President James Madison Offers to William H. Crawford the Position of Secretary of War, and Crawford Accepts

A consequential cabinet position, coming on the heels of the Treaty of Ghent and end to more than a decade of European hostilities

William H. Crawford was U.S. ambassador to France during the negotiations to end the War of 1812.  During those negotiations, he was responsible for superintending the American consuls in Europe and keeping them informed of developments. With the Ghent Peace Treaty negotiations finalized and the War of 1812 over, Crawford requested permission to leave his position in France, return home to America, and resume his duties as US Senator from Georgia.

Upon his arrival home, he was greeted with a letter from President James Madison, informing him of his nomination for Secretary of War and requesting that he accept the position.  Crawford accepted and he was appointed Secretary of War by Madison on August 1, 1815, succeeding James Monroe. Crawford’s term as Secretary of War was short but consequential.  He presided over the military standing down after years of bitter conflict and also put reform at West Point, a crucial officer’s training program, at the top of his agenda.  Crawford was only the 9th Secretary of War.

What follows are the personal communications between Madison and Crawford, appointing and accepting the position of Secretary of War.  Both documents are present, and are the earliest such set we have seen of a US President offering a major cabinet position.

Document 1
Autograph Letter Signed, from President James Madison to William H. Crawford, Washington July 18, 1815, informing Crawford of his appointment as Secretary of War and requesting that he accept the position.

“Dear Sir, You will receive herewith the communication which conveys your appointment as Secretary for the Department of War.  It will afford me great pleasure if it should be consistent with your present views to accept it.  The delay in communicating with you on the subject has proceeded from the calculation that you would have left Europe before a dispatch could reach it.  I leave this one in the hands of the Secretary of State to be delivered on your arrival in Washington, or transmitted to you in case you should not pass through it.  I am myself on the point of setting out on a visit to my farm where I need not say that I shall be very happy to welcome you if your movements should find it convenient to yourself. Accept Dear Sir assurances of my great esteem, and cordial regards.  James Madison.”  

Document 2

Crawford writes to Madison accepting the Secretary of War post and promises to “honestly” discharge his duties, “support and extend the reputation of your administration,” and “to strengthen and perpetuate our republican institutions.”

Autograph letter signed, Washington, August 4, 1815, from Crawford to President Madison, diffidently assuming the position.

“The letter of the 18th last which you have had the kindness to address to me, communicating my appointment as Secretary for the Department of War was handed to me yesterday morning by Mr. Forrest.

“The evidence which this appointment affords that the confidence heretofore reposed in my integrity and capacity…is highly gratifying to my feelings, and gives you the best founded claim to my services. In entering your cabinet, I am conscious of possessing no particular qualifications for the office in question; all that I can promise is that my talent such as they are shall be honestly exerted in the discharge of its duties with an ardent desire to support and extend the reputation of your administration and to strengthen and perpetuate our republican institutions.

“I shall avail myself of the friendly invitation which you have given me of paying my respects to you at your seat in Orange on my way to Georgia. My departure from this place depends upon the arrival of a part of my baggage which I expect by every stage from Philadelphia.

“With sentiments of the highest respect, I remain your most obedient and humble servant.  William H. Crawford  P.S. I pray to make my respects acceptable to Mrs. Madison and accept for yourself the assurance of my highest consideration.”

Many of Crawford’s most significant papers were passed down in his family from generation to generation.  They contain his original appointment documents, manuscripts and documents relating to the War of 1812 (including reports from the U.S. negotiators), and letters of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Lafayette and many others. The document offered here is from the Crawford archive, was acquired from the direct descendants by The Raab Collection, and has never before been offered for sale.