Morristown, March 6, 1777.
Gentlemen:
It is necessary I should inform you of the changes which have happened
in your Company of Artillery, which should have been done long ago, had
I not been prevented by sickness, from which I am but lately recovered.
General Washington has been pleased to appoint me one of his
Aids-de-Camp. Captain-Lieutenant James Moore, a promising officer,
and who did credit to the State he belonged to, died about nine weeks
ago. Lieutenant James Gilleland, some time before that, resigned his
commission, prompted by domestic inconveniences, and _other_ motives
best known to himself. There remain now only two officers, Lieutenants
Bean and Thompson, and about thirty men. The reason that the number of
men is so reduced, besides death and desertions, was owing to a breach
of orders in Lieutenant Johnson, who first began the enlistment of the
company; and who, instead of engaging them during the war, according
to the intention of the State, engaged them for the limited term of a
twelvemonth. The time of those enlisted by him has expired; and for
want of powers to re-engage them, they have mostly entered into other
corps.
I have to request you will favor me with instructions as to your future
intentions. If you design to retain the company on the particular
establishment of the State, it will be requisite to complete the number
of officers, and make provision to have the company filled by a new
enlistment. In this case, I should beg leave to recommend to your
notice, as far as a Captain-Lieutenancy, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Bean is so
incurably addicted to a _certain failing_, that I cannot, in justice,
give my opinion in favor of his preferment. But if you should determine
to resign the company, as I expect you will, considering it as an
extraordinary burthen, without affording any special advantages, the
Continent will readily take it off your hands, so soon as you shall
intimate your design to relinquish it. I doubt not you will see the
propriety of speedily deciding on the matter, which the good of the
service requires.
I am, with the sincerest respect, gentlemen,
Your most ob’t and most humble servant,
Alex. Hamilton.