Complete Works. Hamilton Alexander
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them perfectly at ease as to our military operations. Hamilton now started in upon his work of reorganizing an army. Fifteen years had elapsed since the war of the Revolution, and it was a difficult matter to gather together a serviceable body of men in an emergency. However, he applied himself to his difficult task.
He was favored almost immediately by offers of service from many of his old comrades in arms.
Major Tousard, to whom reference has already been made, applied at once, in the following letter, for a position next to his old chief.
Lewis Tousard to Alexander Hamilton
PHILADELPHIA, August 7th, 1798.
DEAR SIR: I was extremely sorry that my being on a public mission at Baltimore prevented my waiting on you when you were lately in Philadelphia, and presenting you, or rather to the whole Army, my most sincere congratulations on the choice the President has made of you for an Inspector general.
Entirely devoted to the carreer which I have followed from my youth, which your kind interest procured me to enter in this country again; I would feel highly gratified to be more intimately attached to you and receive your immediate orders. I have often mentioned it to my friend Genl McPherson1 and even wrote to him upon the subject. The last Law of the United States presents a favourable opportunity for it by the creation of an Inspector of Artillery which is to be taken from amongst the corps of Artillerists and Engineers. The relations of that office must be entirely dependent on the Inspector General and consequently ought to be the man of your choice.
I will only mention my long services in that branch of the military duty which is contemplated by the Law, to determine your choice and claim your friendship but in case of indecision between myself and another officer. It was a natural consequence of my ambition and application to my duty, that all the principles of Artillery which I have been taught since the year 1765, all the instructions of our schools, all the Duty I have seen in that part should recurr to my mind, more especially since I am diverted of any other kind of business. The several memoirs and observations which I wrote upon the subject, and presented to the Secretary of War to be laid before the Committee of defence; the works I am compleating at Fort Mifflin; the plans I have presented to be executed at Baltimore; those I am ordered to fix at Tammany hill at Rhode Island are the proofs that I have not been thought unworthy the confidence of the Secry of War. He has before him all my commissions without interruption from the year 1765 that I was admitted at the school of Artillery at Strasburgh; Elève of Artillery in 63; 1st Lieut. of Arty canonneers in 69; 1st Lt of Bombardiers in 72; Captn of Arty in 76; Major of Arty in 80; Lt Col. in 1784. I leave aside all the other commissions of commandant in the several parts of St. Domingo, of General in chief of three different armies marching against the Rebels; My intention only is to show that I have been regularly brought up an officer of Artillery and taught all the details of their instruction. How far I have profited by, is what I wish you would try, in attaching me intimately to you and presenting me to the office of Inspector of Artillery. My zeal will redouble by serving under your command and the desire of justifying the interest of an officer whose appointment excited so deserved. transports in the whole Army.
I hope you will excuse my troubling you with so long a letter, and attribute it to my desire of being placed in a situation to claim your esteem and glory myself in it as I do in the friendship you constantly honoured me with.
With great respect
I have the honor to be
Dear Sir
Your most humble and very obedt Servt
LEWIS TOUSARD.
General North, the intimate friend of Steuben and a brave and experienced officer, wrote later:
William North to Alexander Hamilton
DUANESBURGH, Nov. 12, 1799.
You were right, my dear General, in saying that a soldier should have no other wife than the service; and I will add, that he should have neither children nor landed property nor be a guardian, nor a director of a turnpike road, nor plaintiff, nor defendant against a rascal who every day brings fresh actions, for seven years together. Either of these things forms an impediment sufficient to make one lose sight of the point of view, but when they are combined, they so twist and turn a man head and heels, that it is almost impossible for him to get forward in any line whatever; to suppose that he can in the new French method, look straight forward and keep his alignment, is nonsense. In truth, was it not for the point of honor, which like a will o' the wisp intices him to the front, and the prick of ambition which goads him in his rear, he never would advance at all. Fortunately, I have cleared my way of everything but my wife and children, with whom, as it would be unsoldierly to abandon them, I hope to be in New York by the 25th of this month, and when there I shall do whatever Heaven, and your Honour may think best for the service of our dear Country, without further let, or hindrance.
Please to offer my respects to Mrs. Hamilton and believe me to be
Dr. General Your obdt Hble Servt W. NORTH.
As soon as the prospect of war became generally appreciated other applicants for office from New York State presented themselves. Their names were submitted to Hamilton, who went carefully over them considering the fitness of the candidate and making such comments as he saw fit. This is the list:
| APPLICANTS | REMARKS | |
| 1. Nathaniel Paulding, | Probably a good Lieutenant, | |
| 2. John Treat Irving, | Unknown | |
| 3. Timothy --2 | Unworthy, | |
| 4. William -- | Drunkard, | |
| 5. Cornelius C. Van Allen, X, | Democratic, but upon the whole eligible as Second Lieutenant, | |
| 6. G -- I. S -- | Unworthy, | |
| 7. E. -- H. -- | Drunkard, | |
| 8. Michael G. Howdin, | A deserving man, but superannuated, | |
| 9. -- Kirkland, | Unknown, probably bad, | |
| 10. Gerret Hellenback 11. Nicholas Hilton |
|
Sons of Mechanics little known but it is believed would make tolerable Ensigns. |
| 12. W -- R -- | Unworthy, | |
| 13. Prosper Brown, 14. John Cuyler (Surgeon) |
|
Unknown, |
| 15. Dowe J. Fonda, | A good Ensign in the late War is worthy of a Captaincy but a majority would be too much now. | |
| 16. Volkart Dow, | A good Second Lieutenant, | |
| 17. Samuel B. Berry, | The same, | |
| 18. E. -- H. --1 |
|