Collection of 9 A.LL. [copies] collected by Caleb Gibbs, Boston [and elsewhere] : to various people soliciting support for his application for a command in the army, [various places]
1783
MSS L1988.12.1 M MB
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Title
Collection of 9 A.LL. [copies] collected by Caleb Gibbs, Boston [and elsewhere] : to various people soliciting support for his application for a command in the army, [various places]
Published
Boston|New York 1783 - 1799
Description
9 items ; 23 cm. (4to)
Call Number
MSS L1988.12.1 M MB
Note
Apparently in the hand of Caleb Gibbs -- see note at bottom of no. [6]
Letters and supporting douments relating to Caleb Gibbs's attempts to obtain an army command. Number [9] suggests one reason for the collection.
Correspondants: George Washington; Edward Hand; James McHenry, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams
Number [1], Headquarters, New Windsor, April 23, 1781a "Transcript of general orders [signed[ Edward Hand Adjutant General: "The Commander in Chief takes occasion to express his approbation of [Gibbs's] conduct while in the command of his corps of guards ...." Hand was an original member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati.
Number [2], New York, Dec. 1, 1783, a copy of George Washington's certificate of Gibbs's military service -- a draft is referred to in vol. 27 of Fitzpatrick. Writings of George Washington
Numbers [3] and [4], Boston, May 20, 1798, from Gibbs to James McHenry, Secretary of War, Philadelphia: "Perceiving that the United States are about raising a provisional army for the defence of our country, I am induced to offer myself to comman a regiment of Infantry." But see McHenry's letter to Hamilton 8 Feb., 1799: "I think [Gibbs] would have made a good officer but it is a fact that his character is very low in Boston, that he is looked upon as a triffler, and has no weight whatever ...." Hamilton papers, vol. 22, p. 473
Numbers [5] and [6]: an affadavit of Gibbs's "good conduct and ... experience of military discipline" signed by B. Lincoln, H. Knox, H. Jackson, and J. Brooks, Boston, May 21, 1798; no. [6] is a copy of [5]. All signers were original members of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati
Number [7], Boston, July 15, 1798, "Extract of a letter to Major General Hamilton" from Gibbs, mentioning his then current position as "clerk of the Navy Yard at 750 dollars pr. annum" and begging him "to make mention of me to the President of the United States .... Likewise hint to General Washington that I am once more ready to draw my sword in defence of my injured country." Hamilton was an original member of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati
Number [8], 22 January 1799 to Alexander Hamilton: "Having obsrved a list of appointments in which my name was not inserted, has filled me with disquieting apprehensions .... I flatter myself that I may be permitted without offence to appealto your friendship in order to obtain the regiment I solicit."
Number [9], Boston, 15 April 1799 to [John Adams] President of the United States, Quincy, [Mass.] enclosing six numbered copies of the above, several of which bear added numbers at the head of p. [1], referring to the content mentioned within this letter.
With 2 exceptions, paper size and watermarks (GR with shield) are uniform. The other 2 are 1/2 cm. taller and bear a watermark without the GR. The second of the two is also from Boston and is signed by Gibbs.
Gibbs was an original member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati
Letters and supporting douments relating to Caleb Gibbs's attempts to obtain an army command. Number [9] suggests one reason for the collection.
Correspondants: George Washington; Edward Hand; James McHenry, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams
Number [1], Headquarters, New Windsor, April 23, 1781a "Transcript of general orders [signed[ Edward Hand Adjutant General: "The Commander in Chief takes occasion to express his approbation of [Gibbs's] conduct while in the command of his corps of guards ...." Hand was an original member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati.
Number [2], New York, Dec. 1, 1783, a copy of George Washington's certificate of Gibbs's military service -- a draft is referred to in vol. 27 of Fitzpatrick. Writings of George Washington
Numbers [3] and [4], Boston, May 20, 1798, from Gibbs to James McHenry, Secretary of War, Philadelphia: "Perceiving that the United States are about raising a provisional army for the defence of our country, I am induced to offer myself to comman a regiment of Infantry." But see McHenry's letter to Hamilton 8 Feb., 1799: "I think [Gibbs] would have made a good officer but it is a fact that his character is very low in Boston, that he is looked upon as a triffler, and has no weight whatever ...." Hamilton papers, vol. 22, p. 473
Numbers [5] and [6]: an affadavit of Gibbs's "good conduct and ... experience of military discipline" signed by B. Lincoln, H. Knox, H. Jackson, and J. Brooks, Boston, May 21, 1798; no. [6] is a copy of [5]. All signers were original members of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati
Number [7], Boston, July 15, 1798, "Extract of a letter to Major General Hamilton" from Gibbs, mentioning his then current position as "clerk of the Navy Yard at 750 dollars pr. annum" and begging him "to make mention of me to the President of the United States .... Likewise hint to General Washington that I am once more ready to draw my sword in defence of my injured country." Hamilton was an original member of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati
Number [8], 22 January 1799 to Alexander Hamilton: "Having obsrved a list of appointments in which my name was not inserted, has filled me with disquieting apprehensions .... I flatter myself that I may be permitted without offence to appealto your friendship in order to obtain the regiment I solicit."
Number [9], Boston, 15 April 1799 to [John Adams] President of the United States, Quincy, [Mass.] enclosing six numbered copies of the above, several of which bear added numbers at the head of p. [1], referring to the content mentioned within this letter.
With 2 exceptions, paper size and watermarks (GR with shield) are uniform. The other 2 are 1/2 cm. taller and bear a watermark without the GR. The second of the two is also from Boston and is signed by Gibbs.
Gibbs was an original member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati
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