quo 2000 WILLIAM L.CLEMENTS LIBRARY OF AMERICAN HISTORY UNIVERSITYOF MICHIGAN Blake CVC 18 hondenmlk Sabin 91394 von 18796 Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhaizh Augusting baron von, 1780-1794. А L ET T TER ON.THE S U BJECT Ο Ε Α Ν ESTABLISHED MILITIA. A L ET Τ Τ Ε R T R Ο Ν. Τ Η Ε S U B' JE CT OF AN ESTABLISHED MILITIA, A N D MILITARY ARRANGEMENTS, ADDRESSED TO THE INHABITANTS Ο F Τ Η Ε UNITED STATES, BY BARON DE ST E U BE N. IT IS NOT NUMBERS WHICH DECIDES THE SUCCESS OF A WARIT IS THE DISCIPLINE OF TROOPS WELL FORMED AND TRAINED TO MILITARY MANEUVRES. NEW-YORK: PRINTED BY J. M‘LEAN AND CO. MDCCLXXXIV. STATOVANIA YAATIT CATALAHTI Патруль CUSTOINTI TODONTOSTI TORE ocess Friends and Fellow Citizens, obramos o Ito It T is the duty of every member of the community, particularly in a Republic, to be attentive to its welfare, and to exert himſelf to contribute to its proſperity. Under the influence of this idea permit me to engage your attention, on a ſub- ject of the utmoſt importance to every country, but more particularly to one having fo recently emerged from the waves of deſpotiſm, and now taking her fation amongſt the Nations, on the broad baſis of Liberty and Independence. I have riſqued my fortune in the general ſcale, and hazarded my life for the at- tainment of the ineſtimable bleſſings of Liberty, for which you have bravely fought, bled, and conquered. I acknowledge myſelf intereſted for your hap- pineſs and cannot be filent.ssa 1500 hoito Blitz odblodilo Forg Tuo Tome HAVING ſpent the greateſt part of my life in military purfuits, I feel a con- fidence in my ſubject; and thinking it by no means probable that I fhall ever engage on the buſy theatre of life again, having no perſonal views to anſwer by the operation of the fyftem, I ſhall write with freedom, confident that if any idea not immediately connected with the fubject fhould fall from my pen, it will be aſcribed not to the vanity or aſſurance of a political projector, but to that honeſt angiety which I have ever felt for the dignity and happineſs of this riſing -empire, and indoonis THE a ( 2 ) The immediate object of my addreſs is to hold up to your calm confideration what I conceive to be the beſt poſſible Military Eſtabliſhment for the United States.- -Be not alarmed Fellow Citizens at the expreffion; for no country ever riſqued their political exiſtence without one that did not fall a prey to the avarice or ambition of her neighbours. Though America has hitherto been ſucceſsful, and though no immediate cloud ſeems to threaten the ſunſhine of her tranquility, yet it would be idle indeed were we to conclude from thence that ſhe was always to ſtand exempted from the fortunes and fate of other nations. The local ſituation of America, happily removed from Europe and her wrange lings, muft long continue to make a large army unneceffary it is not however without its difficulties and its dangers. a On the Eaſt an unguarded coaſt, and a dangerous and formidable Colony planted. On the Weſt a defenceleſs frontiers-Neighbours on the one ſide who may never be friends; and Savages on the other who are unalterably your ene. mies.—This is your local ſituation. The ſecurity of the former muft necef- farily be committed in a great meaſure to a Navy; but a Navy can only grow out of dock-yards and arſenals, and the well regulated commerce of your coun try; and until they begin to operate, for they are the products of induſtry and time.--Your principal ports at leaſt ſhould be raiſed ſuperior to the fear of injury, or the diſhonour of inſult. The latter, viz. the protection of your Weſtern frontier, is a fubje&t of pera haps more immediate importance ; for upon this reſts not only your ſhare of a moſt lucrative commerce, but cloſely connects with it the peace, proſperity, and extenſions of your Weſtern ſettlements. Theſe objects are not to be ſecured but by a chain of well choſen pofts, ſtrongly fortified and reſpectably garriſoned. Hence ariſes the neceſity of an eſtabliſhed Continental Corps ; and as their fer- vices ( 3 ) rices will be lafting and national, their eſtabliſhment ought to be foederal and permanent. To draught a Militia for ſuch duty, ſo diſtant from their homes, and fe much more trying to patience than to valour, would be extremely embarraſſing and expenſive, and fall infinitely ſhort of both the wiſhes and expectations of Government.