30 August 1814

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph document signed

Title: [Committee of Defence authorization for Dr. Robert M. Patterson to lead a Corps of Field Engineers]

The committee, empowered by the General Committee of Philadelphia, made Patterson the chief engineer and organizer of the corps and charged them with "the Defence of the City and its Environs."

GLC02978.01

1814/08

Committee of Defence (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Autograph document

Title: [Call for applications to join a Corps of Field Engineers for the defense of Philadelphia]

Calls for 100 men to serve as artillerists. Indicates pay will be the same as artificers in the United States Army. The committee was authorized to raise the corps by the General Committee of Philadelphia.

GLC02978.03

1814/08

Committee of Defence (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Autograph document

Title: [Announces that the Corps of Field Engineers will fortify the defenses of Philadelphia]

Indicates that a company of artillery will be devoted to building a defense of ports and obstructing the British army's approach during the War of 1812. The company would be outfitted with tools. They would come from the Corps of Field Engineers, which had been raised by the Philadelphia General Committee of Defence and led by Dr. Robert M. Patterson as the chief engineer (see GLC02973.01 and GLC02973.03).

GLC02978.04

1814/08/31

Fonciu, John, fl. 1814

Autograph document signed

Title: [Provision of Fortifications indispensable to the defense of Philadelphia] [French]

Fonciu, a French officer who had lived in Philadelphia, was Jonathan Williams' chief assistant in the volunteer association of field engineers organized by Philadelphia's Committee of Defence.

GLC02978.05

1814/09/02

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph note signed

Title: [Request for John Biddle to report to Dr. Robert M. Patterson and join the Corps of Field Engineers]

Biddle is identified as a member of the topographical engineers. Patterson had been appointed the chief engineer and organizer of the corps (see GLC02978.01) by the Philadelphia Committee of Defence. Williams signed this letter as "Chief Engineer."

GLC02978.06

1814/09/03

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph note signed

Title: [Request for Dr. Robert M. Patterson to continue building a fortification]

Asks Patterson, the chief engineer of the Corps of Field Engineers, to "direct & continue the operations on the heights next of Schuylkill [River] without delay.

GLC02978.07

1814/09/04

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Tells Patterson, the chief engineer of the Corps of Field Engineers, that a man named Jonathan Jones, who knows the local terrain, can provide assistance to the topographical engineers. Also notes a man named Spencer Sargeant will be retained for communication purposes, possibly as a secretary.

GLC02978.08

1814/09/15

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Requests that Patterson, the chief engineer of the Corps of Field Engineers, report whether or not a man named Dr. Paschall consented to having his grounds entered and upon what terms. Also asks him to report on others who had consented to have their grounds occupied and works built upon them by the Corps of Field Engineers. See GLC02978.10 for Patterson's response.

GLC02978.09

1814/09/15

Patterson, Robert M., 1787-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Williams

Patterson, the chief engineer of the Corps of Field Engineers, reponds to Williams' request (see GLC02978.09). Indicates that Dr. Paschall refused to allow works to be built upon his land, but may consent if the works are not near his buildings, which he feared would be destroyed in an attack. Also reports that another man, Judge Lloyd, consented to works being built upon his grounds.

GLC02978.10

1814/09/10

Goodman, John, fl. 1814

Broadside

Title: General Committee of Defence For the City and Liberties of Philadelphia

Applauds the formation of the Volunteer Associations for the Defence of the City and County of Philadelphia and outlines the authority vested in the Committee of Defence. Indicates that the rules governing its formation are prescribed by law, that voluntary service does not replace military obligations, and only those not currently in the military can come under the direction of the committee, volunteering imposes no additional duty and will not require any services that would not be required by the militia, and if volunteers exempt from the militia wish to remain exempt then they…

GLC02978.11

1814/09/16

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Reports that the General Committee of Defence had an interview with the Pennsylvania governor about the formation of a corps of engineers and pioneers. Governor Simon Snyder agreed to commission them as volunteers that could be called into service under General Bloomfield. Lists names of men to be appointed and at what rank. Patterson is marked first, as a captain. Williams asks if Patterson will serve and select men to fill other ranks. Hopes Patterson, who was a professor, will not refuse on account of his lectures. Also notes that there will be no difficulty getting enough men.

GLC02978.12

1814/09/17

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Discusses expanding the Corps of Field Engineers & Pioneers. Hopes Patterson, the chief engineer, has decided to become the first captain, which Williams asked of him in GLC02978.12, and will help decide who else become officers. Claims Patterson's background as a professor will make him a good captain and cause their defense program to be successful, and consequently expand.

GLC02978.13

1814/09/18

Fonciu, John, fl. 1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson [French]

Fonciu, a French officer who had lived in Philadelphia, was Jonathan Williams' chief assistant in the volunteer association of field engineers organized by Philadelphia's Committee of Defence.

