[undecipherable] [undecipherable: probable reading President] 13 Feb[undecipherable] 179[undecipherable] [remainder of page undecipherable] [undecipherable] February [undecipherable] 1799 (No. ) Lieutenant General [undecipherable] having [ag-] reed agreeably to the condition upon which he accepted his appoint- [ment] [and?] any command whatever of the Army of the United States [under?] such terms as his presence in the field shall be required for actual operations, or his absence demanded by peculiar and urgent circumstan- ces, it is therefore proper to make such arrangements respecting the distribution of the resulting military authority as shall most conduce to the end of the service, is best adapted to our present situation and to the objects to which our force may eventually be applied. Before entering into particulars upon the principal de[tails?] at present contemplated, I wish to [revert?] to enumerate the situ[ation?] of the troops of the United States, and the course heretofore taken to communicate with them. 1. There are on the Lakes, viz: on Lake Ontario, the Garrisons of Oswego and Niagara; on Lake Erie and Lake [undecipherable] the Garrisons of [undecipherable] and [undecipherable: probable reading New Detroit]; on Lake Huron at the [undecipherable] of the Straight leading to Lake Michigan the Garrison [undecipherable: probable reading of Michilimackinac]; on the [undecipherable] River, Fort [undecipherable: probable reading Wayne]; on the Ohio, Fort [undecipherable: probable reading Franklin], Fort [undecipherable: probable reading Washington] and Fort [undecipherable: probable reading Steuben]. 2. There are on the Mississippi, Garrisons at the [Chickasaw?] [undecipherable] Hills and [undecipherable] or [undecipherable] Heights. 3. There are various posts on the [undecipherable] Frontier of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] There [are?] [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] [and?] [to?] foreign [nations?]. The [first?] enumerated [troops?] [undecipherable] General Wilkinson was at one time [stationed?] in [the?] North- [ern?] Territory [have?] communicated [through?] [undecipherable] with the Depart- ment of War. The second do now communicate [through?] [Brig-?] [adier?] Wilkinson who is on the Mississippi. The third through [Lieut.?] Colonel [undecipherable: probable reading Butler]. The fourth through [Lieut.?] Colonel [undecipherable: probable reading Blair]. The fifth through the medium of the commanders of the va- [rious?] Garrisons. I have said that the first described Garrisons commu- nicated through General [Wilkinson?] while at [certain?] Stations [undecipherable] [undecipherable] when the General was stationed at [Pittsburgh?] or the [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] the whole of these Garrisons above [stated?] him (except Oswego and Niagara) communicated direct with the General and the General with the Secretary of War. Again, When the General held a [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] and all Garrisons [below?] him and the whole of those under his in his sphere of Command communicated [directly?] with the Se- [c]tary of War. [Several?] [undecipherable] on all the [Garrisons?] [undecipherable] of the General [to?] [instruct?] [undecipherable] to [distinguish?] [undecipherable] in [reporting?] them were never allowed to [send?] [their?] communi- [cations?] with the [undecipherable] Constitution. A right was [undecipherable] the country over [again?] [undecipherable] am [inclined?] to [undecipherable] or [indicate?] the Garrisons [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [?] [in?] [some?] communities that might have [aroused?] [undecipherable] [in?] the state of things. [This?] has [existed?] in some [time?] past [undecipherable] on the frontiers, [rendered?] an adherence to the rule of [undecipherable], a communication to any of those with [undecipherable] through the Government [undecipherable] whatever might have been his position. [At a long?] beyond [undecipherable] the Department for practice at such a period. [It has?] been deemed equally inconvenient with [situation?] and dangerous to [tranquillity?], to [enable?] the General, who is now at [undecipherable] [his?] [undecipherable] for the Mississippi, the organ by which the Department of War should communicate with the Garrisons and troops on the [undecipherable] Board, and frontiers of Georgia and Tennessee. This [undecipherable] common to an Indian Frontier, such as that of [Georgia?] and [undecipherable], rendered it indispensable to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [that?] [have?] as much as [possible?] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] in the actual [information?] of any [circumstances?] [that?] [undecipherable] lands the Indian nations or foreign [undecipherable] Agents, if all [circumstances?]