Dedication of an "Uniform System of Education, adapted to the United States" to me.

Had I not declined similar honors, in all cases where previous applications have been made, I certainly should, with much pleasure, have yielded to one on so important a subject as you have written. But this being the case, I am compelled for the sake of consistency to decline accepting the compliment of yours.

I sincerely wish success to your undertaking and shall, very chearfully, become a subscriber to the Work. With respect I

am etc.

*To THE SECRETARY OF WAR

Mount Vernon, October 15, 1798. Dear Sir: Your letter of the 2d, and three of the 5th. instant, came duly to hand. Those of the latter date, were received late in the evening preceeding my visit to the Federal City, where I was detained several days on business; and is the cause of their remaining unacknowledged so long. In the former, you ask if I am acquainted with characters, who have talents and acquirements to fit them for the command of the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers? I am so far from the possession of such knowledge, that I should be unwilling to hazard a recommendation of any, to these important Offices. Mr. Edward Rutledge of Charleston So. Carolina commands the Artillery Corps of that State, and is a man of Spirit and abilities. He is, besides, the particular friend of General Pinckney; but I have no idea (if he was agreeable to the President) that the Rank of Lieut Colonel Commandant would induce him to come forward. Major Rivardi " (now in the Service of

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"Maj. John Jacob Ulrich Rivardi, of the First U. S. Artillery and Engineers.

1798]

SOUTHERN OFFICERS

489

the U. States) is, I am told, a Scientific character, and a man of experience. He is a Swiss, and was sometime in the Service of Russia. How he has conducted himself in ours, your opportunities, better than any information of mine, will enable you to judge. He is gentlemanly in his appearance, and by those who know him better than I do, is said to be a man of abilities and information.

With respect to the Officers for the Regiments, which (by the plan you submitted to the President) are to be raised in the Southern division; I have made, and shall continue to make, such enquiries for suitable ones, as I can do without Committing myself, if it should not be approved; and in this State I might be able, I presume, with the aids I could derive, to make a tolerable good Selection for the proportion, or quota of the four Regiments it would have to furnish. But this is not to be done in the Southern, and Western States without relying upon others: and in whom can more confidence be placed than in the General Officers therein, who are to experience the good, or the evil, which will result from proper, or improper selections? My opinion therefore is, that after the quota of men, required from each State is ascertained, the least tardy, and most efficient mode would be, to send a list of the applicants from each to the General Officers, or Officer, (where there are any) residing therein, and therefrom; or from his or their own knowledge of other characters; and such information as can be obtain'd, make a selection of Officers of the different grades; proportioned thereto; and to know whether they will, or will not serve in the grades allotted. This to be final; that the recruiting Service may commence without further delay. But if the President chuses to have a check upon this measure, let such arrangements be forwarded to the War

Office for sanction, or alteration, at his pleasure; and returned for the purpose above-mentioned; for it is of the highest importance, that the Augmented force should be raised, and in training as soon as possible.

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Generals Pinckney and Washington" would, I am confident, be careful in their selection of Officers for the Troops to be raised in South Carolina and Georgia; and from the character of General Davie," I should hope he would not be less attentive to those to be taken from No. Carolina: How this might be in the State of Tennessee, I cannot say; and with respect to Kentucky, I am more at a loss to express any opinion. Enclosed is a sketch of the quotas which the States in the Southern division would have to furnish of the four Regiments of Infantry, and six Troops of horse according to the Census, and state of the present Representation. If upon due consideration it should be approved, it might go into immediate execution; either by an immediate order from the War Office, or mediately through the Commander in Chief, as shall be deemed best. In the former case, I conceive it ought to be accompanied with Instructions to the Generals, or persons to whom the Order issues, to give, in the selection of fit characters, a preference first, to officers of the Revolutionary army who are in the prime of life; who have distinguished themselves by their bravery, attention, and gentlemanly deportment; and who have not forfeited their pretensions to either of these qualifications since; 2dly. if such are not to be found, next to young Gentlemen of good families, liberal education,

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William Washington, of South Carolina. He had been appointed brigadier general in July, 1798.

"William Richardson Davie, of North Carolina. He had also been appointed brigadier general in July, 1798.

*See the following document, “Quotas of Troops from Southern States," under date of Oct. 15, 1798.

1798]

TROOP QUOTAS

491

and high sense of honour; and 3d. in neither case to any who are known enemies to their own government: for they will as certainly attempt to create disturbances in the Military, as they have done in the Civil administration of their Country. With great esteem &c.

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PS. In treating on the Subject of Regimental Officers, for the Augmentation, Colo. Willm. Smith 3 of New York again occurs. I know not on what precise ground the nomination of him was rejected by the Senate, and therefore to advise bringing him forward again might be improper; nor should I incline to do it, if there was just cause to impeach either his integrity, or his attachment to the measures of Government. But I have always viewed Colo. Smith in the light of an Officer possessing Military talents, and conceive, if he would accept of it, that the command of one of the Regiments about to be raised in the middle district of the United States could not be better bestowed.

* QUOTAS OF TROOPS FROM SOUTHERN STATES99

Mount Vernon, October 15, 1798.

By the Act "To augment the Army of the United States, and for other purposes" Twelve Regiments of Infantry, and six Troops of light Dragoons are to be added to the present force. By the Establishment of them, the first will consist of 7,680 Rank and File, and the second of 354. If four Regiments of the former, and all the latter, are to be raised in the States South of the Potomack, the quota of each State, agreeable to the Population, to the present Representation, and to a medium between the two, will be as follow

William Stephens Smith. 30 To augment the regular Army.

The remoteness of Kentucky and Tennessee from the Sea board, where it is presumed the Theatre of the War will be; is opposed to the raising of Dragoons in either of those States. And to avoid broken Companies of Infantry, or Troops of Dragoons, in any other State, the following plan of arrangement, of both Officers and Privates, conformably to the preceeding calculation and principle (as nearly as the case will admit) is made.