James Wilkinson Submits Bill for Servants, Likely Slaves, Booze and Horses as Senior Officer in U.S. Army

General James Wilkinson sent this bill for expenses from March and April 1801 to Quartermaster General of the United States Army John Wilkins Jr. (1761-1816). President George Washington had appointed Wilkins to the post in 1796, and he continued to serve until March 1802, when the position was abolished as part of a downsizing of the army.

The charges Wilkinson submits include those for dinners, brandy, gin, cider, servants, board for Captain Huger, and horses, and total £78..17..8. At the suggestion of Vice President Aaron Burr, President Thomas Jefferson appointed Wilkinson as governor of the Louisiana Territory in 1805. In that position, Wilkinson became a key partner in Burr's conspiracy to establish an independent country from portions of the southwestern United States at the time and Mexico.

JAMES WILKINSON, Autograph Endorsement Signed on Manuscript Document, Bill for Expenses, March-April 1801. 2 pp., 7.75" x 12.75". Expected folds; some tears on folds; general toning; very good.

Excerpts
"Sir / The above being for expenses when on extra duty, you will be pleased to discharge it & place to the account of contingencies.
"Ja Wilkinson
"Lt. Col John Wilkins / Q. M. General"

[Endorsement:]
"Received from John Wilkins jr Q. M. General, the above sum of seventy eight pounds, seventeen shillings, eight pence.
"for Conrad & Me Munn / Mr. R. Burford"

James Wilkinson (1757-1825) was born in Maryland, educated by a private tutor, and studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. His studies were interrupted by the American Revolutionary War. He served in various capacities and was sent to Congress with news of the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. After inflating his own role, he was promoted to brigadier general but was compelled to resign in 1778. He moved to Kentucky in 1784 and aided attempts to make Kentucky independent of Virginia. In 1787, he traveled to New Orleans, where he discussed with Spanish colonial officials the possibility of Kentucky's becoming a part of the Spanish empire. In 1791, he received a commission as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. After General Anthony Wayne (who had tried to court martial Wilkinson) died in December 1796, Wilkinson became the Senior Officer of the Army. In 1798, he was transferred to the southern frontier during the Quasi-War with France. Again the Senior Officer of the Army from 1800 to 1812, Wilkinson also became involved in Aaron Burr's conspiracy to separate western states and territories from the United States to establish an independent nation. He turned on Burr and testified against him, but his testimony was so self-serving that he was nearly tried for treason himself. After he survived a military court of inquiry in 1811, he was commissioned a Major General during the War of 1812. He also served as U.S. Envoy to Mexico from 1816-1825. Theodore Roosevelt later wrote that "in all our history, there is no more despicable character," and military historian Robert Leckie summed up Wilkinson as "a general who never won a battle or lost a court-martial."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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