ESTIMATE of the expence of the Annual camps of
discipline as proposed in the foregoing plan—
arising on each of the first three years, and after
that period— of the annual expence of the
institution.
THE FIRST YEAR
10,000 Suits of uniform clothing
Stated at 8 dollars— each suit
of which shall serve for the three
years discipline.
10,000 Rations per day for 30 days,
each ration Stated at 10 Cents.
The expence of four complete corps of
Legionary officers of all descriptions,
for 30 days, including pay, subsistence,
& forage.
Forage for the Cavalry.
Straw#151 Camp kettles— bowls—
axes— Canteens— and fuel.
Annual proportion of the expence for
tents, for Officers and Soldiers which may
Serve for Eight annual encampments.
4 Legionary Standards.
Regimental Colours.
Consumption of powder and ball— Shot
and Shells— damage to arms and accoutrements,
and artillery, and transportation of the same,
stated at.
Hospital department.
Contingencies of the Quarter masters and
other departments.
General Staff, Adjutant General,
Quartermaster General, Inspector General
and their Deputies.
Entire expences of the 1st. year
ADDITIONAL EXPENCES ON THE SECOND YEAR
10,000 Rations per day, for 30 days, is
300,000 Rations @ 10 Cents.
The expence of 4 Complete corps of
Legionary officers of all descriptions for 30
days including pay, Subsistence & forage.
4 Legionary Standards.
Regimental Colours.
Forage for the Cavalry.
Tents— Straw— Camp kettles—
bowls— axes— Canteens— and fuel.
Hospital Department.
Contingencies, and other disbursements in
Quartermasters departments.
Ammunition, damage to arms and
accoutrements.
Combined expences of the 1st. And 2nd. year
carried forward.
THE ADDITIONAL EXPENCES ON THE THIRD YEAR
The expences of 10,000 Rations for 10 days
is
100,000 Rations @ 10 Cents.
Forage.
For the camp equipage.
Tents.
Hospital Stores
Ammunition, damage to arms, and
accoutrements.
Contingencies in the Quartermasters
department.
The total expence of the first three years.
It is to be observed, that the officers for four
legions
will be adequate to command the youth of 18. who
Commence their discipline the 1st. year, and that
the
same number of Officers will be required for the
second
year— the youth of the third year, may be
incorporated by
sections in the existing corps, so that no
additional
officers will be required on their account.
Hence it appears that the expence
of 10,000 men for one year, amounts to
20,000 for the 2nd year
30,000 for the 3d year to
If the youth of the three ages of 18, 19,
and 20 be disciplined at once— the last
mentioned sum will be about the fixed
annual expence of the camps of discipline—
from which, however is to be deducted
6,ooo dollars being the expence of the
standards and colours, the former of which
will be of a durable nature, and the Latter
will not require to be replaced oftener than
once in 20 years.
The annual expence of the advanced corps.
Thus for a sum less than four hundred thousand
Dollars annually, which apportioned on three millions
of people would be little more than one eighth of a
dollar for each, AN ENERGETIC republican militia may
be durably established— The invaluable principles
of liberty secured and perpetuated, and a dignified
national fabric erected on the solid foundation of
public Virtue.
The main and reserved corps, must be perfectly
organized in the first instance; but the advanced
corps will not be completed until the third year of
its institutions.
The combination of troops of various descriptions
into one body, so as to invest it with the highest and
greatest number of powers, in every possible
situation, has long been a subject of discussion, and
difference of Opinion. But no other form appears so
well to have sustained the criterion of time and
severe examination, as the ROMAN LEGION. This
formidable organization, accommodates to the purposes
of modern war, still retains its original energy and
superiority. Of the ancients Polybius and Vegetius
have described and given the highest encomiums of the
Legion. The former particularly, in his comparitive
view of the advantages and disadvantages of the
macedonian and roman arms, and their respective orders
of battle, has left to mankind an instructive and
important legacy. Of the moderns the illustrious
Marechal Saxe, has modelled the legion for the use of
fire arms, and Strenuously urges its adoption, in
preferrence to any other form. And the respectable and
intelligent veteran, late inspector general of the
armies of the United States, recommends the adoption
of the legion
*
"Upon a review" says he "of all the military of
Europe, there does not appear to be a single form
which could be safely adopted by the United States;
they are unexceptionally different from each other,
and like all other human institutions, seem to have
started as much out of accident, as design. The Local
situation of the country, the spirit of the
government, the character of the nation, and in many
instances the character of the Prince, have all had
their influence in settling the foundation and
discipline of their respective troops, and render it
impossible that we should take either as a model. The
Legion alone has not been adopted by any, and yet I am
confident in asserting that whether it be examined as
applicable to all Countries, or as it may immediately
apply to the existing or probable necessity of this,
it will be found Strikingly superior to any other.
"1st. Being a complete and little army of itself, it
is ready to begin its operations, on the shortest
notice or slightest alarm 2ndly. Having all the
component parts of the largest army of any possible
description, it is prepared to meet every species of
war that may present itself. And 3dly. as in every
case of detachment the first constitutional principle
will be preserved, and the embarrassments of
draughting, and detail, which in armies differently
framed too often distract the commanding Officer, will
be avoided.
