George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, the War Freshly Won, Look to the Future of the Newly Independent Nation and Their Own Roles

A rare letter of Washington to Hamilton, on the status of the post-war developments: The U.S. military establishment and standing army, the location of the new nation’s capital, Indian affairs

 

“The debate… on the residence of Congress which is yet in agitation has entirely thrown aside for some time the consideration of the Peace Establishment – when it is resumed I will take care that your application comes into view and shall be happy if any thing in my power may contribute to its success.”

 

Public records reveal sales of letters of Washington to Hamilton in 1898 and 1954. We found reference of no other letters of Washington to Hamilton having reached the market

With the original preliminary agreement signed in November 1782, it was clear that the end of the Revolutionary War was coming. King George III issued a proclamation of cessation of hostilities on February 14, 1783, and Benjamin Franklin, representing the U.S., followed this with a similar declaration on February 20. The news of cessation of hostilities reached America by late March or early April, 1783. British commander Guy Carleton wrote Washington on April 6 acknowledging the official news of peace and making peace arrangements. The formal peace treaty– the Treaty of Paris – would be signed on September 3, 1783, and the British Army departed from New York on November 25.

The Military Peace Establishment

What would be next for the American military? What would it look like post-war? What would be its goals, strength, and priorities? Congress determined to appoint a committee to look into these questions. At this time Alexander Hamilton was a member of the Continental Congress. He presented his credentials to Congress in Philadelphia on November 25, 1782 and would resign in July of 1783. Hamilton wrote Washington on April 9, 1783, of the appointment of a committee, consisting of himself as chairman, plus James Madison, Samuel Osgood, James Wilson, and Oliver Ellsworth, “to consider what arrangements it will be proper to adopt in the different departments with reference to a peace.” The committee would also report to Congress on plans for the future defense of the United States and for demobilization of the existing Continental Army. At Hamilton’s request, Washington’s advice was sought.

On May 2 Washington submitted his “Sentiments on a Peace Establishment” to Hamilton. In it, he argued – controversially – for the establishment of a regular standing army. He laid out his recommendations thusly: “A Peace Establishment for the United States of America may in my opinion be classed under four different heads Vizt: First. A regular and standing force, for garrisoning West Point and such other Posts upon our Northern, Western, and Southern Frontiers, as shall be deemed necessary to awe the Indians, protect our Trade, prevent the encroachment of our Neighbors of Canada and the Florida’s, and guard us at least from surprises; Also for security of our Magazines [weapons depots]. Secondly. A well organized Militia; upon a Plan that will pervade all the States, and introduce similarity in their Establishment Manouvers, Exercise and Arms. Thirdly. Establishing Arsenals of all kinds of Military Stores. Fourthly. Academies, one or more for the Instruction of the Art Military; particularly those Branches of it which respect Engineering and Artillery, which are highly essential, and the knowledge of which, is most difficult to obtain. Also Manufactories of some kinds of Military Stores.” Washington gave details on all these subjects.

On maintaining an army he wrote, “Altho’ a large standing Army in time of Peace hath ever been considered dangerous to the liberties of a Country, yet a few Troops, under certain circumstances, are not only safe, but indispensably necessary.” He favored “preparations for building and equipping a Navy”, a “Regiment of Artillery…in proportionate numbers to the Strength and importance of them”, “Fortifications on the Sea Board,” and “Troops requisite for the post of West Point, for the Magazines, and for our Northern, Western and Southern Frontiers.” These should be sufficient to deter the British from causing trouble, and to deal with the Indians, adding it is “better to reduce our force hereafter, by degrees, than to have it to increase after some unfortunate disasters may have happened.” These troops should also…keep a watch upon our Neighbors, and to prevent their encroaching upon our Territory undiscovered…” Washington wants officers “well skilled in the Theory and Art of War.” He recommended “not less than two General Officers…They will take their Instructions from the Secretary at War.”

On June 18, 1783, after digesting and discussing this, Hamilton issued a “Report of a Committee to the Continental Congress on a Military Peace Establishment.” It stated, “The Committee are of opinion, if there is a Constitutional power in the U.S. for that purpose, that there are conclusive reasons in favor of a federal [military] in preference to state establishments.” The report goes on to recommend “The Military peace establishment of the U.S. to consist of 4 Regiments of Infantry, and one of Artillery incorporated in a Corps of Engineers, with the denomination of the Corps of Engineers. Each Regiment of Infantry to consist of two Battalions, each Battalion of 4 Companies, each Company of 64 Rank and File, with the following commisd & non commisd officers, pay, rations & clothing to be however recruited to 128 rank & file in time of war.” He also included other specifications for a post-war army. Congress, preoccupied with other matters, did not take up Hamilton’s report at that time.