. A [undecipherable] communi- [cation?] might at all times take place, the frontiers of Georgia and Tennessee have been [formed?] into two Districts, and the [Govern-?] [or?] of the military force within each made the organ of communication for his respective District. How of the fortifications on the sea board having been gar- risoned before the law, [raised?] for [raising?] a second Regiment [or?] Corps of Artillerists and Engineers the Garrisons have been [permitted?] to correspond directly with this Secretary of War. [undecipherable] in the project [undecipherable] which I [allude?] to some time since and which was first into the hands of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Washington that [undecipherable] contemplated to [arm?] [undecipherable] rate [undecipherable] the force and posts on the sea board as well as on the Western frontiers, to give to each District a Commandant, and to combine so many of them as could be united with conveni- ence to the Service, under the general superintendance of the the General in Chief. This part of the regulation, had for its basis the [Conseil?] Ordinances relative to the same subject, was intended to introduce more order and a more vigilant Superintendance of our military affairs, and besides as far as convenient with the com- mon interest the epistolary labours of the Department. The ex- cution of this project met with some obstruction, and has been procrastinated by causes which it is deemed unnecessary to relate. While the ideas presented to you exhibit the difficulties that would attend the imposing upon any General Officer the entire correspondence with the Army, unless indeed he was to be instructed wholly from the troops, and to reside constantly at the seat of government, they point nevertheless to the practicability of dividing the Army into subordinate Commands and of placing a certain number of such Commands, agreeably to the sketch just mentioned under the controul and superintendance of [undecipherable] Officer. The President of the United States has accordingly direct- ed me to make such arrangement for our military force as may correspond with our situation and to assign to the [Major?] Generals [who?] are to command it, the superintendance of such portions here- of as may best tend to promote military discipline the general interests of the Service, and the objects of the Military Establish- ment. You will therefore be pleased until otherwise instructed to consider yourself [invested?] with the entire Command of all [the?] [troops?] [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] or may be within the States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, [Kentucky?] and Tennessee. You will act as an organ of communication be- tween you and the Garrisons within the States of South Carolina and Georgia, direct if you judge it [proper?] Brigadier General [Wil-?] [ling?]ton to take a position the best calculated to give him an op- [portunity?] to extend a vigilant Superintendance over the Troops and Garrisons that may be assigned him, and a [ready?] and prompt communication with [both?] them and you. You will also esta- blish, if it can be arranged to advantage, other Commanders of sub- divisions to receive your orders and communicate with you. In deciding upon these arrangements you will be [particu-?] larly careful that they do not occasion inconvenient delays in the transmission of information to the chief of government or throw obstruction in the way of immediate [success?] [undecipherable] to the most remote Garrisons or posts in cases of urgency; and will direct the Officers you may charge with the Superintendance of each Subdivision to transmit their letters to you open, and through the Secretary of War whenever, from your position, such a [precaution?] will [save?] earlier notice of the situation of things to government in their respective Subdivisions, than if they were to be received in the first instance. By this arrangement [undecipherable] will be in the power of the Secretary of War to give orders in emer- gencies which can be communicated afterwards to you, for your future government. You will no doubt as soon as practicably, establish your own Head Quarters in a position the most favorable to a right communication with the several Subdivision and with this Department and to a vigilant and [faithful?] [the?] [care?] of the [undecipherable] Garrisons. [the?] conduct of the [undecipherable] Garrisons. I shall cause to be annexed to this letter, a Schedule shewing the specific Troops and Garrisons at present within your command, and a list of the Officers on the old and new Establish- ment classed according to their respective Regiments Corps with the date of their Commissions. Major General Hamilton has been instructed to take the command of all the troops and Garrisons on the Northern Lakes in the North Western Territory, including both Banks of the Ohio and on the Mississippi, as well as the Troops and posts which are or may be within the State of Maryland and all the States to the Northward and Eastward [of it?]