-But independent of arguments reſulting from the nature of the ſervice or general expence, individual embarraſſments or eventual diſappoint- ments, which muſt avail every plan for performing it by Militia draughts--- there are other and very powerful motives for a ſmall regular establiſhment. A SPIRIT of Providence is one of the ſtrongeſt aſſurances of national wiſdom, and it may not be improper to lay out your acceunts for foreign war or do- meitic ſtruggle.- -Where, in an exigency of this kind, without an eſtabliſh- ment, would government look up for military talents and experience! Would ſhe call upon her ſervants who have been engaged in the late controverſy ? If ſhe did ſhe ſhould find many, if not all of thoſe to whom ſhe could moft ſafely have committed the intereſt of the Republic, old or diſabled-bufy or diffa- tisfied-diffident of themſelves--fuperior to the neceffity of hazarding either life, reputation, or eaſe; and totally loit to every military idea and remem brance, except the hardihips and the cares. -If we examine mankind under the impreſions of property and intereſt, we will find that to make any art a ſtudy it ſhould not only be a paſſion but a buſineſs.-The Merchant may read Marſhal Saxe, the Mathematician Monſieur Vauban, but it is the Soldier alone who regards their leſſons and takes up the ſword; not as the haſty avenger of a ſudden wrong, but as his companion for life, that will ſtudy and digeſt them.. I AM conſcious in the opinion of many I am undertaking a difficult tak in attempting to convince a free people, who have eſtabliſhed their liberties by the unparalleled exerciſe of their virtues, that a permanent Military. Eſtabliſhment A Z (4) is neceſſary to their happineſs, abſolutely fo to their fæderal exiſtence.--I fhall not in this Effay addreſs your paffions, but I ſhall appeal forcibly to your reaſon. I ſhall convince you by the ſtatement of a regular and exact calculation, that your preſent fyftem of Militia draughts recommended by Congreſs, is not only impracticable in itſelf, and replete with every inconvenience that can ſhackle mi- litary moveinents, but it takes a double proportion of every neceſſary to collect and ſtation them, and more than double the fum to fupport your frontier in this mode, than by a ſmall regular eſtabliſhment.Every objection to this fyftem the operations of ſimple reaſoning will fully obviate, by attending to the numbers and materials that ſhall compoſe your eſtabliſhment, and the arrange- ment that may be made concerning enliſtment, reception and maſter, fources but too often of much unneceffary expenditure, and of the moſt flagrant abufe. a Upon a review of all the military of Europe, there does not appear to be a fingle form which could be ſafely adopted by the United States; they are unex- ceptionably 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 fpirit 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 re- fpective 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 afferting, that whether it be examined as applicable to all coun- tries, or as it may more immediately apply to the exiſting or probable neceſſity of this, it will be found ſtrikingly ſuperior to any other-ift. Being a compleat and little army of itſelf, it is ready to begin its operations on the ſhorteſt notice or flighteſt alarm.-2d. Having all the component parts of the largeft army of any poſible deſcription, it is prepared to meet every ſpecies of war that may preſent itſelf.--And, 3d. As in every caſe of detachment the firſt conſtitutional principle will be preſerved, and the embaraſſments of draught- ing ( 5 ) ing and detail, which in armies differently framed too often diftra& the com- manding officer, will be avoided. oduto Bernd 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 fol- diers which is to compoſe it; this muſt obviouſly depend upon what will be the theatre, and what the ſtyle of the war. On the plains of Peland, whole brigades of cavalry would be neceſſary againſt every enemy--but in the foreſt and among the hills of America, a fingle 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 ſea ſide 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 Muſketteers and Light Infantry ſhould make the greateſt part of your army; on theſe principles I ſhould propoſe the follow- ing draught.