Mr. Deane that it would be impossible to get any from the military corps of Engineers now called royal because their Demands would be so exorbitant; and that it would be also unnecessary, because we ought not to build fortified Places in America to serve as secure Holds to our Enemy when once taken from us; and that therefore, a few Bridge and Causeway-makers would answer all the ends of military Engineers. Such he brought with him; who were quite ready to fall under the command of an artillery direction; when not the lowest officer of the royal corps of Engineers would have submitted to such a novel pretension. It is needless to enquire whether it be true that Mr. Deane acknowledged he had been surprised into his uncouth compact. It is sufficient that Doctr. Franklin made an after one, which Mr. Deane also signed. Is not this in fact tantamount to a disavowal of the first treaty so far as relates to the orders of Congress? For, if those orders were fulfilled by the first, why was a second treaty made? The agents show that there had been a deception; or that there had not been any attempt to follow the instructions of congress as to Engineers, in all the train attending Mr. Du C- Another remark may not be impertinent here. As these four engineers showed their treaty to the Count de St. Germain, to whom they have also written from hence, it cannot be supposed that he would have permitted a Lt Colol. of the royal corps of Engineers and two old Majors of the same to come over hither, to be under the immediate command of a young Major of Artillery. It is not to be conceived. From whence, I conclude that Mr. Du C- never let his exorbitant and whimsical treaty be known to that Minister of the War Department, who must have been shocked at the confusion of corps in the principles of the contract. Excuse me, dear General, I will not again wander from the point which I said I would explain. Mr. Du C— has given full scope to his species of Ingenuity, here, as in the Neighbourhood of Mr. Deane. I have been told that he has said, if he could not be employed himself, he would bring it about that these others should not. This may be an absolute Falsehood. But, I will own it comes the nearest of anything, which I can conceive of, to explain the delays which have taken place in regard to these Engineers, who ought to have been sent to your Excellency long ago. They have remained subject to the crucifying expences of this city, because their employment seemed to interfere wth. Mr. Du Coudray's Pretensions, tho' those very Pretensions had been rejected. Your Excellency would doubtless smile, if you should ever hear, that even a number of Peasants disputed 3 days about the difference between the consequences of a man's being Colonel in Chief, or First Colonel, or Colonel to take rank and Command of all heretofore appointed, or Colonel commandant of Engineers. Would not a Brigadier or Major General of Engineers alike annul the supremacy of the differently worded commissions? Or rather, do not the 4 different modes give like command? I shall pass from rank to pay. These Gentlemen not only far from the prophesied exorbitancy in demand of rank, never received one shilling in France as Gratification; tho' others who were not sent for received large sums, and claim pay from their embarkation, and even pensions for life. But Doctr. Franklin, supposing it would be less trouble to himself and more agreeable to the Engineers to see to their own passages, stipulated their pay from the 13th. of Febry. As no Regulations have yet been made in regard to Cavalry or Engineers, these Gentlemen have received 5 months pay as Infantry; which will not refund the expenses of their voyage. I am really uneasy when I find manly honourable Intentions do not meet with at least equal emoluments with artful suspicious tricking contractors. If these Officers do not walk to camp, it is not because they were furnished by the Board of war with horses upon my application for them: And yet the nature of their Profession demands a provision of this Kind. Are they suddenly to reconnoitre a Camp, a River, a shoar, or a whole neighbouring country thro' which an army is to march, and to make the speediest return to the Generals, on foot? I trust your Excellency when asking for Engineers had ideas of something beyond what the sinister views of an ambitious foreigner has sought to inspire us with here; which is forming a causeway, or cutting a ditch or planking a bridge. And I shall consequently rest satisfied that you will receive the Officers now presenting themselves to you, and secure to them such honors and emoluments as you shall find them to merit from their education and abilities exemplified under your command. No one has been more backward than I in desiring to see foreigners in our service, to the slight of my countrymen. And, except Engineers, I could not admit the thought of our wanting any military strangers other than one or two veteran Adjutants or Majors, who know our language well, and could serve as instructors-at-large to our spirited and