Balls
William Colfax and Company
Nathan Starr
notable location
War Department
Philadelphia
New York
North Carolina
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Vermont
3rd story of war department
notable item/thing
war department fire
resolution house of congress
loss
papers
supplies
swords
belts
scabbards
contract 1799
vouchers
paymaster general's accounts
document number
1801029921055
transcription
Accountant W.D. Letter Book G Page 377
The accountant for the War Department reports agreeably to the request
of the Secretary of War in conformity with the Resolution of the House of
Representatiges of the 2nd February 1801 as far as related to less ascertained
in his office in the House occupied by the War Department destroyed by fire
on the evening of the 8th Nov. 1800 [8th Nov. 1800. circled on typescript.] That the papers destroyed were those only
which had been lodged in the 3rd story of the building & consisted as follows:
RELATING TO THE ACCOUNTS OF THE OLD ARMY
[Left column]
Several cases containing muster and pay
Rolls, others containing accounts and
vouchers of sundry paymasters & Agents
for paying troops, and one case contain
ing individual settlements made by the
late paymaster General & Commissioner of
army accounts
[Circled text around the words
individual settlements....army accounts.
Illegible signature beginning with C ]
[Right column]
These papers could only be of
used in the examination of claims
for services prior to the Estab-
lishment of the present Government
which if not already settled are which if not already settled are
all barred & foreclosed by act of
Limitation. The loss will therefor
not materially effect the unsettled
accounts of the United States
Wm Colfax accounts as contractor for the
state of new York from 1 Jan. to 31 Dec. 1799
Robert Balls accounts as contractor for North
Carolina for supplies furnished in 1799-1800
Wm Colfax & Co. account as contractors for the
states of NY Mass RI & Vt. from 1 Jan to
the 31 Dec. 1800.
Nathan Starr's account as contractor for furnish
ing Swords Belts and Scxabbards per contract 1799
Part of the vouchers belonging to the Paymaster
Generals Accounts.
Dept War Accountant Office 2-6-01.
P 297 to David Henly Nov 14, 1800.
"The unfortunate accident which occurred last Saturday night in the
house in which the War office was held having taken fire and consumed
many of the papers belonging thereto, has put us in much confusion-my
papers fortunately have been [underlined] very generally [end underlining] saved- they having been removed
before the fire communicated to my apartments but those of the Secretary of
War are very generally consumed--
The accountant for the War Department reports agreeably to the request
of the Secretary of War in conformity with the Resolution of the House of
Representatiges of the 2nd February 1801 as far as related to less ascertained
in his office in the House occupied by the War Department destroyed by fire
on the evening of the 8th Nov. 1800 [8th Nov. 1800. circled on typescript.] That the papers destroyed were those only
which had been lodged in the 3rd story of the building & consisted as follows:
RELATING TO THE ACCOUNTS OF THE OLD ARMY
[Left column]
Several cases containing muster and pay
Rolls, others containing accounts and
vouchers of sundry paymasters & Agents
for paying troops, and one case contain
ing individual settlements made by the
late paymaster General & Commissioner of
army accounts
[Circled text around the words
individual settlements....army accounts.
Illegible signature beginning with C ]
[Right column]
These papers could only be of
used in the examination of claims
for services prior to the Estab-
lishment of the present Government
which if not already settled are which if not already settled are
all barred & foreclosed by act of
Limitation. The loss will therefor
not materially effect the unsettled
accounts of the United States
Wm Colfax accounts as contractor for the
state of new York from 1 Jan. to 31 Dec. 1799
Robert Balls accounts as contractor for North
Carolina for supplies furnished in 1799-1800
Wm Colfax & Co. account as contractors for the
states of NY Mass RI & Vt. from 1 Jan to
the 31 Dec. 1800.
Nathan Starr's account as contractor for furnish
ing Swords Belts and Scxabbards per contract 1799
Part of the vouchers belonging to the Paymaster
Generals Accounts.
Dept War Accountant Office 2-6-01.
P 297 to David Henly Nov 14, 1800.
"The unfortunate accident which occurred last Saturday night in the
house in which the War office was held having taken fire and consumed
many of the papers belonging thereto, has put us in much confusion-my
papers fortunately have been [underlined] very generally [end underlining] saved- they having been removed
before the fire communicated to my apartments but those of the Secretary of
War are very generally consumed--
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (1 pages) | ZCN16a (1 pages) | Collection: Printed Versions | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Accountant's Office | War Department | William Simmons |
| Recipient | Samuel Dexter | War Department | [n/a] |