---That a Legion conſiſt, iſt. Of a Legionary Brigade and Re- . gimental Staff.- -2d. Of two Brigades of Muſketteers, each Brigade of two Regiments, each Regiment of eight Companies forming two Battalions, each Company of a Captain, Lieutenant, Enfigni, fix Sergeants, one Drum, one Fife, fixty Privates, and four Supernumeraries.---3d. Of a Battalion of Rifle-men of four Companies, each Company to have a Captain, three Lieuten- ant's, fix Sergeants, a Bugle-horn and Drum, fixty Privates, and four Super- numeraries.- 4th. A Diviſion of Field Artillery conſiſting of two Com- panies, each to have a Captain, Captain-Lieutenant, three Lieutenants, fix Sergeants, twenty Artificers, forty Matroffes, Drum, Fife, and four Super- numeraries.-_-5th. A Squadron of Cavalry conſiſting of two Troops, each Troop to have a Captain, two Lieutenants, a Cornet, fix Sergeants, one Far- rier, one Saddler, one Trumpeter, fixty Dragoons, and four Supernumeraries. -6th. Of a Train of Artillery and Equipage, to conſiſt of one Quarter- Maſter, one Clothing and Pay-Mafter, five Conductors, twenty Artificers, and feventy Waggoners and Drivers, The - (6) The principal Staff and Regimental Staff Oficers, will be named by Con. greſs-the fubordinate Staff by Heads of Departments—both to be commif} fioned by Congreſs, and ſubject to their orders alone. The men will be en- liſted for eight years, and ſupported at the common expence of the United States, who after the expiration of their enliſtment will accomodate each man with a given quantity of land. The moſt exact uniformity ſhould be eſta- bliſhed thoughout the component parts of this Corps. The deſtinction of States ſhould be carefully avoided; and their ſervice as well as their recompenſe te entirely dependent upon Congreſs.---The Corps of Artillery, though not a part of the Legion (excepting the Field Artillery), bears an immediate rela- tion to it, and it cannot be more properly conſidered than at this moment, It is not neceſſary to ſay more upon it, than, that it ſhall be under the im- mediate command of its own General, and that the fubordinate Officers fhall be compoſed of field Engineers, Geographers, and Artilleriſts, men who have and will make military mathematics their ſtudy.--Their obvious em- ployment will be deſigning and conſtructing magazines and dock-yards, ſuper- intending military manufactures, furveying high-ways, bays, harbours, &c. &c. while the Soldiers will be employed in garriſoning the forts, aird guarding the naval and military ſtores and places of depofit, and Artificers in ſuch manufactures and werks as ſhall be added to them. The Corps of Horſe may be of much ſervice; divided into detachments it may be uſefully engaged in kecping up a ready communication between the different poſts, and with proper arrangements will be much leſs expenſive than expreſſes.- But as the whole Corps will not exceed one hundred and twenty, rank and file, they may with great propriety be employed in guarding the reſidence of Congreſs, the public offices, papers, &c.-Congreſs and their executive officers ſhould never be expoſed to the mad proceedings of a mob. Guards are neceſſary, and always proper at the ſeat of government. (7) In looking back upon what I have written, I am ſo happy as to find that much of what I had propoſed to ſay on the uſes of this Eſtabliſhment, has been anticipated in the courſe of my Introduction ; I will cloſe the ſketch however with this ſummary view of them. - The American army at preſent ſhould conſiſt of neither more nor leſs than one compleat Legion of 3000 men perma- nent and Continental; a Corps of Artillery, Sappers, Miners, Artificers, &c. of 1000, permanent and Continental alſo; and ſeven Legions of well diſciplined Militia of 3000 men each, ſubject to the call of their country, and ready to act on the ſhorteſt notice.--Agreeable to this your ſtanding force in time of peace will be but 4000 men, and your effective force in caſe of invaſion diſciplined troops 25,000 well то your eſtabliſhed Corps you will commit the ſecurity of your docks and ar- ſenals—the defence of thoſe forts which already exiſts, and ſuch others as may hereafter be conſtructed. From them you will derive all neceſſary aſſurance relative to your dependent ſettlements, and effectually preſerve that important water communication which has fallen to you by treaty.