. His Recruiting Service being [formerly?] connected with the duties of Inspector General, the sole direction of this business has been allotted to Major General Hamilton. You will therefore receive directly from him such preliminary Instruc- tions as may tend to facilitate this Service, as well as such tenor orders necessary to enable you to give to it the utmost activity throughout the extent of your Command and will com- municate directly with him relative to this object. Having taken the opinion of General Washington when called to the head of Government, as it respects the dis- position of the Military force of the United States it is deem- [ed?] advisable that opinion should be adopted until a change [of?] circumstances shall render a different disposition proper. According to this opinion he does not conceive it [advis-?] [able?] to withdraw any of the [more?] adjacent [troops?] on the Northe[rn?] and eastern frontiers from their Atlantic [stations?]. On the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] this [opinion?] [undecipherable] he so indeed was [persons?] directed to be added to the Regiments of the old Esta- blishment. As to the Troops to be raised, the General observed, that tho' [it?] might now be premature to fix a permanent disposition of those Troops it might nevertheless be useful to indicate certain Stations where they may be distributed provisionally, and may probably be required to continue while matters remain in the present pos- [ture?]. The Stations eligible in this view may be found for two Regiments in the vicinity of [Brandywine?] River, near [Wilmington?]; for two other Regiments in the vicinity of [Brunswick?] in New Jersey; [for?] [two?] other Regiments in the vicinity of [Baltimore?] near [Harpers?] [Ferry?]; for two other Regiments in the vicinity of [Augusta?], but above the parts of the Savannah. [In?] this [opinion?] the General observed, [that?] with considerations relative to the discipline and health of the Troops, and to the economical supply of [undecipherable]. It will also have some military aspects, in the [first?] [instance?] towards the country of Boston and New York; in the [second?] towards that of New York and Philadelphia; in the third and [fourth?] towards that of Baltimore, [Charleston?], Savannah, and the [Southern?] States generally; and in the [third?] particularly towards [reinforcement?] of the Western Army in any event. [undecipherable] confined very justly, the military [undecipherable] [undecipherable] have only a qualified [influence?] [undecipherable] that in the prospect of a serious [attack?] upon this country, a [disposition?] of the Army, [ought?] to [combine?] [undecipherable] to the Western Region, so that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] by [general?] force to baffle the [enemy?] of [action?]. [As?] to the [Artillery?]. [undecipherable] proposed to assign a complete [Battalion?] [undecipherable] to the Fortifications at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to have all [undecipherable] two Companies to [undecipherable] at New Port two Companies, to those at West Point one, to those at [Mud?] Island two, to those at [Baltimore?] one; to those at Norfolk two; to those on Cape Fear River one; to those at Charleston two; to those at Savannah one; to those at the mouths of all [undecipherable] one; that the remaining two Battalions had better be reserved for the Army in the field, and that during the winter they may retain the Sta- tions they now occupy, but that as soon as they can conveniently go into [camp?], it will be advisable to assemble them at some cen- tral or nearly central point, there to be put in a course of regular Instruction, together with successive Detachments of the Officers and Non-commissioned Officers of the sea board Garrisons until their ser- vices shall be actually required. As far as it depends upon you, it is expected you will give effect to the aforesaid disposition of the troops now within or that may be within the sphere of your Command, and so ar- range the Companies of Artillery in particular, that those belong- ing to the same Regiment or Corps were forming consequent Garris[ons?]