GLC02978.14

1814/09

Manuscript document

Title: [Response to objections to the plans of the Philadelphia General Committee of Defence] [French]

Notes that "Certain observations in the Aurora...seem to disapprove of the system...of combining field fortifications with the maneuvers of troops for the defence of Philadelphia" during the War of 1812. Those who disprove recommend replacing retrenchments with a system of platoons. Provides several objections to the platoon plan and explains those objections in terms of military science and the current conflict. GLC02978.16 is a contemporary English version of this document.

GLC02978.15

1814/09

Manuscript document

Title: [Response to objections to the plans of the Philadelphia General Committee of Defence]

Notes that "Certain observations in the Aurora...seem to disapprove of the system...of combining field fortifications with the maneuvers of troops for the defence of Philadelphia" during the War of 1812. Those who disprove recommend replacing retrenchments with a system of platoons. Provides several objections to the platoon plan and explains those objections in terms of military science and the current conflict. GLC02978.16 is a contemporary French version of this document.

GLC02978.16

1814/09/18

Wright, W.E., fl. 1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Reports that, in accord with Patterson's "request & to accelerate the works," he has given a lot of assistance in the previous twenty days. Indicates that some on the Philadelphia General Committee of Defence have observed that he did so without authority. Requests that he be given some authority if he is to be of future service to the committee.

GLC02978.17

1814/09/18

Eckstein, Frederick, fl. 1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Seeks an explanation for why his name was omitted from the list of persons on the volunteer association of field engineers organized by Philadelphia's Committee of Defence. Recounts his admirable service thus far and notes that "The corps was to be composed of Gentlemen of Science and of honor - I feel my honor wounded." Patterson responded to this letter the same day (see GLC02978.19).

GLC02978.18

1814/09/18

Patterson, Robert M., 1787-1854

Autograph letter

Title: to Frederick Eckstein

Responds to Eckstein's complaint that he was omitted from the list of persons on the volunteer association of field engineers organized by Philadelphia's Committee of Defence (see GLC02978.18). Patterson recognizes Eckstein's service and explains the omission as stemming from a need "to consult the whims and the groundless prejudices of hundreds." Expresses sympathy for Eckstein's hurt feelings.

GLC02978.19

1814/11/20

Eckstein, Frederick, fl. 1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Quotes from Patterson's explanation of why his name was omitted from the list of persons on the volunteer association of field engineers organized by Philadelphia's Committee of Defence (see GLC027978.19) and seeks further explanation. Provides a detailed description of his service and how he learned he had been dismissed. Notes that he left Europe because he admired the Constitution and asserts that he owes "it to my Country, to my family, to myself, not to suffer my rights to be torn from me with impunity."

GLC02978.20

1814/10/20

Goodman, John, fl. 1814

Autograph document signed

Title: At a Meeting of the General Committee for the City of Philadelphia and the Districts adjoining:

Records a resolution to thank the volunteer association of engineers for their work along the Schuylkill River and other defense services. Also resolves to record the names of those volunteers in the minutes of the committee. Resolutions extracted from the minutes.

GLC02978.21

1814/10/28

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Asks Patterson to call the volunteer association of field engineers together and requests that the enclosed resolves (see GLC02978.21), to thank them for their service and record their names in the minutes of the Committee of Defense, be communicated. Also asks for a list of their names and indicates that he is sending an incomplete list in his possession (see GLC02978.25 and GLC02978.26).

GLC02978.22

1814/10/29

Manuscript document

Title: [Notice of a meeting for members of the volunteer association of field engineers]

Announces a meeting at Rubicam's Tavern "to receive a communication from the General Committee of Defence" (see GLC02978.21 and GLC02978.22). Possibly written by Robert M. Patterson.

GLC02978.23

1814/10/31

Manuscript document

Title: [Record of meeting of Philadelphia's volunteer association of field engineers]

Records that at a meeting of the volunteers at Rubicam's Tavern a communication was received from Jonathan Williams, the chairman Philadelphia's Committee of Defence (see GLC02978.21, GLC02978.22, and GLC02978.23). Resolves to organize a committee to produce a requested list of member names, to be available for future service, and to complete sodding at Fort Hamilton, "to prevent...all the calamities of the approaching winter." Possibly written by Robert M. Patterson.

GLC02978.24

1814/10

Manuscript document

Title: [List of members in Philadelphia's volunteer association of field engineers]

Jonathan Williams, the chairman Philadelphia's Committee of Defence, had a partial list of member names and requested that Robert M. Patterson make a list at a group meeting (see GLC02978.22). The engineers at that meeting resolved to have a list drawn up (see GLC02978.23 and GLC02978.24). This is probably the list Williams sent.

GLC02978.25

1814/10

Manuscript document

Title: [List of members in Philadelphia's volunteer association of field engineers]

Jonathan Williams, the chairman Philadelphia's Committee of Defence, had a partial list of member names and requested that Robert M. Patterson make a list at a group meeting (see GLC02978.22). The engineers at that meeting resolved to have a list drawn up (see GLC02978.23 and GLC02978.24). This is probably the list made by the members.

GLC02978.26