USA > Ohio > Ohio in the time of the Confederation > Part 5
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Marietta College, exactly as written in 1783. The lay reader must not infer from the reproduction of this duplicate copy of the original manuscript that General Putnam's orthography was, in any marked degree, unusual. A comparison of the Sparks's and Ford's edition of Washington's writings proves what editors can do by way of modernizing manuscripts. Cf. Doc. XI by way of illustration.
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Marietta College Historical Collections
Penopscot or Major Bagaduce is Still further East has also a spacious harbour and is the Source I am told from whence the Eastern States are to expect the most of their Masts Spars and Lumber -
From New york Southerd Charles Town and Georgia are the first that I suppose are intiteled to the notice of Congress in respect of Garisons and Troops they have the Spaniards on the Right and Savages in their Rear are properly the Frontear of the Empire on that Quarter and I am Told are thin- ly peopeled, the other Harbours and Seports are too Numerous for them all to admit of Continantal Establishments the Expence to the several States in secureing or Fortifing them may be Nearly Equl in propotion to their welth, and their owne Immediate Intrist will Induce them to attend to the matter Be- sides carying the general Suystim too far may create a Jalousy in Some of them but the Southern and Eastern Fronters togather with N york and the post on the Hudson Should always remain in the hands of Congress but if any of them Should be So foolish as to neglect So Importent a object and leve them Selves liable to the Insults of every Pirate or Sur- prize of an open Enimy the Damage to the United States, in General, would be much Less then for Charles Town and Georgia on the one hand or the provence of Main on the other to be Seeazed on by Surprize because these places might not be recov- ered through a long War whereas none of the others could reasonably expect to be so unfortunate
But in Point of Importence, Next to the Citty and Harbour of New york -the North River or the Com- munication between New york and Canady ought to
41
Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
Clame the first attention, for whoever attempts the Conquest of America, will in my opinion, if he acts right, endevor to establish him self on the Hudson and by a Chain of Posts in that Quarter to Seperate the Eastern from the Midle and Southern States, on this River then Congress Should always keep an eye and Never Suffer an Enimy Foreign or Domistic to fix him self Quietly on any part of it, or the Lakes towards Canada
West Point is perhaps as well Sittuated for the Grand Arsanal of america as any Place whatever and by Dismanteling most of the out Works a much Smaller Garison will be required then in its present State -they should consist cheifly of Artillery men - Includeing also Some artificers - Here Should all the Cariges and apperatus for the artillery be made here should the art of Gunnery Fortification &c &c be Taught and from hence Should the artillery Com- panys (detached) to other Posts be regurly releaved at lest one in Two years, I consider Stoney Point as an appandage to west Point whither the former re- main in its present State or a reguler fortification be built there, which is a Subject worth Consideration - Besides West Point there will Undoubtedly be other Arsinals Established both East and west that will require Small guards -
In order to prevent a Supprize from Canada by way of Lake Champlain if the Sittuation will admit a Fort Should be built at Wind Mill Point Pont au Fear [Point au Feu] or Some place near the 45th Degree of lattitude and the River or Lake So ob- structed as to prevent the pasage of any British Vessell into it-
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This matter I concive to be worth attention, and examination, for if practicable in case of a War with Great Britton it will prevent their makeing them Selves Masters of the lakes and at the Same time it will give Protection to the Country called Vermont with the Inhabitents near the Lake and aid us in Introduceing an army into Canada,
In the mean time it will be a means of Checking any Illiset Trade in that Quarter, Interrupt the wicked Corrispondence and be a good means to pre- vent the revolt of the Vermontears should they have it in Contemplation, and it will also further any Cor- rispondence we may wish to hold with the Inhab- itants of Cannada -
But if no place can be found further Nothward, then Crown Point Sutable for a Fortification that Should be fixed on the lake there is esily obstructed and the Sittuation Elligable a good Fortress with a Small Garison Some where in that Quarter is neces- sary and will be able to prevent any Sudden Errup- tion from Canada into the Provence of New york a Circumstance by all means to be guarded against- the Idea of a post Some where on Lake Champlain will make it Necessery to have two Intermediate ones between that and Albany for the lodgment and Se- curity of the Stoars that may be Sent northward Viz one at Fort George and another at the Landing on the further end of lake George but a Block House or even a Stockade with a very few Troops will be sufficient
Albany will no Doubt requier Sone [some] Troops as it will be the place for lodging at least for a time
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Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
the Stoars designed for the Northern and Western Fronters