-In times of peace they will operate as a principle of diſcipline and formation to your eſtabliſhed Mi- litia, and in throfe of war become a ready barrier againſt the deſigns of avarice and the aſſaults of ambition; and finally, they will ſerve as a nurſery to thoſe talents which it muſt ever be your wiſdom to encourage, and which in the courſe of fortune it may become your intereſt to employ In treating the latter part of this ſubject, viz. the eſtabliſhed Militia, it may be previouſly neceſſary, to take a view of your preſent fyſtem. It is a flat- a tering but I believe a miſtaken idea-that every Citizen ſhould be a Soldier. - It would be as ſenſible and conſiſtent to ſay every Citizen ſhould be a Sailor.- An apprenticeſhip muft neceſſarily precede the acquiſition of any trade, and the uſe of arms is as really a trade as fhoe or boot making.-Were courage the only qualification requiſite in a Soldier, it would be otherwiſe;--but galan- ( 8 ) try alone leaves the character very incomplete ; to this muſt be added, youth, ſize, ; temperance and inclination ; docility of temper, and adroitneſs in the exerciſe of the field, and a patience under every viciſſitude of fortune. Some of theſe are no eaſy leffon to a mind filled with ideas of equality, and freedom,; and in many inſtances are only to be learned with induſtry and pains.- -I have but one in- ference to draw from theſe remarks (i.e.) that however gallant your Militia may be (and I know them to be brave) they muſt neceſſarily want much of the true military character.-It may now be aſked what are the ſources of this defect? I will venture to ſuggeſt them ; a want of uniformity in their diſcipline and in their arms---the inadequacy of the ſeveral laws under which they exift--the im- perfect execution of thoſe laws, ſuch as they are--and the indifference with which every man muſt regard a buſineſs not in ſome degree pleaſing or profeſſional.- Hence has ariſen that uncertainty of temper---that want of confidence in them- ſelves--that reluctancy to come out--that impatience to get home--and that waſte of public and deſtruction of private property, which has ever marked an opera- tion merely Militia. Cheras as your These are characteriſtics that cannot be denied, and which muſt be as laſting belief and declaration, " That every Citizen without exception, muſt be a Soldier.” But when we add the expence of ſuch eſtabliſhment to the probable diſappointment which muſt follow its operations, it will appear ruin- ous indeed. TOTO PENNSYLVANIA, it is ſaid, enrols by its Militia Law, about fixty thouſand men--and I ſuppoſe, that in the article of expence it does not differ widely from thoſe of the other States; theſe men are obliged to aſſemble fix times in a year at ſome given place of rendezvous ; four days of the ſix are employed in exerciſe and two in reviews, 32 For (9) For non-attendance on reviews, each delinquent pays ten ſhillings per day, and for non-attendance upon exerciſe five ſhillings per day ;-therefore the man who abſents himſelf from all will pay forty ſhillings per annum, and he who attends all muſt neceſſarily loſe fix days labour, while fome, from their diſtance from the place of rendezvous, will loſe ten or twelve.—But taking eight as an average, and calculating the expence of each man at fix ſhillings per day, it will amount to forty-eight ſhillings per man per annum; it then follows, that if the whole Militia ſhould aſſemble fix days in the year, the aggregate expence will amount to 386,666 dollars per annum- if on the other hand they negle&t this ſervice and pay the fines, they will amount to 320,000 dollars per annum: View it in any point of light, how impoſing and vexatious muſt this be to the people--For by attendance do they promote the intereſt of the State ? Or does the individual return to his home ſatisfied, that the information and inftruction he has received is any compenſation for the loſs he ſuſtains ?-And what is the obvious conſequence of non-attendance ?-Are the fines a revenue to the State, a ſerviceable one I mean; or can the good wiſhes or confidence of a people be increaſed by the operation of a law, whoſe penalty they prefer to its obligation ?