it never can be rectified thereafter. The character then of the Army would be lost in the Superstructure; the reputation of the Commander in Chief would sink with it, and the Country be involved in inextricable expence.

It is impossible, I know, for the Executive to be intimately acquainted with the qualifications of the Battalion Officers and perhaps from the manner in which the Volunteer Corps may offer themselves, little will be left to his choice: the presumption however is, that as these Corps will be composed of respectible Citizens, the Officers will be good, and worthy of as much confidence as can be placed in untried men. The great desiderata lyes in the appointment of the General Officers of the line, and of the Staff; particularly the latter; and the first consists in a great measure in determining whether they shall be taken from the old set of Generals, or formed a new, from the most experienced, intelligent, and best proved officers of the late American Army, without regard to Grade.

From the want of the list which I left in the Presidential Office by which my memory could be refreshed as to names, it would be hazardous, and might be improper to give a decided opinion on this head, but I have no great scruple in saying that I incline strongly to the latter mode; for if this Country is seriously invaded our system of warfare must be the very reverse of the last.

To remark to a Military Man how all important the General Staff of an Army is to its well being, and how essential consequently to the Commander in Chief, seems to be unnecessary; and yet a good choice is of such immense consequence, that I must be allowed to explain myself.

The Inspector General, Quartermaster General, Adjutant General, and Officer commanding the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers, ought to be men of the most respectable characters,

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and of first rate abilities; because, from the nature of their respective Offices, and from their being always about the Commander in Chief who is obliged to entrust many things to them confidentially, scarcely any movement can take place without their knowledge. It follows then, that besides possessing the qualifications just mentioned, they ought to have those of Integrity and prudence in an eminent degree, that entire confidence might be reposed in them; without these and their being on good terms with the Commanding General his measures if not designedly thwarted may be so embarrassed as to make them move heavily on.

If the Inspector General is not an Officer of great respectability of character, firm, and strict in discharging the duties of the trust reposed in him; or if he is too pliant in his disposition, he will, most assuredly be imposed upon, and the efficient strength and condition of the Army will not be known to the Commander in Chief; of course he may form his Plans upon erroneous calculations and commit fatal mistakes.

If the Quartermaster General is not a man of great resource and activity, and worthy of the highest confidence, he would be unfit for the Military Station he is to occupy; for as it is not possible, at all times, to mask real designs and movements under false appearances from him, the better and safer way is, to place full confidence in him under the seal of responsibility; then, knowing the plan, he participates in the concealment; on which, and the celerity of a movement success oftentimes, entirely depend. In addition to these requisites in a Quarter Master General, Economy in providing for the wants of an Army; proper arrangements in the distribution of the Supplies, and a careful eye to the use of them, is of great importance, and calls for a circumspect choice.

The Adjutant Genl. ought also to be a man of established character, of great activity and experience in the details of an

Army, and of proved integrity, or no alertness can be expected in the execution of the several duties consigned to him on the one hand, and every thing to be feared from treachery, or neglect in his Office, on the other; by which the enemy might be as well informed of our strength as their own.

Though last mentioned it is not least important that so essential and Scientific a part of the Army as the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers should have an able and respectable Officer at their head, without which it would soon sink into ignorance and disrepute.

Humanity, and feeling for the sick and wounded of an Army call loudly for skill, attention, and œconomy in the Director of the Hospitals, and without the latter qualification, profusion, and misapplication of its stores, will inevitably take place.

Able, well informed, active, and spirited General officers, are, no doubt, of high importance to the honor, reputation and success of any Army, but I have confined my observations in a more particular manner to those of the General Staff, who may be considered as so many parts of the Commander in Chief. Viewing them then in this light it will readily be seen how essential it is that they should be agreeable to him. Such characters are within my view if they would accept.

I have run into great prolixity, in order to give you a comprehensive view of my ideas on the subject of your letter, and the principles by which I am governed. Without these explanations, the answer might have been conveyed in a few words as follows.

When I retired to the walks of private life, I had no idea that any event would occur that could induce me to leave them. That the pain I should feel, if it be my fate to do so, cannot easily be expressed;

Yet

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If this Country should actually be Invaded, or such manifestations of a design to do it, as cannot be mistaken, I should be ready to render every Service in my power to repel it;

Provided,

My declining years is not considered as an objection to the trust; but on the contrary (and in support of the partiality which may actuate the President in my favor) it shall appear unequivocally, to you and to those with whom you act, being at the centre of information from all parts of the Union, and where a Commander for the Troops to be raised, must often have been the subject of conversation, that the Public wish was directed to me, notwithstanding my avowed declaration when I retired from Office to remain a private Citizen.

and provided also,

That I can have such characters associated with me, as will render the turmoils of War, and the burthen of the Command, as light as the nature of it will admit; for it is well known that the vicissitudes of war, are not within the reach of human controul; and the chances of adding to, are not greater than the hazard of taking from, that reputation the partiality of the World has been pleased to confer, for past Services; and that not prompted, as I have observed in a former part of this letter, by motives of Ambition, or Interest, to embark again on a theatre so arduous and responsible, I might, in the course of events be left with the single consolation of knowing, myself, though, possibly, deprived even of the credit of that, by the malevolence of others; that a sense of duty was the only motive which had induced me to run the risk; and to make the Sacrifice of my ease and quiet at the sametime.

In a very handsome polite and flattering letter with which I have lately been honored by the President, he has hinted in very delicate terms, (not to be misunderstood), a wish that the

Command of the Military force of this Country might be in me.88 I did not conceive myself at liberty, however, to go into such details and explanations with him, as, from the habits of intimacy I have always been in with you, I thought myself authorised to talk with you, who may be assured of the sincere esteem and affectionate regards of.

*To THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Mount Vernon, July 4, 1798.

Dear Sir: Not being in the habit since my return to private life, of sending regularly to the Post Office (nine miles from hence) every Post day, it often happens that letters addressed to me lye longer there, on that account, than they otherwise would do.

I have delayed no time, unnecessarily, since I had the honor of receiving your very obliging favour of the 22d. Ulto, to thank you for the polite and flattering sentiments you have been pleased to express relatively to me, and to assure you, that as far as it is in my power to support your Administration, and to render it easy, happy and honorable, you may command me without reserve.

President Adams's letter of June 22, 1798, is one of those abstracted from the Washington Papers by William B. Sprague. It is now in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. A photostat of it is in the Washington Papers. In it Adams acknowledged Washington's letter of June 17, q. v., and stated: "The approbatory Addresses, are very prescious to me, as they discover more union among the States and more unanimity among the People than was expected. My Administration, will not certainly be easy to myself. It will be happy, however if it is honourable. . . . I have no qualifications for the martial part of it, which is like to be the most essential. If the Constitution and your Convenience would admit of my Changing Places with you, or of my taking my old station as your Lieutenant civil, I should have no doubts of the ultimate Prosperity and Glory of the Country. In forming an Army, whenever I must come to that Extremity, I am at an immense Loss whether to call out all the old Generals, or to appoint a young Sett. If the French come here We must learn to march with a quick Step, and to Attack, for in that way only they are said to be vulnerable. I must tax you, Sometimes for Advice. We must have your Name, if you, in any case will permit us to use it. There will be more efficacy in it, than in many an Army."