(366.) James Mc Henry to John Adams. War Department, August 4, 1798. Sir, The more I contemplate the detail of organizing [underline: the twelve Regiments of Infantry] to be raised, the more I perceive the difficulty of effecting it with a despatch proportioned to the emergency and to the public expectation. If the course is to be, first, to convene information in this department from all quarters of the United States, then to digest an arrangement to communicate it to you for your determination, to receive back that determination and then to transmit the result to the parties; a great and incalculable portion of time must be consumed. These reflections have led me to think of an expedient which I now submit. It is this; that the arrangement for the four Eastern States and Vermont be made under your immediate direction, commanding the aid, if necessary, of Major General Knox, and Brigadier General Brooks, who reside within those States. That the arrangement for New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland be prepared by myself, with the aid of the General Officers within those States, for your final determination: and that General Washington be requested to take charge of preparing the arrangement (including the Cavalry) for the States further South, with the like aid of the General Officers in that quarter, subject also to your eventual determination. The distribution of these twelve Regiments for this purpose which I beg leave to propose, is — four to be raised within the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont; four within the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland; four within the States of Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennefsee, South Carolina & Georgia (367.) Should difficulties occur in completing the organization collectively, it may be advisable to permit it by Regiments successively, so as to enable me to put in motion the recruiting service as fast as [underline: possible]. With respect to the companies to be added to the existing regiments of Infantry, the officers for them may be arranged hereafter, without injury to the recruiting service. To facilitate the arrangement in the mode I propose (if it shall appear an eligible one) I enclose a list of all the officers of the late Army, in the lines of the five States first mentioned, Vermont excepted, which at that time made a part of the State of New York; and also of all the applications for military appointments by persons within those States, which have hitherto been made to this department. I have also sent to Major General Knox and Brigadier General Brooks a list of candidates, and requested them to transmit to you their observations and remarks &c. and enclose a copy of my letter to them. It is perhaps my duty to add as the result of conferences with the Commander in chief, and the Inspector General united with my personal knowledge of some of the characters, that the following gentlemen of the late Army have appeared peculiarly worthy of consideration for the command of Regiments, viz: Lemuel Prescot, David Cobb and William Hull of Massachusetts, Jeremiah Olney, Henry Sherburne, and William Peck of Rhode Island, Henry Dearborn and Nicholas Gilman of New Hampshire. I think it necessary to mention that Mr. Tracy writes me, Colonel Talmadge will not refuse attending to the call of his country; he will expect the rank of Brigadier General, or to be adjutant-general, in the event of that office becoming vacant. I can safely add that he is a soldier of experience and deserved reputation. Elijah Wadsworth of Litchfield may also deserve attention; he was a captain of dragoons the last war, served (368.) with reputation and I am persuaded would make a good Major of Infantry. Is no other intimation of the plan now proposed has been given by me to the two General Officers in the eastern States, than what is contained in my letter to them, you may think it proper (if the plan is approved) to require their attendance to aid in the arrangement. There is another point of some importance, which I take the liberty to submit to your deliberation. I find myself plunged in a vast mass of details, and know from experience that it is impossible for any man, whatever be his talents, to wade through it, without neglecting perhaps the most material objects, or attaching to his operations more or less feebleness and sloth of execution. It is essential to the success of the Minister of [undecipherable: probable reading "any"] Department that he be enabled to subdivide the objects of his care, distribute them among competent assistants, and content himself with a general but vigilant superintendance. This course is always the best, but it becomes particularly necessary, when an unforeseen emergency has suddenly accumulated a number of new objects to be promptly provided for and executed. Is it possible that one man can do justice to all the details indispensable to the formation of contracts for provisioning the old and new Army, to the contracts or modes for supplying the troops to be raised with clothing, to the contracts for arms and accoutrements, to the arrangements for Arsenals and Laboratories, to the instructions to their conductors, to investigations necessary for enabling him to fix upon a national standard for our ordnance, a system of exercise and regulations for the Artillery, and Engineer corps, and a system of tactics and discipline for the Army at large, determine upon plans for fortifications for our harbors, and give instructions to agents, or the best qualified of our officers to superintend their erection, organize the new regiments, distrib- (369.) ute their officers on recruiting parties, designate their several [underline: places] of rendezvous, receive the returns, and issue all the [underline: orders] necessary to the recruiting service, &c &c: and at the same time carry on the permanent duties of the department, and the varied [underline: correspondence relative] to these? I hope, Sir, after considering this summary view of a part of my business, that you will give me leave to call effectually to my aid the Inspector General, and likewise General Knox, and to charge them with the management of particular branches of the [underline: service]. I have already taken the liberty to request the Inspector General to occupy himself in preparing from materials with which I have furnished him, a system of tactics and discipline. It will be proper also, as incident to the office of Inspector, that I should charge him with superintending the recruiting service, and make him auxiliary in other ways to the business of the department. Major General Knox, if I am permitted to draw him to the seat of government, may be rendered extensively useful, especially in whatever relates to the ordnance. You will perceive that the above proposition involves an abandonment of the plan for suspending the emoluments of these officers. They cannot afford to give their time and attention to the public, without compensation, neither ought it to be expected or required. If these suggestions meet with your approbation, it will make me extremely happy; not merely because the aid of these gentlemen will serve to lighten my burdens, or divide my responsibility, but because I am convinced the subdivision of the great objects intrusted to me among such competent assistants is necessary to facilitate their prompt execution, and cannot but promote the public service. I enclose a letter from General Washington, dated the 29^th ul- (370.) You will see that he feels the want of a Secretary, and it appears to me it would be proper, I should signify to him that he may appoint one. I think such an appointment authorized by the 5^th Section of the act for raising the provisional Army. In consequence of the numerous applications to supply the Volunteer Companies, raised and raising for the provisional Army, I have thought it prudent to answer in the following terms to several late applications, which I trust will meet with your approbation. "I am pushing the fabrication of arms at Springfield, erecting another manufactory, and entering into contracts for some thousands of muskets; but until I can make sure of a number, equal to the probable wants of such an army, as may be necessary to our defence, I must be extremely cautious in parting with any of the arms now in Magazine. I would therefore rather decline giving much encouragement to the volunteer company to expect a loan, unless it should be rendered indispensable by an approaching invasion." The yellow fever has again not only appeared, but made so alarming a progress in this city, that in my opinion it will be necessary to move the public offices. It is contemplated to remove them to Trenton. I write the last paragraph the 7^th of August, having waited for some of the intended enclosures, which are not yet copied, but will be forwarded as soon as possible. I am, Sir, with the greatest respect yours &c. (signed) James Mc Henry.