The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 59

ROBERT MORRIS.

TO THE GOVERNOR OF Ma.s.sACHUSETTS.

Office of Finance, August 4th, 1781.

Sir,

On the 23d of June last, the United States in Congress a.s.sembled, directed me to take measures for the speedy launching and equipping the s.h.i.+p America, and directed the Board of Admiralty to a.s.sign to me the share of the United States, in the prizes taken by Captain Barry, to enable me to carry their orders into effect.

By a letter from the Navy Board in the eastern district, dated the 18th of July at Boston, it appears, that the greater part of this money is already expended, and that more is wanting to fit the Deane and Alliance for sea. Congress have referred this letter to me, and in consequence, as I am convinced that expense will constantly accrue while those vessels continue in port, I request of your Excellency to furnish to the Navy Board, such moneys as may be necessary to fit them out, with all possible expedition. I must further entreat to be favored with an account of the sums furnished, that they may be carried to the credit of your State on the late requisitions of Congress, and the Navy Board to be debited with them in the treasury books.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT MORRIS.

TO THE GOVERNORS OF DELAWARE, MARYLAND, AND NEW JERSEY.

Philadelphia, August 4th, 1781.

Sir,

Being obliged to go to camp on public business, I shall set off this day. During my absence, it is highly probable that the service may require various applications to your Excellency. Should this be the case, they will be made to you by Mr Gouverneur Morris, who is my official a.s.sistant. I am, therefore, to pray the same attention to his letters as if they were written by me.

With great respect, &c.

ROBERT MORRIS.[40]

FOOTNOTES:

[40] _August 4th._ Having omitted in my minutes to make mention of the a.s.sistance I have received from Gouverneur Morris, I think it proper to declare, that he has most cheerfully afforded me every advice and a.s.sistance, which his genius and abilities enabled him to afford, from my first appointment to this time; and that I found him so capable and useful as to induce me to solicit his a.s.sistance in an official character, which having readily consented to, I made a verbal engagement with him, since confirmed by my letter of appointment, dated on the 6th of July last, being the date of the Acts of Congress, which fixes a salary for my a.s.sistant, and he is of course ent.i.tled to that salary from date. _Diary._

TO GEORGE WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

Camp, August 13th, 1781.

Sir,

The orders of Congress, which we have the honor to communicate, directing us to confer with your Excellency on the subject of the proposed numbers and arrangements of the army for the next campaign, not having pointed out the reasons for inducing the measure, we have the honor to lay before you our ideas on the subject, so far as we are acquainted with the matter, from a long conference at which we were present in Philadelphia, held by a committee of Congress, the Superintendent of Finance, and the Board of War, pursuant to a resolution of Congress, with a copy of which your Excellency has been furnished.

After the full conversation with which we were honored on the 12th instant, it is unnecessary to enter at large into those reasons, or to urge the pressing necessity of economising our affairs so as to make our revenues in a great degree meet our expenses. Your Excellency must be equally sensible with us of the necessity, and we are perfectly convinced that you are disposed to a.s.sist in every measure tending to promote so desirable an object. You are also sensible of the impolicy of calling on the States for men or money, in numbers or quant.i.ties so extensive as to excite among even the zealous and considerate, ideas of the impracticability of carrying on the war on such terms. Demands of this nature, instead of animating to exertions, are only productive of hopeless languor. Your mortifying experience of the inadequate compliance of the States heretofore, with your former requisitions, will explain the motives inducing to the expediency of moderating those demands, so as to render them productive, and in case of failure to leave the delinquent State without excuse. Your Excellency has no doubt considered that the cla.s.s of men who are willing to become soldiers is much diminished by the war, and therefore the difficulties of raising an army equal to former establishments has increased, and will continue to increase, and embarra.s.s the States in their measures for filling up their quotas, should the mode of recruiting the army be continued in the present line. You will also have considered, that the enemy proportionably debilitated by war, is incapable of opposing to us the force we originally had to encounter; and, therefore, the necessity of such extensive levies as we formerly raised, seems to be in some measure superseded.

