[Copy of a Letter from Genl. Parker Subject: A Letter of Sundry Copy for the use of the Sect. of War For the State Intelligencer New London, Octo.] Philadelphia Dec^r 6. 1797 Sir I have perused with pleasure the Rules of Regulations for the Discipline of our Army, and confess they appear to me a great improvement to any hitherto established in this Country. My experience in the Revolutionary War I am convinced for the want of such the discipline never was what it ought to have been, we had nothing but great outlines to be filled up by discretion or Caprice— hence there was nothing like System consequently when ever Corps were to act together their organization, their Supplies and every thing else so discordant that no harmony could exist nor could discipline be preserved — Permit me to observe that as you have gone so far as to digest a plan for the management of the Army I take the liberty to suggest the propriety of T.O of your prosecuting your labours still further. It will be useless to have a small tho well regulated Army in so extensive a Country as this, without forming the Skeleton of one on a much larger scale in future exigencies should require it— hence I take the liberty to remark that a System should be formed for organizing an Army of say fifty thousand Men, apportioning the General Officers, detachments, Divisions, [strikethrough: Legions] Brigades, Legions, Regiments, Batallions, with the necessary Cavalry, Artillery, Grenadier, Light Infantry, Engineers, Sappers, Miners &c. having regard to the Nature, [undecipherable: extent] of our Country, the War most likely to be engaged in, and the Enemy to contend with.— Here we should as Stop, we have wasted large Sums of Money on Fortifications, in many instances they have been injudiciiously planed & more shamefully executed, the plan adopted by General Knox was to apply to the Governors of the different States who without regard to any general plan, followed the bent of their own inclinations & the persuasion of — others, and so mistaken has been the opinion in one instance that in case of an invasion of Troops by— supported by a Naval Force that the works may with little address of the Enemy be made usefull to them tho hostile to us. I take the liberty to advise that a skilfull engineer should be employed to lay down a plan of defence by Fortifications for the U. S. a great Skeleton to be filled up as prudence should advise for the protection of the Frontiers— and that no Fortifications or works be built at any other place or places to be permanent but at those, and that there Should be finished from time to time as might be found necessary to begin the great chain, that at some time within it may be necessary to finish.— as if we do not proceed in some regular & Systematic plan we may find it necessary to incur as much expence in vageing works T.O which may be found to be improper, as we have been or may be at the expence of erecting from Caprice without Judgment— It has been in consequence of the honor you have done me in presenting your plan for the discipline of the Army which I highly approve, that I have taken the liberty to give you some crude opinions relative to an Army & a permanent defence of our Country in Case of Foreign invasion — I have the honor to be with much respect & esteem. your friend J Parker. James Mc Henry esq^r. Sec^y of war.