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Letter regarding the appointment of the man who was to become first graduate of the United States Military Academy, which almost did not come to pass. Major William MacRea writes to (evidently) his superior officer, "By the list of appointments that has been forwarded to me in the 2nd Regt. I find that all the cadets in the Regt. have been promoted except one at this place in Capt. Maddard's Company / Joseph Garden Swift / and I expect the reason of his being neglected has been owing to his name not being registered after the accident of the fire in the War Office his warrant is dated last May by Mr. MacMerry he has constantly been with his compy. doing duty & being the only cadet not promoted feels much hurt and if I may be allowed to form an opinion is as well qualified for an Appointment as any of the cadets promoted if not more so than many of them... I feel much interested for him as there will still be some vacancies, and you must be personally acquainted with [Secretary of War] Genl. Dearborn I wish you would inform him of the circumstances...." MacRea's intervention was to bear fruit, and Swift reported to the Academy on Oct. 15, 1801, and became its first graduate on Oct. 12, 1801, at the head of his class (which numbered but two). Provenance: A private California collection.