-I am convinced that under another name theſe impoſitions would not be tolerated, and that an inſurrection would follow the exerciſe of them. If the annual expence of Pennſylvania for training her Militia be-386,666 dollars, and if we conſider her as an eighth part of the United States, the ag- gregate expence of the United States in times of perfect peace, for the in- ſtruction of men to whom ſhe cannot riſque her fate in war, will be annually 3,113,328 dollars, what it would be in war is beyond all calculation, but it inay not be amiſs to take a view of the obviouſly additional ſources which muſt then take place. It is I believe an acknowledged fact, that the expence of any corps will depend much upon its diſcipline.--An old ſoldier will live upon half the allowance of a new levy--not becauſe he has leſs appetite, but becauſe he B has ( 10 ) has more care and more management... The one will regard his arms and ac- coutrements with all the ſolicitude of friendſhip; the other with all the indif- ference of contempt.-The veteran, taught by the diſeaſes he has felt or the obſervations lie has made, is attentive to his health, and though attentive to his duty avoids every thing which would most probably expoſe it--the militia- man, or new levy, fatigued and diſheartned perhaps by the march of a ſingle day, and meaſuring the tedious hours of his enliſtment, throws himſelf down without any regard to the place or ſituation; riſes in the morning reluctant and languidy and perhaps for want of attention to himſelf incapable of performing his duty. Theſe are facts which cannot be contradicted, and which hold up to your view ſome articles of expence, which ſhould be conſidered, though they cannot be aſcertained. THER É are many other of the ſame deſcription; ſuch for inftance is the lofs fuſtained by the inefficiency of convoys and the inattention of guards, and fuch the loſs in calling forth a Farmer, a Mechanic, or a Merchant at a fhilling a day; the Farmer it is true loſes leſs than either, but ſtill there is no proportion between the profits of his farm and the wages of his ſword. Under theſe con- fiderations trade and agriculture cannot remain unhurt, they muſt feel ſome unkind influence foreign to their habits, and unfriendly to their genius.—But there is ſtill another more preſſing and calamitous: -Imean the Rotation Ser- vice. For example :-A State whoſe Militia confifts of 100,000 men is invaded, the whole cannot be called forth—10,000 may be equal to the conteſt-but unleſs the war be almoſt inſtantly cloſed, and that is not to be expected, the principle of rotation muſt be adopted, and the firſt detachment is relieved by a ſecond, the ſecond by a third, and the third by a fourth, fo that in reality the State muſt a very large proportion of the time pay and feed 20,000 men, to have 10,000 in the field.—How then are theſe defects to be ſupplied ?I anſwer by changing their conſtitution, and leſſening their numbers. The Militia ef ( II ) of the United States may be calculated at 400,000 men, on what occafion, or for what purpoſe, ſhall we ever want this number ; the difficulty of bringing a twentieth part of them together has been ſufficiently evinced; the impoflibi- lity of inftructing, and what is itill more of feeding them if collected, wants no proof.--Giving up therefore the chimerical idea of having 400,000 Militia, and that every Citizen is a Soldier, let us look for a number that will be leſs expenſive, ſooner collected, and more eaſily taught, thoſe leſſons neceſſary for a Soldier to know. Ar one period of the late war, Great-Britain attacked us with an army of more than 40,000 effectives; where is the European Power that can do more : We cannot therefore want 400,000 men, nor do we want 50,000; for as we cannot be ſurpriſed, an army of 25,000 will be equal to any foreign attack, or internal convulſion, that may happen to exiſt. I would therefore repeat my propoſal, that in addition to the eſtabliſhed Continental Legion, that Seven Legions be formed from the whole militia force of the United States ;-call them the Eſtabliſhed Militia, and let their compoſition and conſtruction be exactly the ſame with your Continental Legion. To determine what proportion of this corps will fall to each State, an exact regiſter of the numbers in each ſhould be previouſly obtained; but not to ſtop at what is very immaterial in mere proportion, I would hazard the following: To New Hampſhire, Maffachuſetts, NORTH DEPARTMENT, Two Legions. Rhode Iſland, and Connecticut, B2 MIDDLE ( 12 ) r To New York, Jerſey, MIDDLE DEPARTMENT, Three Legions. Tz Pennſylvania, and Maryland, To Virginia, North Carolina, Two Legions SOUTHERN DEPARTMENT, SEO South Carolina, and Georgia, It is to fimplify the ſyſtem, and to render its operations eaſy, that I make this diviſion into departments; the proportion of the States compoſing each may be eaſily determined—the ſmaller will give companies the larger Batta- lions until the ſeveral Legions are compleat. In the appointment of Officers for the eſtabliſhed Militia, I think the following method ſhould be purſued.