. In making this disposition you will keep in view a command for a small Fortification or defence which it is contem- plated to erect on Pierce Island [Ocacock?] North Carolina. This post may possibly require a Company. Since coming into office, I have directed my attention in a particular manner to the Indian Frontiers, and [undecipherable] have been successful in procuring to them a degree of tranquili- ty, perhaps unexampled during any equal period of time under our present Government. It is of consequence as well with re- gard to economy as considerations of a national nature, to conti- nue this state of things to the Union, and to persevere in the two fold object of guarding the Indian lands [for?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] settled, and the industrious Frontier Inhabitants from Indian hav- ing and predatory incursions. It will be enough relative to this point, to acquaint you generally with the principles which have governed in the establish- ment of the posts on the two Indian frontiers included in your command. For this purpose I have annexed the following papers. 1. Copies of letters to Lieut. Colonel Henry Gaither dated the 23^d of August, 19^th and 20^th of October, 22^nd of November 1796, 26^th of September 1797, and 16^th of February 1799. 2. Copies of a letter to the Governor of Georgia dated the [undecipherable] of September 179[undecipherable]. 3. Copies of [letters?] to Lieut. Colonel Thomas [undecipherable] dated the [undecipherable] of May, 25^th and 28^th of July, [undecipherable] of August, [undecipherable] and 29^th of September, 9^th and 15^th of [October?], [undecipherable] of November [undecipherable] and 23^d of March 1798. You will perceive by the letter to Colonel Gaither [dated?] of February 16^th instant, that his command requires the most attention; that a spirit of [undecipherable] and insubordination has [dis-?] covered itself among his Officers which it is indispensable to [check?]; and that no time ought to be lost in [making?] a more careful [search?] if practicable, to investigate the actual state of things that [exist?]. I need not impress upon you, [undecipherable] with the [authority?] and [intelligence?] over every detail of the Service. [I am?] however [acquainting?] your [attention?] to those circumstances of the army which may endanger the [undecipherable] discipline of the Officers in the field, and you can [further?] and [ensure?] [through?] Command, and enjoin that every legal and [proper?] step be resorted to ensure the [undecipherable] of the Army authorities on such occasions to [punish?] Officers and promote a salutary result. It is expected that you will [require?] at the [Subal-?] [tern?] the proper Officers to make all Returns [necessary?] to ascertain the [actual?] State, the books in every Instance to [preserve?] the Muster and Pay Rolls, Returns of the quantity of Rations [delivered?], of [rations?] due to the [soldiers?], the [distribution?] [undecipherable] of the [issue?] [undecipherable] of the quantity and [undecipherable] of every article in [Arms?] of the Supplies which are or may be wanting, and any other exhibit and [returns?] necessary to the information of the Secretary of War [and?] indispensable to the [accounting?] Officers of the War Department. Upon those [undecipherable] minds the regularity and perfec- tion of such Returns [depend?] on the disposition of Officers to execute faithfully their duties, and that savings to the public as a judicious and well regulated economy is rather more to be expected from the integrity, vigilance and knowledge of those who are [intrusted?] in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with the Army expenditures [undecipherable] than [undecipherable] the usual [undecipherable] that can possibly be derived [undecipherable] [than?] there is [noted?] a deficiency of [secure?] [deposits?] or a want [of?] [undecipherable] in the Officer charged with the care and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the public property it is expected you will recur [to?] the [undecipherable] within your lawful powers [undecipherable] to the circum- stances [undecipherable] it may be considered by the authority [undecipherable] to the [ministry?]. Finally, I cannot conclude these instructions without [expressing?] my most [undecipherable] confidence in your talents to execute the high trusts which the President [reposes?] in us [undecipherable] our most perfect reliance upon your co operation and assistance and that I shall at all times recognise in the execution of the orders which you may receive the most pointed evidence of your candour and friendship. I have the Honor to be with great regard and esteem Sir Your most obed^t. Serv^t. [signature — undecipherable] [marginalia: Letter prepared / to-morrow, [undecipherable] / therein from / and that [to?] / Governor. — / the letters and / [undecipherable] / with the [undecipherable]] Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.