13. Our greatest deposits of artillery and military stores are at Springfield in Massachusetts, and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. We are besides forming magazines near Harper's Ferry, on the Potomac, in Virginia, and at Fayetteville, in North Carolina. Ought there to be any other places established for principal magazines than these four, and the subordinate deposits mentioned in the aforesaid return?

As it will be proper, in the course of your deliberations, to ascertain from the Secretary of the Treasury whether he can furnish the moneys necessary for the military service, I inclose an estimate made out some time since, showing the money which I thought would be required, and the periods at which it might be wanted, for the maintenance of the old and new army; and to provide certain military articles, for which appropriations have been made by late acts of Congress, and for clothing for the provisional army.

It may also be proper, that you should confer with the Secretary of State on the subject of our foreign relations, as well as the Secretary of the Treasury on the extent and reliance which may be placed on our resources and finances, to assist you to mature your opinion upon some of the points submitted. I need not add, that the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury will cheerfully give you every information, which you may think it necessary to request.

With the greatest respect,

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your most obedient and humble servant,

JAMES MCHENRY.

WASHINGTON TO HAMILTON AND PINCKNEY.

Queries propounded by the Commander-in-Chief to Majors General Hamilton and Pinckney.

PHILADELPHIA, November 10th, 1798.

1st. Is an invasion of the United States, by France, to be apprehended, whilst that power continues at war with Great Britain?

2d. In case such an invasion should take place, what part of the United States, in their opinion, is most likely to be first attacked?

3d. Is it probable that the French will, in the way of exchange, or by other means, become possessed of the Floridas and Louisiana?

4th. In case of such an event, what, probably, will be the consequences, as they relate to the United States? What measures will be best to counteract them? And can those measures be carried into effect promptly, by the Commander-in-Chief of the armies? Or, must they be previously submitted to the War Office? This question, it will be perceived, presupposes a force in existence.

5th. What can be done to supply our present deficiency of engineers? From whence and by what means are they to be obtained? Should a Frenchman be employed at any rate?

6th. Would not riflemen, in place of light infantry, be eligible as a component part of each regiment; and, in that case, would Ferguson's Rifles claim a preference?

7th. Under the idea that each grand division of the United States is to furnish four regiments of the augmented forces, and each State, according to the census, the population, or medium between the two, is to raise its proportion; how many places in each (its extent being considered), and where, ought to be assigned as rendezvouses, during the recruiting service? At what place ought the general rendezvous in each State to be fixed, during the said period? And at what place or places in the

United States ought the augmented force to assemble? If at more than one place, how many, where, and the number at each?

8th. Of how many pieces of ordnance, of what sorts, and of what calibre, ought the park of artillery to consist, independently of what is attached to brigades or regiments? And how many ought each of these to have?

9th. Would it be advisable (after an adequate force is recruited) to withdraw the troops which at present occupy the posts on our northern and western frontiers, and replace them with new raised corps?

10th. Of how many ranks do the French form their line of battle generally? Do they make much use of pikes? And would it be an eligible weapon with which to arm part of our soldiery, as that is the nation with which we expect to contend? General Pinckney may, from personal observation, be enabled to solve these two questions?

Queries relative to smaller matters, but meriting consideration, as an army is now commencing more systematically than formerly; the rules, regulations, and distinctions in which, may give a tone to measures which may prevail hereafter.

1st. If the clothing of the regiments, and the fashion of their clothing, with distinctions between one regiment and another, are not already ordered by the proper authority, and in track of execution, what had they best be?

2d. Would not cotton or (still more so) flannel be advisable for shirting and linings for the soldiery?

3d. What had best be the distinctions in dress, in the badges, and other peculiarities, between the Commander-in-Chief and his suit, and the Majors General and their aids? Between the latter and the Brigadiers and theirs? And between these, again, and the regimental officers? Also among the regimental officers themselves, commissioned and non-commissioned? And whether the staff (not in the line of the army) of the different departments, both commissioned and warrant officers, ought not to be designated by their dress, or some appropriate mark or

badge? and in every case, and at all times, in the camp or field, be compelled to wear them, as well for the purpose of denoting the corps to which they belong, as a mean by which irregularities, rioting, and improper conduct may be discovered with more ease?

4th. As there has been many objections to, and remarks made upon, the black cockade (being that of Great Britain), might not something be devised, by way of annexation thereto, to distinguish it from that of any other nation? I have seen—and it appeared to have no bad effect-a small eagle (of pewter, tin, and, in some instances, silver), fixed by way of button in the centre of a rose cockade, which was not only very distinguishable, but somewhat characteristic.

The sooner these queries are taken into consideration, and opinions given on them, more agreeable will it be to

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

HAMILTON TO JAY.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 19, 1798.

SIR:

Your letter of the 5th November has recently reached me at this place, and found me amongst avocations that scarcely leave me a moment to spare.

You will probably have learned from General Clarkson that the survey of the port has been completed.

But I do not recollect that I have had any answer to a suggestion in one of my letters respecting the employment of engineers to assist in forming the desired plan.

This appears to me an essential preliminary. It is very possible the contrary may have been said to you by persons of whose intelligence you may have a good opinion. Self-sufficiency and a contempt of the science and experience of others are too prevailing traits of character in this country.

But as far as I am to be concerned auxiliary lights are a sine qua non.

I do not feel myself adequate to the complicated task of an engineer unaided by men of more technical knowledge than myself.

JAY TO HAMILTON.

ALBANY, 26th November, 1798.

DEAR SIR:

I was this morning favored with yours of the 19th instant, in which you observe that you do not recollect to have had any answer to a suggestion in one of your letters respecting the employment of engineers to assist in forming the desired plan for fortifying the port of New-York. No letter containing such a suggestion has reached me, those of the 8th of September and 29th of October, being the only ones on the subject of fortifying New-York which I have received from you since the passing of the act, do not contain any thing about engineers.

The plan, doubtless, should be formed under all attainable advantages, and I not only agree, but desire, that you avail yourself of all the important aids within your reach, and I will provide for the expense. It is proper, however, to bear in mind the provision of the act, that the money appropriated by it to this object, be expended under the direction of the President of the United States. It is therefore proper that the plan in question should be formed as much as possible under the auspices of the national government, and with the aid and approbation of the officers they most confide in. I presume the President will, on your application, readily direct any of the engineers in the service to assist in it, and I shall, on receiving the least hint from you, be ready to request that favor from him.

If, in the course of business, you should think any measures on my part necessary or useful, I will thank you to mention them.