nothing more from him until two o'clock this day when his answer to my note was received, and the enclosed district order immediately issued.

I understand that general Taylor is making arrangements for the supply of Lusk's brigade, at this place, and its neighborhood; and it will readily occur to you, that the power to call militia into service, vested in me by the president's proclamation, cannot be exercised to any beneficial result since, the moment such militia shall have assembled, in pursuance of my requisition, they will be taken from me by state authorities. Copy of a letter from his excellency John Cotton Smith, governor of the state of Connecticut, to brigadier general Cushing, dated Hartford, September 9, 1814. SIR-Conformably to the original arrangement, major general Taylor, now goes to take the command of the militia on duty, at New London and its vicinity.

He will retain or reduce their present number, according to existing circumstances. Upon this and other subjects, connected with the safety of these ports, he is instructed, and will be disposed, to confer with you freely, and to promote, by all means in his power, that concert of operation on which the success of the service must essentially depend.

Copy of a letter from brigadier general Cushing, to brigadier general Lusk, commanding militia, dated Military District, No. 2, Head Quarters, New London, September 12, 1814.

SIR-The usual reports of the brigade of drafted militia under your command, in the service of the United States, was not delivered to the adjutant general of the district yesterday, and report says that you have received, and are acting under the orders of a militia officer, not in the service of the United States.

It has, therefore, become necessary, that you assign a reason, in writing, for withholding your reports, and contradict or admit the fact, of your having received, and are actually executing, the orders of an officer, not in the service of the United States.

Copy of a letter from brigadier general Lusk. to brig adier general Cushing, dated New London, September 12, 1814.

SIR-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of this morning. The following is an extract of the order of his excellency, the captain general, dated the 28th July, 1814.

The troops thus detached, are to be completely armed and equipped according to law, and, until otherwise directed, will be held in readiness to march at a moment's warning, for the purpose of repelling invasions of the enemy, under such orders as they shall receive from the commander in chief.”

The following is an extract of a letter of instruction to me, from governor Smith, dated Sharon, 11th August, 1814.

"You will inform general Cushing, by letter, of your state of readiness, and take his directions as to the route and place or places of destination, and to conform to his instructions until the arrival of major general Taylor, who will take the command as soon as his health and the necessary arrangements will permit.”

In addition to the above, major general Taylor issued his orders to me, under date of the 11th September, 1814, directing me to discontinue calling at the office of the commanding general of the district for orders, and to obey no orders, excepting such as shall be issued under the authority of this state.

He has also required of ine regularly to make report to him of the forces under my command.

From a perusal of the foregoing extracts, you will readily infer the only answer to your interrogations which I have the power to make.

Copy of district orders, dated Military District. No. 2, Head Quarters, New London, September 12, 1814. The brigade of drafted militia from the state of Connecticut, having been withdrawn from the service of the United States, by his excellency governor Smith; and brigadier general Lusk, the commanding officer of the said brigade, having refused to receive and obey the or

ders of the brigadier general commanding this military, district, no further supplies, of any description, are to be delivered to him, or his brigade, for and on account of the United States, without an express written order from the brigadier general commanding, or from his superior officers, actually in the service of the United States.

By order of the commanding general.

P. P. SCHUYLER, Adjutant general.

Copy of a letter from William Jones, governor of Rhode Island, to the secretary of war, dated Providence, April 22, 1812.

SIR-I have had the honor to receive your letter under date of the 15th instant, requiring me to take effectual measures to detach five hundred of the militia of Rhode Island, and that they be armed and equipped for actual service, within the shortest period that circumstances will permit.

The general assembly of this state will be in session in a few days, when I shall embrace the earliest opportunity to lay the request before them.

Copy of a letter from William Jones to the secretary of war, dated Providence, June 18, 1812.

SIR-Your communication of the 12th instant came to hand by last evening's mail; and in reply, permit me to state, that for the quota of militia required by the act of congress of April 10, 1812, the general assembly of this state, at their session, in May last, ordered å return of our militia made on or before the 4th of July next, and that therefrom a draft of the number required will be made as soon as practicable, and ready for ser vice.

Extract of a letter from William Jones to the secretary of war, dated Providence, August 22, 1812.

I have not been able to obtain an entire return of the men drafted, as this state's quota of militia, alluded to in my last, until the 11th instant. It is now done, and the detachment organized, as per enclosed roll, and will be held in readiness to act, when in my opinion, any of

the exigencies provided for by the constitution, and referred to the by late act of congress under which they are detached, exist agreeably to the opinion and advice of the council of this state, given me on the occasion. Extract of a letter from his excellency William Jones, governor of the state of Rhode Island, to the president of the United States, dated Providence, June 29, 1814.

The views of the general assembly, the council of war, and myself, will be discovered from the act of the assembly, passed at the late session, a copy of which Mr. Searle will present to you, with whom I request you will make all the necessary arrangements for carrying it into full effect.

He will discuss the subject of his mission fully, and I trust to your satisfaction, so that the state will, by the assistance of the United States, be placed in a posture of defence, at least against the predatory incursions of the enemy.

Extract of a letter from Nathaniel Searle, jun, to the president of the United States, dated Washington City, July 6, 1814.

The views of the general assembly, of the council of war, and of the governor, will be clearly discovered, in relation to this subject from an act of the assembly, passed at their last session, a copy which I beg leave to present.

I beg leave, therefore, in behalf of the state by whose authority I am deputed, to solicit the peculiar attention of the president to her perilous and calamitous situation to request of him a reimbursement of the expenditures already made, and a prompt provision of a military force for her protection; or that he will furnish, herewith, pecuniary means, by which she can placę herself in an attitude of defence.

Extract of a letter from brigadier general T. H. Cushing, to the secretary of war, dated military district no. 2, head quarters, Providence, July 21, 1814. Your letter of the 11th instant, with enclosures, reached me at this place, on the evening of the 15th,

and on the next morning I had an interview with governor Jones, who is at this time, deliberating with his council, as to the mode of selecting the state's quota of 500 men, which he assures me shall be raised, either by enlistment or draft, in a very few days.

Extract of a letter from his excellency William Jones, governor of the state of Rhode Island, to the secretary of war, dated Providence, August 15, 1814.

Since the arrangement was entered into with you, relative to raising a state corps, rendezvous have been opened in different parts of the state, officers appointed, and the recruiting service progresses in a manner and with a rapidity that promises success.

Should we be disappointed, however, in raising the number proposed by enlistment, the militia will be detached to make up the deficiency, for the defence of the state, according to the invitation of the president of the United States, of the 4th of July last. ·

Extract of a letter from his excellency William Jones, governor of the state of Rhode Island, to the secretary of war, dated Providence, September 8, 1814.

ŠIR-I am ready, as I have by letter, and through the adjutant general, colonel Searle, repeatedly expressed to your department, to call out the militia, and particularly the 500 men ordered out by the president, on the 4th day of July last, as our quota of the 95,500 men; but we are destitute of almost every necessary for the comfort and subsistence of the men, and for making them effective as soldiers. We are without tents, equipage, and provisions, and have a very inadequate supply of cannon, muskets and ammunition. I have attempted to raise a corps of 500 men, to be accepted as substitutes for our quota of militia. In this I have not yet succeeded, having been able to enlist only about 150 men, notwithstanding a bounty was offered by the state. I have also detached four companies of militia for the defence of Newport, who have been called into actual service, one company at a time, and who were agreed to be mustered under the authority of the