To keep the Western Savages in awe to protect and regulate our Trade with them and prevent any Insidious Practice of our British or Spanish Neigh- bors as far as posable, Some Fortresses and a Small regular Establishment is absolutely necessary Pir- ticulerly at Fort Stanwix oswego Niagary Fort and Carying Place-Detroit and Michilinimackanac on the Lakes -Illinois Fort Massac Post Vincent Fort Pitt and other Posts that it may be found necessery to Garison on the Frontears of the Midle and South- ern States
the British used to Send their Supplys to Nagara and Detroit from Cannada & of consequence ware under no necessety of keeping a Post at aswego and I beleve they had none at Fort Stanwix, but in our sittuation if we wish to keep up a Communication with Niagara and Detroit by way of Lake ontario a Post at Oswego is Indespensible for the lodgment to the Stoars Sent from Albany for the Supply of the Western World as well the Security of the [Peltry] that may be brought from that Quarter in return
Fort Stanwix will also be a place of Some Conse- quence for the like purposes and for the protection of the Convoyes and Trade from Savage Insult Sev- eral other Small post on the Communication between Albany and Oswego will undoubtedly be necessary, to Secure our Selves against any Surprize from the British to awe the Savages in those Quarters to protect the French Setlers about Detroit and Incour-
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age their Emigration from Cannada our Force in the Neigh bour hood of the Grate lakes, even In time of peace, Should be much grater then what the Brit- ish used to keep
In time of War a navel Superiorety on the Lakes may be more likely to fall to the Share of the British then to us; or at least our Superiorety may be un- certain I wish to Suggest the propriety of opening Some other Communication with Lake Erie, then that through Lake ontario, by which Niagara De- troit &c &c may Recive Supplys, and Besids the Idea of the British haveing a Navel Superiorety in Lake ontario Should Niagara by any Misfortune be Sur- prized and taken with it we must loose the whole Western World unless Some other communication is opened with it then the present
This Communication may be made from Fort Pitt to Presque Isle but I think the most Elligable is from Fort Pitt either by Kishkuske and Cayahoga to Lake Erie or down the River from Fort Pitt to yallow Creek from thence by Tuscarawas to Caya- hoga, but I would suggest for consideration a much more Extencive proposition. Viz a Post at the Mouth of Cayahoga another at the 1 mile Portage between the head of Cayahoga River and of Muskingum at Tuscarawas one at the Forks of Muskingum or Dellaware Town below a 4th at Wills Town a 5th Mouth of Muskingum a 6th Hockhocking a 7th
Great Kanhawa an 8th [blank] Some Such chain of Posts in that Quarter I concive would give Such Incouragement not only to those who have lands on this Side the ohio but also to Such as may obtain
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Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
grants on the other Side as would Induce such Emi- gration to that Quarter that within a few years the Country west of the Alleghany Mountains would not only be able to Feed all our Garisons in the Western World but render that whole Frontear perfectly Se- cure against every forreign Enemy and the Savages about the Warters of the Mohawk Susquehenne Os- wego and Ohio would be Induced to be have very submissively or move farther afield -
The expence to Build the Chain of Posts will be very Small a good Stockade with Flankkers instead of Basteons Built in form of Block Houses will be abundently sufficient in all Instences except that at the Mouth of the Cayahoka which will requier more attention
Nor will it increse the Number of Troops neces- sery for the general Protection because the Garisons of Fort Pitt Detroit Illinois &c &c may be as much less, then otherwise may be necessery, as this pro- posed chain of posts would requier to Garison them properly
one Regiment of Infentry on the present Estab- lishment would be Quite sufficient to garison the whole and in a few years a Much less number as the Settlers would undoubtedly in the first Instence plant them selves near the Several garisons for the Sake of their protection and would aid in their de- fenc
Haveing made these observations let me next pro- pose for consideration the Following Establishment Viz Six Regiments of Infentry on the Establish- ment of october 1780 one Regt of 12 Companys of
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Marietta College Historical Collections
Artillery and one Company of Artificers this estab- lishment is deduced from the following Detail of Post and garison
Compeny
Infentry
Compeny Artillry
Comp Artic
West Point and down to New york &c
4 (5)
6
1
to Shut an enimy out of lake
Champlain or Stop him for a time
4
1
at Albany and the Commun[icatio]n Northward -
1 (2)
66
66
in Provence of Main and Maggizene in Eastward
9 (4)
1
North & South Carolin Georgio and Magazeans in that Quarter S
9 (4)
1
Niagara 4 oswego 3(4) Fort Stanwix and Communtin with Albany 2 Infentry
9 (10)
1
Detroit and its Dependency
5 (4)
Michiclamackanac and Dependencis
4
N/H
Fort Pitt Massac Illinois Post 2 2
Post H-[?] 8
Vincent and Magazens in Virginia
9
1
Total 31a
54
12
1
2
But if the Chain of Posts in proposed [plan] from Cayahka to Kanhawa be established then the follow- ing arrangement in that Quarter may be adopted Viz
31a Later estimates are in parenthesis; words in italics were erased, Post H - (Harrodsburg?) being substituted.
