From Alexander Hamilton to Ephraim Blaine, 12 September 1794
To Ephraim Blaine1
Philadelphia Sepr. 12. 1794
Sir
I am desirous of availing myself of your Agency for supplying with transportation forage straw & fuel the Pensylvania & New Jersey Militia destined to act against the insurgents in the Western Parts of Pensylvania. The number to be supplied may amount to 6300 infantry and 1000 horse.
You will have to take up the supply at Carlisle and continue it Westward—preparing as fast as it can be done three weeks supply of forage & having due regard to the security of the Deposits.
With regard to waggons you need do nothing more at present than ascertain where & how soon they can be had; as the Pensylvania Militia will come forward with Waggons for the entire expedition, and the Jersey Militia with waggons that will answer to transport them to Bedford, but not over the Mountains as I am told they are not fit for that service. You will observe that provision-waggons are to be procured by Mr. Eli Williams2 the bearer of this letter.
The Jersey Militia will amount to 1600 infantry & 500 Cavalry.
With esteem I am Sir Your obed servant
Alex Hamilton
P.S Your compensation would be a salary per Month equal to the pay & subsistence of a Lt Col. Commandant. Mr. Williams is instructed to deliver you 5000 Dollars to enter upon the service.3
Ephrain Blaine Esqr
ALS, Ephraim Blaine Papers, Library of Congress; copy, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford.
1. This letter was enclosed in H to Elie Williams, September 12, 1794.
Blaine, who had succeeded Jeremiah Wadsworth as commissary general during the American Revolution, was a resident of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1794 he was assistant quartermaster general of the militia army.
2. Elie Williams and Robert Elliot of Maryland were Army contractors for the western posts. Williams, a brother of Otho H. Williams, had been appointed agent for provisioning the militia army. See H to Elie Williams, September 12, 1794.
3. Williams paid Blaine five thousand dollars on September 22, 1794 (D, RG 217, Miscellaneous Treasury Accounts, 1790–1894, Account No. 9550, National Archives).