- Each State appoints the Officers neceſſary for its own contingent of troops: -- If either ſend a Company only, they ſend no Officer higher than a Captain : If a Battalion, a Lieutenant-Colonel and Major: If a Regiment, a Colonel : If two Regiments, a Brigadier; and if two Brigades, a Major-General. In inſtances where neither State ſends a ſufficient number to give theſe higher ranks, the ſuperior Officers are called from the diſtrict which has furniſhed the largeſt contingent. a These Officers remain abſolutely ſubject to the State which has ſent them, and diſmiſſed with the ſame formality with which the have been appointed. For inſtance : If a Court-Martial ſhould ſentence to diſgrace a Major, who belongs ( 13 ) belongs to a State which only furniſhes a Company, the approbation or diſap- probation belongs to the Supreme of that State which furniſhes the largeſt part of the Regiment: If a Colonel or Brigadier belonging to a State which has furniſhed only a Battalion or Regiment, ſhould be tried by a Court-Martial, the ſentence is invalid without the approbation of the Grand Convention of the Empire. OFFICERS of whatever rank will receive pay only for thoſe days which they actually ſpend in the ſervice of the Public; they will have a right to reſign their places after each yearly review, but while they hold their commiſſions, they will be ſubject to whatever ordinance may be iſſued by Government.---This ordinance will regulate the pay and emoluments of each grade; determine the uniformity of the diſcipline, arms, and accoutrements, and the duties of the ſervice in general. With regard to the men the following regulations ſhould take place. PORT و I. That the firſt claſs be engaged for three different periods; one third for two years; one third for three, and one third for four; that is, in a company of ſeventy-two men, twenty-four will be engaged for two years ; twenty-four for three years, and twenty-four for four years. Chicco II. That after the expiration of the time of the two years men, their places ſhall be ſupplied by another enliſtment of the fame number of men for three years, and that all ſubſequent engagements ſhall be for no leſs time thar this.--- By this arrangement when the times of one third of a corps expire, a like number will be enliſted; this will prevent a total expiration, and there will be always "two-thirds diſciplined troops to one-third recruits, III, That none but Citizens be received, IV. THAT ( 14 ) ) IV. THAT their age be not leſs than eighteen, nor more than twenty-four. V. THAT each man be well formed and at leaſt five feet fix inches high, and VI. That both Negroes and Mulattoes be excluded. The beſt method of engaging men in ſervice is by bounty; the expence will not be great, and the inconveniency and ill humour which attends draughting be avoided. The bounty need not exceed ten dollars per man; to this muſt be added for the whole term of ſervice, a hat, coat, veft, pair of overalls, pair of ſhoes, and a lock; and at the expiration of his ſervice, provided he has not been ca- pitally cenſured, his arms and accoutrements ſhould be given to him. In the operation of this fyftem, at the expiration of every third year 7000 well diſci- plined men, with their arms and accoutrements, will be added to the eifective force of the United States, and the beſt poflible magazine for a Republic firmly eſtabliſhed, (viz.) arms and accoutrements in the courſe of a few years be. put into the hands of every member of the community, and a perfect know- 'ledge of the duties of a ſoldier engraved on the mind of every citizen.