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Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
Detroit -
3 (2)
1/2
Michiclamackanac -
3 (2)
1/2
Mouth of Cayahoca
2
1/3
Head of Cayahoca River or Portage
1
Tuscarawas
1
Forks of Muskengum
1
Wills Town - --
1
Mouth of Muskengum -
1
Mouth of Hockhocking -
1
Grate Kanhawa - -
1
Post Vincent -
-
1
Illinois -
1 (2)
1/3
Fort Massac -
1
Fort Pitt and Magazene in Virgin
1
1/3
which make the Same Total as on the other plan the number in each Regt of Infentry and the artil- lery Company to be the Same as the Establishment of October 1780. Except that the Regimet Staff should always be included in the number of Platton or Company officir Such an Establish may be suf- ficient to give the alaram and prevent the Progress of an Enimy for a Time especially on the first break- ing out of a War. which is all that can be expected from them, and all that Congress ought to attempt by a proper Reguler Establishment To be ready to meet an Enimy on the first Breaking out of a War with an army of Respectable Troops their Should
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be an Establishment of a reguler Continantal Militia -the Following Scheem is Suggested for Consid- eration
The Pay and Subsistence of the officir to be the Same as at present First because I concive it is Be- low that of the British or that of any other Nation when all their Emolumets are taken into Considera- tion 2d ly Because whoever engages as an officir in a peace Establishment is Supposed to make Arms his profession for life and the present Establishment of pay and subsistence is quite little enough to give Bread to a Man agreeably to the rank in Life which an officer is Supposed to hold
The pay of the Noncomsd officirs and privets Should not exceed 5 Dollars per month or one Sixth of a Dollar per day out of which one third Should be stoped to provide him with a Coate wescot Breeches Shirts and other Necesseres, and all arearages to be annually Setteled and paid the pay of officirs and Solder if posable to be weakly
The officers to be taken in the first Instence in as near a propotion as posable from the Several States (not Rank but age Merit abilities and Constitution Should Determin the Choise) But it ware to be wished that in future State lines may be totally laid aside and in ordor to Introduce such a Suystim the pirticuler officers to Compleat the Established Regts being fixed on in the formation of those Regiments, officers who now belong to different State lines Should be Incorporated into the Same Coars as much as posable this would not only be a means of removing those local prejudices among officers which
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Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
are too apt to prevail but would make the distrebu- tion of the three years men now in Service among the Regimets thus formed much more elligable
Such an arrangement of officers Such an Incorpo- ration of Men and Such a Detaching them to the different parts of the Empire will I think be Some means of Uniteing and Sementing the whole
Scheem of Continantal Militia
All abled Bodied Men between the age of 18 & 25 year (not Exempt by any law already made in the respective Stats from Military Service) Shall be en- rolled and liable to Service as Continantal Militia. prehaps those of age between 20 & 25 may be thought more Sutable out of them Shall be raised 24 Regi- ments each Regement Sixteen Companys- Sub- divided into 4 Battallion of 4 Companys each each to consist of
1 Captain
1 Liutent
1 Ensigne
5 Sergnt
3 Corporel
1 Drumer
1 Fifer
65 privet
Staff to each Battallion to be taken from among the Company officr ocationly for which their shall be no alowance but that of being [accoutered?]
1 Adjutnt
1 Qr Master
1 Sert Major
1 Qr M Sert
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Marietta College Historical Collections
