McHenry, James, as Secretary of War

Autograph letter signed, being a retained draft with extensive emendation, 3 pages (9 5/8 x 7 7/8 in.; 243 x 200 mm) on a bifolium of wove paper, Trenton, 5 October 1798, to George Washington, headed Confidential, docketed on verso of second leaf.

Sotheby's, 21 May 1993, lot 100 (undesignated consignor)

Autograph letter signed, being a retained draft with extensive emendation, 3 pages (9 5/8 x 7 7/8 in.; 243 x 200 mm) on a bifolium of wove paper, Trenton, 5 October 1798, to George Washington, headed Confidential, docketed on verso of second leaf.
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Reorganizing and supplying the standing army of the United States.

During the Revolution, McHenry had served as a staff officer for both Washington and Lafayette. He was named Secretary of War—succeeding Timothy Pickering—during the final year of Washington's second presidential term, and he continued in that office when the Adams administration took power. As this letter shows, McHenry continued to depend on Washington's assistance and influence in implementing his plans and policies for reorganizing the United States Army, even after the latter had ostensibly retired to private life:

"I have received my dear Generals two letters dated the 1st Inst. last night. You have seen by the newspapers that I have sent out an advertisement for the new regiments & cavalry; but I have not, as yet, been able to accomplish a like measure to supply them with subsistence. It is not however too late as contracts of this kind can be soon formed. When I mentioned my wish that it might be proper for you to express a strong sentiment to W. Pickering on the subject of the apparent delay in procuring the necessary cloathing, it was to avoid giving room to W. Wolcott to think I had been dissatisfied with him, and expecting the same benefit from it, by reaction, as if it had been directly addressed to himself. I shall send you in a few days the instructions which regulate the use of our muskets and bayonets. I have taken a good deal of trouble upon this point, and hope you will be pleased with them. The French standard as well for the musket as bayonet is strictly adhered to."

After lamenting the shortage of able assistants and clerks in the War Office, McHenry solicits Washington's advice on the makeup of a prospective dragoon force: "If you can take preliminary measures to ascertain the future character for the L[igh]t Regts proposed to be raised in the Southern district, without committing yourself I should think it adviseable, and wish to see the result as soon as possible."

Advised by McHenry—and facing the threat of war with France—Congress authorized the addition of twelve new regiments of regulars to the Army. Under McHenry's leadership, the country's scattered military garrisons were transformed into the professional, standing force that opponents of Federalism so deplored. According to Wright and McGregor's Soldier-Statesmen of the Constitution, McHenry was responsible for "regularizing military procedures, organizing the chaotic military supply system, and subordinating the military establishment to his authority as the civilian Secretary" (Center of Military History, 1987).