Hamilton, Alexander

One page (9 7/8 x 8 in.; 252 x 203 mm) on a bifolium of laid paper (watermarked posthorn | gr), Philadelphia, 10 September 1794, to Samuel Hodgdon, with integral address leaf docketed "Letter from Mr Hamilton 10 Septemr 1794—Sundry stores to be forwarded"; seal tear and repair, a few light stains, lightly browned from previous framing.

Charles E. Mather (cited in Syrett) — Freeman's, 4 October 2007, lot 498

The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, ed. Syrett, 17:215

One page (9 7/8 x 8 in.; 252 x 203 mm) on a bifolium of laid paper (watermarked posthorn | gr), Philadelphia, 10 September 1794, to Samuel Hodgson, with integral address leaf docketed "Letter from Mr Hamilton 10 Septemr 1794—Sundry stores to be forwarded"; seal tear and repair, a few light stains, lightly browned from previous framing.
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Secretary Hamilton sends Hodgdon, commissary of military stores, detailed instructions for arming militia troops to put down the Whiskey Rebellion.

"I request that you will immediately forward to Winchester in Virginia 75 pair Horsemen's pistols 150 ditto swords with belts 200 valices, to Baltimore in Maryland, 50 pair of Horsemens pistols, one hundred ditto Swords, with belts and 100 valices, together with Knapsacks canteens & Camp kettles sufficient for 1000 men.

"Tents and the remainder of the camp equipage for the Maryland Militia must be forwarded to Frederick Town in that state. Whatever goes to Maryland must be addressed to the order of George Gale Esquire. Not a moment should be lost in forwarding the remainder of the Camp Equipage destined for Virginia.

"I rely too that all the needful ammunition of every sort will be forwarded without delay, that for Virginia to Winchester, that for Maryland to Williamsport, that for Jersey & Pensylvania to Carlisle. It is the intention that one half of the Artillery go to the Virginia & Maryland Militia who are to unite at Fort Cumberland—the other half to Carlisle."

Hamilton gives further orders for the dispersal of the munitions and asks in a marginal postscript, "Be so good as to send me a copy of this letter."

The Whiskey Rebellion—a revolt by western frontiersmen (many of whom where veterans of the Revolutionary War) against a federal excise tax on whiskey—had been festering for nearly three years until President Washington determined to use military force to bring it to an end. The insurrection collapsed as soon as troops marched into western Pennsylvania, and most of its leaders evaded punishment.