Autograph Letter Signed

Wayne discusses officers with Knox

Letter, describes problems concerning promotions and some inept officers.

Ltr, des promotions and inept officers

1793

03

22

Legionville

Henry Knox

Anthony Wayne

General Wilkinson

3rd Sublegion

4th Sublegion.

Legionville

candidly confess to you

your letters

have placed me in an embarrassed situation, respecting some late appointments

you say

ensigns

serving

will be called into immediate service

in consequence

want of a sufficient number of officers

direct some

on the spot to act as ensigns

your letter

provisional ensigns are not to be called into service until further orders

nomination

consent of the Senate

how shall I act

assign

reason

they shall not be considered in service

every officer belonging to the 3rd Sublegion

gentlemen

only waiting

treaty

to disband you

have an increased distance to return to your respective homes

putting yourselves at a very great expense

this I dare not do

officers would not chose to descent the river

precarious a tenor of Commission

especially those of the most sense & sentiment & who I would wish to continue in service

reduction was in contemplation at this time of the promotion of some officers

clearly & pointedly demonstrated

prominent features of the characters

colonels commandants

the first is in arrest for habitual inebriation and on a variety of charges

other may possibly possess a degree of personal bravery

but no other earthly qualification for the command of even twelve men

I do not say this out of any disrespect

on the contrary, I consider him as a good natured, quiet inoffensive thing that means no harm & who would make a kind & obliging neighbor, but as an officer he really does not possess two military ideas

should peace take place it will not be very material

should the war progress I can not think of committing the lives of good men, the interest of my country & my own honor & character into the hands of men, devoid of military abilities & who are novices in the profession of arms

if from the mistaken, idle and groveling economical ideas of the Senate the provisional ensigns are not to be called into service until the hour of action it will not be very prudent to given them charge of platoons whilst there are old sergeants remaining least they make mistakes similar to those of the commandant of the 4th Sublegion, in attempting to perform some of the most plain and simple evolutions preparatory for action

a very good natured man

goodness & simplicity of heart

knows nothing about those kind of things

give me twenty good rifle men that understand fighting Indians and all as good shots as myself

I won't be afraid to fight with an equal number of savages

will you therefore permit me to give him the general superintendence of the scouts or spies

they are

good shots & better adapted to his genius than any other comannd

the commandant of the 3rd is probably provided for the by deception of a court martial, however all those circumstances are very unpleasant.

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1

Genl Wayne XXXIV 3509
Private Personal & Confidential} Legionville 22nd March 1793
Mr Dear Sir
I will candidly confess to you, that your letters of the 5th & 9th Instant have placed me in an embarrassed situation, respecting some late appointments in the first you say - "The Ensigns who are serving with you & General Parkinson, will be called into immediate service" in consequence of which, and from the absolute want of a sufficient number of Officers (a complaint that I have long & seriously made) I was induced to direct some of the Gentlemen you on this shot to act as Ensigns!
In your letter of the 9th you say "the provisional Ensigns, are not to be called into service until further orders - the manner of their Nomination, & consent of the Senate, render that this measures should be rigidly ader'd to"
Now my dear Sir, how shall I act in this case to assign this as a reason (why they shall be be considered in service until further called upon) you'd be telling every Officer belonging to the
3rd & 4th SubLegions? Gentlemen - we are only waiting the event of the pending treaty in order, to disband you, shou'd it terminate in peace & that, when you will have an increased distance to return to your respective homes - after putting yourselves to every great expence in laying in stores &c for a distant and long campaign. This I dare not do - because most of those Officers were'd not chose to descend the river, under so precarious a tenor of Commission - especially those of the most sense & sentiment: & who I wou'd wish to continue in service"
That his reduction was in contemplation at the time of the promotion of some of the Officers is very clearly &pointedly demonstrated - from te prominent features of the characters of at least two of the Colonels Commandants i.e. of the 3rd & 4th SubLegions (as well as one of those Majors)
The first is an arrest for habitual inebriation, and on a variety of charges - the other - may possibly possess a degree of personal bravery - but no other earthly qualification, for the Command of even twelve men.
I do not say this out of any disrespect to him as a man, - on the Contrary, I consider him as a good natured, quiet inoffensive thing that means not harm & who would make a kind & obliging neighbour; but as an Officer he really does not possess two military ideas.
However should peace take place, it will not be very material whether a man of science or a thing commands either of those SubLegions. But should the war progress - I can not think of committing the lives of good men, the Interest of my Country, & my own honor & character, into the hands of men, devoid of military abilities - & who are novices in the profession of arms. Therefore, if from the mistaken, idle and groveling economical ideas of the Senate, the provisional Ensigns are not to be called into service until the hour of action, it will not be very prudent to give them charge of platoons, whilst there are old serjeants remaining - least they would make mistakes similar to those of the Commandant of the 4th SubLegion, in attempting to perform some of the most plain & simple evolutions preparatory
preparatory for action.
He is however a very good natured man, and in the goodness & simplicity of heart, acknowledged that he knew nothing about those kind of things, "But give me twenty good rifle men, that understand fighting Indians - (and all as good shots as myself) I would not be afraid to fight with an equal number of savages" That number is however his Ne plus ultra. Will you therefore permit me to give him the general superintendence of the scouts, or spies - they are (agreeably to his own phrases) generally good shots, & better adapted to his genius than any other command.
The Commandant of the 3rd is probably provided for by the decision of a Court Martial, however, all those circumstances are very unpleasant to your sincere friend
A Most Obt Huml Sert
Anty Wayne
The Honble Major Genl H Knox