--This will ſecure you a reſpectable ſtation amongſt the Powers of Europe ; and if not enſure you a perfect peace, at leaft furniſh you with the ability of checking the ardour of any Power that may be hardy enough to attack you. a > a The whole annual expence of this eſtabliſhment will not exceed fifteen dollars per man per annum, and for this he ſubjects himſelf to military diſci- pline thirty-one days in a year, twelve of which he will be employed in ex- erciſe, in detail, and twelve in learning the evolutions and mancuvres, and feven in reviews. The time for theſe exerciſes muſt depend upon the ſeaſon of year and the place; upon the population of the State, &c. &c. but it were to be wiſhed that ( 15 ) that at each rendezvous of inſpection, one Legion compleat might be affen- bled, and that on every third year all the troops of the department would en- camp together. a The Soldier and the State muſt come under tliis farther obligation to each other, that each months ſervice (excluſive of the time taken up in repairing to the rendezvous for which he will receive a certain ftipulated allowance) ſhall count for a year; but ſhould an invaſion or any other caaſe make it neceſſary for Government to call him out, he ſhall be obliged to repair to the place ap- pointed on the ſhorteſt notice, and to ſerve any length of time not exceeding one year, which Government may deem expedient.For this time he ſhall receive the pay and emoluments annexed to a war eſtabliſhment.---By ſuch an arrangment, I daré aſſure to the United States, an army as uſeful and as reſpect- able as that of any Republic in Europe ; and as to its expence, I will venture again to advance, that it will not coſt more than one third of the ſum which is now expended; and this may be levied upon every man who falls under the preſent fyftem, and will not demand from him but twelve ſhillings and fixpence per annum, in lieu of forty, which fimply conſidered is evidently more eligible; but when viewed as a diſcharge from the irkſome rotine of militia duty, I cannot but fuppoſe but it muſt be embraced with ardour by every individual at preſent enrolled in the Militia. a As I have in a former inſtance made the Mili ia eſtabliſhment of Pennſylvania a ſubject of calculation, it may not be improper to ſay what would be the ex- pence of that Commonwealth, under the operation of the fyftem propoſed. For the fupport of her ſhare of a board of war and inſpection—the Conti- nental Legion--Corps of Artilleriſts and others-her ſhare of the will be 65,000 dollars, and for her proportion of the ſeven Militia Legions 35,000 dollars, the whole annual expence then will amount to 10,000 dollars, and conſe- quently the muſt ſave yearly 286,666 dollars-how ſtricking is this difference. expence SHOULD ( 16 ) SHOULD it be objected that the ſcale upon which I have gone is too ſmall, the proportion of each State may be increaſed without breaking in upon the principles of formation, or ſhould the finances of any State permit, or her par litics require another corps, it may be raiſed upon the ſame plan, Much of what has been ſaid on the uſes of the federal Legion may be applied to the Militia Corps, like that in peace they will be a moſt excellent ſchool for the inſtruction of the young, and in war preſent an immediate guard or barrier, behind which Government may take its further meaſures of defence with confidence and eaſe; and if neceſſary in war, the rank and file of your army may be doubled, and the liſt of your officers remain the ſame, for being perſeAlly trained in the military ſchools, which the operation of this plan will eſtabliſh, I ſhould without heſitation pledge myſelf for their abilities in their profeſiens, HAVING now filled up the limits which I had preſcribed for myſelf upon this occafion, I cannot but hope a plan fo clearly efficient, as well as oecono- mical will not fail to ſecure the attention of the United States. I FORESEE, however, it will be fubje&to one very popular objection, 66 It er is in fact a Standing Army." --Yes Fellow Citizens I admititeit is a Stand- ing Army, but compoſed of your brothers and your fons.-Can you require or conceive a better ſecurity.- -Are they not your natural guardians ? And ſhall it be ſuppoſed a coekade and-feather, the Vox et preteria nihil, of the military character can alienate either their afections or their intereſt ---Be atured vou reflect upon yourſelves by nouriſhing the fufpicion, and wound the feelings of men who at leaſt are entitled to your gratitude and efeem. STE U BE N. 5091 CB 1784 st Steaben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludoff Geehard Augustin