1 Colonel
2 Lieutn Colo.
2 Majers
1 Adjutent
1 Qu Master
1 Pay Master
1 Surgeon
1 Mate
1 Sert Maj"
1 Qu M Set
1 Drum Maj"
1 Fife Maj"
24 Colonels
48 L' Colonels
48 Majors
384 Captains
384 Lieutenent
384 Ensignes
24 Adjutent
24 Pay Masters
24 Q Masters
29448
24 Surgeons
1372 [1392]
1372[1392] 24 Mats
24 Sert Major
24 Q M Segts
24 Drum Major
24 Fife Major
1080 Serjents 384 Drumers 384 Fiffers 26112 Rank & File
Total Includeing officers 29448
Regimental Field & Staff
24 Regiment on Such an Establish- ment
28066 [28056]
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Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
The officers Should all be Commissioned by Con- gress and be on the Same footing as to Rank as those in actual Service but in case of resignation or re- movel out of the dept they shall loose their Rank or pretentions too it in Reason the Regimet Should be all numbered, with out destinction of States next after those on the Peace Establishment and to take their Rank in the first Instence by lot Drawn for them in Congress the Number of Men to be raised in each State Shall be assessed by Congress once in every Seven year by the Same rate of propotion by which the Continental Taxes are laid. the year last preceeding Such assessment the Several Stats Shall each be divided into as many Districts as it is re- quired to furnish regimets which regimental dept Shall be Subdivided into Battallions Districts once in every Seven year Viz the next year after that wherein the State asessmt for men is made by Con- gress each Battallion District shall again be subdi- vided into Company Districts Commissioned officers for such Company Shall reside with in their owne Districts The Fild and regimental Staff officirs Shall be inhabitent of or residents within the Dis- trict of the Regiment or Battallion to which they are appointed all the Fild Commissioned & Staff officers of a Regiment Shall be appointed by the Executive athorety of the State to which they belong and be Commissiond by Congress, on the removel of an officir out of his District his place must be Consid- ered as Vacant and the vacancy to be filled by Suc- cession of Rank from the Colo to the Ensigne which Rule shall be adopted for filling all Vacancys but the appontment of all Ensigns Shall be in the Ex-
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Marietta College Historical Collections
ecutive othorety of the State unless they should neg- lect Such appointment for the Space of three months after being duly certified of the Vacancy by the Colo or Commanding officer of the Regt which he Should be obliged to do within one month after Such Va- cancy happened in which case Congriss to have the right of Such appointment
the company Districts being thus fixed the Cap- tain or Commanding officer of the Company Shall annually between the 15th and 31st day of December Make out a list with the ages of all the able Bodied men within his District liable to Bare arms in the Continantal Militia and haveing apponted his Ser- gents Corporals Drums & Fife he shall Select Sev- enty of the youngest that remains on the afore Said list (and return the Names of the Rest to the Com- manding officir of the State Militia within whose District they respective reside) Sixty five of the Seventy taken as above are to compose the privet of Such Company for the Insuig year and the other five are to be considered as supenumeraries and only lia- ble to be called on Duty in case of Sickness Death or removel of any of the Fixed Company
All able Bodied Men (except Such as are exempt from Military duty by the Laws of the State within which they reside) between the age of Eighteen and twenty five years must be liable to Service in the Continantal Militia and as Such perform all the Servis required of them
The Contnantal Militia being thus formed they Shall be liable (in Companys or Squads as Shall be thought most convenient) to spend as many days in Military Exercises and Disepline as other Militia,
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Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
are liable to perform in Companys and in Battallion as Many as other State Militia are liable to by Reg- imint for which they shall have no allowance and for these exercises and to be always ready in case of the most Sudden alaram they Shall be provided with Arms ammunition and acoutremet the Same as other Militia by Law ought to be provided with. in addi- tion to which they Shall always be provided with two white Hunting Shirts and two pars of White lining ovehalls with a Military hat or Cap and Father all of which shall be agreably to the ordor of the Commanding officer of the Regt
In addition to these Dutyes this Militia Shall in time of peace actually take the Field Some time the Month of September annually where they Shall Con- tinue thirty days and attend to the learnig all or part of Disepline and the Dutis of an army as much as in time of War-they Shall be Collected for this purpus eithr by Regimet Brigads or Division as may be thought most convenant for the good of Ser- vice but during this period they are to be paid at the Same Rate and Subsisted in the Same Maner as the Regimets on the Peace Establishmet are-Besides this
on the Brakeing out of a War or when ever Con- gress Shall Deam it Necessary they Shall take the Fild upon which they shall be furnished Paid and Subsisted in the Same Maner as shall be provided for the Established Regimets. Besides which the Noncommissioned officers and privets Shall recive five Dollors Bounty anually So long as they Shall be held in Service. on the fore going Scheem after the first formation of the Compay the Captain or
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Marietta College Historical Collections