It may easily suggest itself from this Sketch,
that in forming a legion, the most difficult task is
to determine the necessary proportion of each species
of soldiers which is to compose it; this must
obviously depend upon what will be the Theatre, and
what is the stile of the war. On the plains of Poland,
whole Brigades of Cavalry would be necessary against
every enemy, but in the forest and among the hills of
America, a single Regiment would be more than
sufficient against any, and as there are but two kinds
of war to which we are much exposed, viz, an attack
from the seaside by an European power, aided by our
sworn enemies, settled on our extreme left, and an
invasion of our back settlements by an indian enemy,
it follows of course, that musqueteers, and
light-Infantry should make the greatest part of your
army."
The institution of the section is intended to
interest the patriotism and pride of every individual
in the militia, to support the legal measures of a
free Government. To render every man active in the
public cause, by introducing the spirit of emulation
and a degree of personal responsibility.
The common mode of recruiting is attended with too
great destruction of morals to be tolerated, and is
too uncertain to be the principal resource of a
wise nation in time of danger. The public faith is
frequently wounded by unworthy individuals, who hold
out delusive promises which can never be realized—
By such means, an unprincipled banditti are often
collected for the purpose of defending every thing
that should be dear to freemen. The consequences are
natural, such men either desert in time of danger, or
are ever ready on the slightest disgust to turn their
arms against their country.
By the establishment of the sections an ample and
permanent source is opened, whence the state in every
exigence may be supplied with men whose all depends
upon the prosperity of their country.
In cases of necessity, an army may be formed of
Citizens, whose previous knowledge of discipline will
enable it to proceed to an immediate accomplishment of
the designs of the state, instead of exhausting the
public resources, by wasting whole years in preparing
to face the enemy.
The previous arrangements necessary to form and
maintain the annual encampments, as well as the
discipline acquired therein, will be an excellent
preparation for war. The artillery and its numerous
appendages, arms and accoutrements of every kind, and
all species of ammunition, ought to be manufactured
within the United States. It is of high importance
that the present period Should be embraced to
establish adequate institutions to produce the
necessary apparatus of war.
It is unworthy the dignity of a rising and free
empire, to depend on foreign and fortuitous supplies
of the essential means of defence.
The clothing for the troops could with ease be
manufactured within the United States, and the
establishment in that respect would tend to the
encouragement of important manufactures.
The disbursements made in each State for the
rations, forage, and other necessary articles, for the
annual camps of discipline, would most beneficially
circulate the money arising from the public revenue.
The local circumstances of the United States,
their numerous seaports, and the protection of their
commerce, require a naval arrangement. Hence the
necessity of the proposed plan, embracing the idea of
the states, obtaining men on republican principles,
for the marine as well as the land service. But one
may be accomplished with much greater facility than
the other, as the preparation of a Soldier for the
field, requires a degree of discipline which cannot be
learned without much time and labor; whereas the
common course of Sea service off on board of merchant
vessels, differs but little from the service required
on board of armed Ships, therefore the education for
war in this respect, will be obtained without any
expence to the state. all that seem to be requisite on
the head of marine service is, that an efficient
regulation should be established in the respective
states, to register all actual seamen, and to render
those of a certain age amenable to the public for
personal service, if demanded within a given period.
The constitution of the respective states and of
the United States, having directed the modes in which
the officers of the militia shall be appointed, no
alteration can be made therein. Although it may be
supposed that some modes of appointment, are better
calculated than others to inspire the highest
propriety of Conduct, yet there are none so defective,
to serve as a sufficient reason for rejecting an
efficient system for the militia. It is certain that
the choice of Officers, is the point on which the
reputation and importance of a corps, must depend.
Therefore every person who may be concerned in the
appointment, should consider himself as responsible to
his country for a proper choice.
The wisdom of the states will be manifested by
inducing those citizens of whom the late american army
was composed, to accept of appointments in the
militia. The high Degree of military knowledge which
they possess, was acquired at too great a price and is
too precious to be buried in oblivion, it ought to be
cherished, and rendered permanently beneficial to the
community.
The vigor and importance of the proposed plan,
will entirely depend on the laws relative thereto.
Unless the laws shall be equal to the object, and
rigidly enforced, no energetic national militia can be
established.
If wealth be admitted as a principle of exemption,
the plan cannot be executed. It is the wisdom of
political establishments to make the wealth of
individuals subservient to the general good, and not
suffer it to corrupt or attain undue indulgence.
It is conceded, that people, solicitous to be
exonerated from their proportion of public duty, may
exclaim against the proposed arrangement as an
intolerable hardship— But it ought to be Strongly
impressed, that while society has its charms, it also
has its indispensible obligations— That to attempt
such a degree of refinement, as to exonerate the
members of the community from all personal service, is
to render them incapable of the exercise and unworthy
of the characters of freemen.
Every State possesses, not only the right of
personal service from its members, but the right to
regulate the service on principles of equality, for
the general defence. All being bound, none can
Complain of injustice, on being obliged to perform his
equal proportion. Therefore it ought to be a permanent
rule, that those who in youth, decline or refuse to
subject themselves to the course of military
education, established by the laws, should be
considered as unworthy of public trust, or public
honors, and be excluded therefrom accordingly.
If the majesty of the laws should be preserved
inviolate in this respect, the operations of the
proposed plan would foster a glorious public Spirit,
infuse the principles of energy and Stability into the
body politic, and give an high degree of political
splendor to the national character.
THE END
Reports and Communications from Executive
Departments, 1789-1814, Records of the Secretary, SR,
DNA, letter signed by Knox.
Note
* Vide. letter addressed to the inhabitants of
the United States on the subject of an established
militia.text@note
© Potowmack Institute