In what degree the forces of these States should be decreased, we do not pretend to determine, leaving this to your Excellency's better judgment. But from past experience it appears, that the States are incapable of bringing into the field an army equal to that called for by the last arrangement; or, if all the demands of Congress on the States become merely pecuniary it does not seem probable that they can or will furnish money for raising, equipping, and supporting such an army.

We wish we were capable, from any information we are possessed of, to a.s.sist your Excellency in the investigation of the subject with respect to the probable designs or force of the enemy the next campaign. This must in its nature depend upon contingencies at present even beyond conjecture. At this time, therefore, in our apprehension, the only solid grounds of procedure is to consider what force these States are capable of producing.

Having thus, in general, mentioned the ideas which have arisen on the subject, we beg to leave the matter to your consideration, and take the liberty of proposing the following queries, after further stating that it has been thought that it would be expedient, in case of a reform, to lessen the number of regiments so as to make fewer commissioned officers and privates in the regiments. It has been supposed that a considerable saving would arise from this measure, by not having so many officers in full pay, with their horses, servants, baggage, and other consequent expenses in the field. Or if they remain in quarters from want of commands, they are in a situation disagreeable to their own feelings, and uselessly expensive to the public. We presume that gentlemen qualified for staff officers, and that artificers and other persons employed by the staff department, should not come into the calculation, as the officers at the head of those departments should be enabled to carry on their business without taking men from the line, a practice introduced from necessity, very prejudicial to discipline, and productive of pernicious consequences by lessening the effective force of the army.

Quere 1. Is a reduction of the number of the officers and men, as fixed by the last arrangement, expedient or proper?

2. How can the reduction be brought about, consistently with the good of the service? and what arrangement should be made in consequence of this resolution?

The answer to the above queries will no doubt include the number of men necessary for the next campaign, and the organization of them so as to designate the numbers of regiments, and the numbers in those regiments, both of commissioned and non-commissioned officers and privates, as well regimentally as by companies. The expediency of having fewer regiments of artillery and horse, and of consolidating the independent corps, will also, we presume, come into your Excellency's consideration.

3. What periods of enlistment, under present circ.u.mstances, are most proper to be adopted?

4. What regulation can be made to modify the practice of taking servants from the line by officers? and, on this head we beg leave to submit to your opinion a copy of a motion made in Congress on this subject.

5. What is to be done with officers by brevet, or those who have no particular commands? Can they not be placed in the regiments, or retire on half pay?

6. Would it be practicable, consistent with justice, and the good of the service, to call into actual service officers who have retired on half pay, by the former arrangement, to fill vacancies happening in the lines to which they respectively belong?

We have the honor to be, with much regard, &c.

ROBERT MORRIS, RICHARD PETERS.

GEORGE WAs.h.i.+NGTON TO ROBERT MORRIS.

Head Quarters, Dobbs's Ferry, } August 17th, 1781. }

Dear Sir,

I have in confidence imparted to you the alteration of our late plan, and made you acquainted with our intended operations. Besides the provision necessary at the head of the Elk to carry the troops down the bay, a very considerable quant.i.ty will be wanted in Virginia. I should suppose three hundred barrels of flour, as many of salt meat, and eight or ten hogsheads of rum, would be sufficient, at the Elk.

For what will be consumed in Virginia, I imagine the order must be general, as we can neither ascertain the number of men which will be drawn together, or the time they will be employed.

I have written to the Count de Gra.s.se, and have requested him to send up his light vessels of every kind to the Elk; but I would, nevertheless, wish to have all that may be at Baltimore, and the upper parts of the bay, secured. I shall therefore be obliged to you, to take measures at the proper time for that purpose. When that time will be, and when you shall give orders for the deposit at the Elk, I will hereafter inform you.

I shall direct the Quarter Master in due season to take up all the small craft in the Delaware, for the purpose of transporting the troops from Trenton to Christiana. Should he have occasion for advice or a.s.sistance from you on this occasion, I most request you to give him both.

I am confident it will be necessary to give the American troops, destined for Southern services, one month's pay in specie. This will amount to about ---- dollars. If it will be possible for you to procure this sum, you will infinitely oblige me, and will much benefit the service. I shall also stand in need of a sum of specie for secret services; I suppose about five hundred guineas.

I have the honor to be, &c.

GEORGE WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

TO GEORGE WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

Office of Finance, August 22d, 1781.