Document Signed

On February 24, 1807, President Thomas Jefferson signed "An Act authorizing the President of the United States to accept the service of a number of volunteer companies, not exceeding thirty thousand men" during the Second Session of the Ninth Congress; the following year Van Rensselaer, the long-serving adjutant general of New York Militia (1801-09, 1810-11, 1813-21), who later served as lieutenant colonel in the War of 1812 and as representative in Congress (1819-22), petitioned the federal government to accept one such volunteer company. DS, 4pp (2 leaves), 8" X 12½", Albany, NY, 15 November 1808. Very good. Mild edgewear and bit of age toning, but overall quite attractive and quite legible. Clearly marked "A Copy" at upper left of first page, most of this first leaf consists of the proposal that "The Brigadier Generals will proceed" to organize "the Detachment from the several Divisions" and listing regiments from the artillery, cavalry and infantry that will comprise the new company and other details. This is followed by a full and accurate transcript of the entire act signed into law by Jefferson, all five sections occupying the lower portion of this first leaf, all of the second and third leaves and a portion of the fourth, concluding with "Th. Jefferson" (not, obviously, in Jefferson's hand). The document concludes with "We the subscribers officers non-commissioned officers musicians and privates of a Comany [sic] of _____ in the County of _____ and State of New York do hereby associate and offer ourselves as volunteers to the President of the United States in conformity to General Orders of the Commander in Chief of this State.... in testimony whereof we have hereunto severally subscribed our names the _____ day of _____ 1808." This draft copy, complete with the four blank areas noted above, is signed large and bold at the conclusion solely by Van Rensselaer, who adds "Adjt Genl" below. Although just a secretarial draft or file copy, this is a fascinating and unusual behind-the-scenes glimpse into the administrative process for getting a proposed new militia company approved by the federal government.