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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Monroe, James, 1758-1831 [A general account of General Robert Swartwout's duties]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01743.02 Author/Creator: Monroe, James, 1758-1831 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Autograph document signed Date: 22 November 1816 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 24.4 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Written by Monroe as Secretary of State, recollecting the appointment and duties of Quartermaster-General Robert Swartwout, who served from March 1813 to June 1816. Monroe also served as Secretary of War in 1814-1815 and would have been his superior during those years. Swartwout was apparently seeking documents after questions of his conduct came up. Using cautious wording, Monroe recollects authorizing Swartmout's recommendations for deputies and assistants in January 1815. Also says it was decided to raise a large force for an approaching campaign and gave Swartwout the necessary powers to prepare for it and that Swartwout left Washington at that time to execute his orders. Also remembers ordering Swartwout to dispose of any stores that would have been useless after the war was over. Says he returned to Washington to dispose of articles of war "to avoid all possible loss to the publick."

Madison, James, 1751-1836
Monroe, James, 1758-1831

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