A committee consisting of Samuel Holten, James Wilson, Daniel Carroll, Samuel Huntington, and James Duane was appointed on August 7 to confer on the peace arrangements with Washington, who attended Congress in late August 1783. This committee was charged with submitting to Washington the report drafted by Hamilton. Washington reviewed the draft, and his “Observations Consequent of a Request of the Committee” shows he approved some parts and recommended changes in other sections of Hamilton’s draft. The committee resubmitted the revised report to Congress on October 23, 1783. In Congress, some of the states were opposed to the Peace Establishment’s regular army, and it was not until the next year that Congress scaled back the number of men in the standing army and passed the law.

The Seat of Government

Congress adjourned on the afternoon of June 20, 1783, but Philadelphia was in a state of unrest as soldiers described as “mutineers” had been gathering in the city for days to demand back pay for their service during the war. Members of Congress, most notably Elias Boudinot, President of Congress, felt that the situation had grown critical by the night of June 20. By the end of the month, Congress left Philadelphia and reconvened in Princeton, New Jersey. It was while in Princeton that the Congress learned that the Treaty of Paris had been signed recognizing the nation’s independence.

After its removal to Princeton, Congress received offers of a permanent residence from several states. The subject of the future residence of Congress (which would become the capital of the United States) was the subject of heated debated during September and October 1783, pushing the Peace Establishment debate off the table. Congress left Princeton in November 1783 and removed temporarily to Annapolis. It was not until July 16, 1790, that Congress declared the city of Washington in the District of Columbia, the permanent capital of the United States.

Indian Affairs

In September 1783, Congress considered both the purchase of Indian lands within the state of Pennsylvania by that state and a proclamation prohibiting all persons from settling on Indian lands not within the limits of their respective states. In October, Congress received a lengthy report from the Committee on Indian affairs. That report, designed to set policy on key matters such as boundaries, peace, and white settlement, and which took a hard line, was the subject of much discussion in Congress. This also pushed the Peace Establishment debate off the table.

The report stated in part: “That although motives of policy, as well as clemency, ought to incline Congress to listen to the prayers of the hostile Indians for peace, yet in the opinion of your committee it is just and necessary that lines of property should be ascertained and established between the United States and them, which will be convenient to the respective tribes, and commensurate to the public wants: because the faith of the United States stands pledged to grant potions of the uncultivated lands as a bounty to their army, and in reward of their courage and fidelity: and the public finances do not admit of any considerable expenditure to extinguish the Indian claims upon such lands: because it is become necessary, by the increase of domestic population, and emigrations from abroad, to make speedy provision for extending the settlement of the territories of the United States; and because the public creditors have been led to believe, and have a right to expect, that those territories will be speedily improved into a fund towards the security and payment of the national debt…Your committee are of opinion, that in the negotiation which they shall recommend, care ought to be taken neither to yield nor require too much, to accommodate the Indians as far as the public good will admit; and if they should appear to be dissatisfied at the lines which it may be found necessary to establish, rather to give them some compensation for their claims, than to hazard a war which will be much more expensive: but it is supposed that when they shall be informed of the estimates of the damages which our citizens have sustained by their eruptions, and of the expenses which the United States have incurred to check their career, it will have a tendency to suppress any extravagant demands.”

Autograph letter signed, Rocky Hill, [New Jersey], October 18, 1783, to Alexander Hamilton, whom he addresses as “Colonel Hamilton.” Hamilton had written him asking to retain his army rank in the upcoming Peace Establishment, though he sought no pay or command.

Washington responded by thanking Hamilton for the letters containing his request, which he will favorably consider, and mentions the Peace Establishment, Report on Indian Affairs, and the debate on selecting a permanent home for Congress. The latter two matters, clearly to Washington, deferred consideration of the work of the Peace Establishment committees.

“I am favored with your two letters of the 30th September. The debate on Indian Affairs which I believe is got through, and that on the residence of Congress which is yet in agitation has entirely thrown aside for some time the consideration of the Peace Establishment – when it is resumed I will take care that your application comes into view and shall be happy if any thing in my power may contribute to its success being with great truth…G. Washington.”

We have never before seen a letter of Washington to Hamilton come up for sale, and a search of public sale records going back over seventy years shows that the last time a letter of Washington to Hamilton reached that venue was in 1954. This is truly an extraordinary rarity. It is also interesting that the debate over the site of the capital would in time lead to the capital being located near Mount Vernon and named after Washington.