Commanding officer at the Close of every year will have ocation only to Obtain a list of all able bodied men belonging to His Company Distr &c who have within that year arrived at the age of 18 he will then Discharge So many of his Disbled and Senior Soldiers as to reduce his Company to the Standard and the Same Rule is to be observed in Recruting the Company in time of War as of peace with this exception that in time of War the Captain is not to Judge of the Debility of those who may claim a Dis- charge on that accont-But the Recruts for the Company or those lads who have arrived at Eighteen within the past year Shall between the first and Seventh Day of January be Inspected and Mustered in the Same maner as recrut for the Established Regiments. and haveing Joyned the Company the Same Number Shall be discharged the oldest Sol- diers always being Intiteled to Claim it as their right except where Invaleds of the Same Companys, present, them Selves of whose Claims Cognizence Shall be taken in the Same maner as is don in the Established Regiment in like cases
by this Scheem every able Bodied man is liable to Bair arms as a Contnantal Soldier at 18 years of age and its posable that he continue So for Seven year but as the Continal Militia and the established Reg- iments will not altogath amount to more than 1% of the ratable Poles and not More the 1% of those liable to bare arms the Proberbility is that no man will Save more than three year at farthest
I have made no Destintion between Rich or Poor in my Calculation in the Formations of the Com- panys one reason is because I think the Establish- ing a Reguler Militia on Such a Footing is utterly
55
Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
Impratable consistent with the Idear of the Purpos of a Standing army in the defence of the Country
to give force and spirit to any Measure of this Sort it is Necessry to make it as Simple as posable Besides when we want Men we must look where they are and when money is wanted let us look where it is to be found the Poor man can yeald personal Ser- vice, but if this is not Sufficent to answer the objec- tion that may be raised on this Head - let each State make provision to equalize the money part upon the Pools and estates of each Company Dis- trict. but no [one] is to be excused from yealding the Personal Service required of him unless he provides a Substitute
In ordor that they may be always ready to take the Field properly armed and acoutterd on the Shortst Notice and in ordor that they may be per- fectly Uniform in their Arms and acoutrement a Sufficient number of Arms &c Shall (at the Expence of the United States) be delivrd to the Colo or Com- manding officer of the Regt and deposited Nere the place of randezvos two good chest shall be provided for each Companys arms in which they are to be cearfully Secured on the Regiments takeing the field in the month of September the arms to be delivrd to them the Captain or Commanding officer being ac- countable for those of his Company as the Colo is for those of his Regt
In ordor to give Life & Motion to this Complex army of Continantal Regular and Militia their must be one Commander in Cheif from whome all ordors for the Continantal Militia as well as the Reguler Regiments are Mediately or Immediately to Issue the Same in peace as in time of War
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Marietta College Historical Collections
Their Shall for the Militia Regiment be Six Major Gen' but no Brigadiers & the Colo when in the Field recive Brigadier Subsistence but Colonels pay only the Regt will in point of divs as Brigads
The inspeter General of the Established Army Should also be So to the Contints Militia and he will appoint as many Deputys as may be thought proper to Muster and Inspect the Continantal Militia for the Month they are out and Certifie the Rolls accord- ingly which Shall be paid out of the Treasury of the United Stats
the Pay Master is to have a proper allowanc f[or] his Servis in obtaining and paying the money to the Men, and the Qr Master for his expence in takeing care repairing Transeporting &c the arms accort- ment &c &c
every Soldier is to be charged with any abuses or damage do to his arms or accortments while in his Possestion or loss of ammunition and S[t]opage made on the pay roll agreable to the Judgment of the Field offi[cer] with the Int[erested?] Capt who are at the end of every month to make an Inspection of the Same
XI
RUFUS PUTNAM'S PLAN FOR A WESTERN STATE (1783)32
NEW WINDSOR, 16th June, 1783.
Sir :- As it is very uncertain how long it may be before the honorable Congress may take the petition
32 This is General Putnam's letter to Washington accompanying
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Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
of the officers of the army for lands between the Ohio River and Lake Erie into consideration, or be in a situation to decide thereon, the going to Phil- adelphia to negotiate the business with any of its members, or committee to whom the petition may be referred, is a measure none of the petitioners will think of undertaking. The part which I have taken in promoting the petition is well known,33 and there- fore needs no apology, when I inform you that the signers expect that I will pursue measures to have it laid before Congress. Under these circumstances, I beg leave to put the petition into your Excellency's hands, and ask, with the greatest assurance, your patronage of it. That Congress may not be wholly unacquainted with the motives of the petitioners, I beg your indulgence while I make a few observations on the policy and propriety of granting the prayer of it, and making such arrangements of garrisons in the western quarter as shall give effectual pro- tection to the settlers and encourage emigration to the new government, which, if they meet your appro- bation, and the favor not too great, I must request your Excellency will give them your support, and cause them to be forwarded with the petition to the President of Congress, in order that when the peti-
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