Our Collection

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.

Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) to John C. Calhoun

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04872 Author/Creator: Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) Place Written: Nashville, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 26 June 1820 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 30.8 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy

General Jackson writing to Secretary of War Calhoun, attempting to mediate a dispute between General Daniel Bissell and the Ordnance Department. Jackson emphasizes the need to maintain a proper chain of command.

[excerpt]
[2]…He alone is the competent Judge of the necessity; and he is liable to punishment for any infringement of the rule, when that necessity does not exist; and it is clear to me that the powers of the role had such cases [inserted: in] View, or else the exception is worse than useless.

[excerpt]
[2]…Experience and common sense forbids such a construction, and demands that he who is responsible for the command, should be permitted to determine when a necessity for his acting with efficiency exists. In my opinion this is the true construction to be given to the rule; and of such an interpretation cannot be given to it, the sooner it is expunged the better; for it is subversive of subordination and all military principles.

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845
Calhoun, John Caldwell, 1782-1850

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