well-attached young american Officers. I wish these Engineers could speak english better than they do; but they can receive orders and give them in english, and will speedily learn to speak. I hope your Excellency will not think amiss of the freedom I have taken at this time both as to the matter of my letter and the interruptive length of it. I do not write officially, as of the Committee on foreign Applications. In that capacity I have more than once communicated to you proceedings of Congress in a Style which might lead you to misconjecture my individual opinion. I write as a Friend to my Country and the Reputation of it's Congress its Army and its Agents abroad. I write as being well acquainted with your Excellency, or, in other words, as thinking I know you. In short, I write because I had determined it to be my DUTY so to write. That Path once determined, I never ask myself whether there may not be a Lion in the way. After the important kindnesses which your Excellency has done me, I so far forgive the late injury of your apologizing for a short answer written by one of your hurried family, as not to revenge myself, by entreating you to excuse my rough uncopied sheets to a violent headache. Aliquando dormitat did not appear an unnatural charge against Homer Nimium vigilat would have appeared so against Scipio or Marlbrough, and yet I am led by you to think they might have given provocation for it. With truest vows for your prosperity I am Mr Harrison for it. 1. because it will injure the enemy in their trade, in their connexions with the indians. in their fame. 2. It will benefit the states by supplies gained from it. etc 3. it will be agreeable to the Spaniards. Mr Duane agst it 1. Because we want men. 2. Money. 3. Cannot retain it, if we succeed. Mr. Burk on the same side. addit. reason. too late to undertake it this ensuing fall and winter. Mr. Duer. for it. Answered the objections. Mr. Burk spoke again said nothing new. Mr. Wilson for it. points out more at large the advantages of undertaking it. Much to be gained; tho' no attempts made agst Mobille and Pensacola. The importance of the settlements on Mississipi and of taking post at Messhack.-what sort of men shd. be employed 2 regs and 400 militia. Great proba [bi]lity of succeeding; no great ill consequences, because of safe retreat Mr. Clarke declares for it but wants farther time to consider. Mentions the many objections agst it The danger of delaying, on account of the rapid encrease of inhabitants. Mr. Morris for it. States the force of the enemy at present not more than 300. requires little advances of money to procure provisions or military stores explains the nature of the country. Now is the time. danger of delay. [559A]1 Library of Congress. 2 The report of the board of war had apparently been taken into consideration for the first time July 19, and resumed on the 24th. The report was based on a plan of George Morgan, June 6, 1776, submitted to General Arnold, together with a letter of Arnold, July 5, 1777, and a further memorandum of Morgan, July 6. (The report of the board of war and the other papers mentioned are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 147, vol. I., ff. 251, 255, 259, 263.) The members of the board of war who were present July 10 (see the Journals, July 19, p. 567 n.) were John Adams, Benjamin Harrison, James Wilson, George Clymer, Samuel Adams, and William Duer. Of these all except John Adams and Clymer, from whom no remarks are quoted, appear in Thomson's Notes as advocating the expedition, as does also Robert Morris. The principal critic of the project was Henry Laurens, who gives a more explicit account of his part in the discussion in his letters to McIntosh and Rutledge (nos. 584, 586, post). 3 Presumably Fort Massac, near the mouth of the Tennessee River. Mr. Duer spoke again another argumt. this country may be made to contribute greatly to the expence of the War. Mr. Harrison spoke again enlarged on the reasons he first offered, obviated the objections Mr. Middleton moved to put of [f] the determination Mr. Duane seconded the motion to postpone and strengthend his first objection with this consideration that it cannot be undertaken without gold and silver. Question put carried to postpone till to Morrow.* 559B. CHARLES THOMSON, NOTES OF DEBATES.1 Resumed the consideration of report 1 July 25, 1777 Sergeant. desires to know whether the country thro wch the troops are to pass is healthy. till he knows this cannot give his voice Chase. Desires to know to whom the country will belong, if it succeeds. Unless it is first determined that it is to belong to the United States generally, he will be agst. it. Middleton. Against it. It will draw the attention of the enemy to the Southern States, and endanger them, particularly S. Carolina Williams. desires it may be postponed for a day or two till the enemy's intention is better known. Sergeant. against it. because he thinks there is great wt. in the observ. that it will turn the attention of the enemy agst the S. States he thinks we shod. oppose the enemy here. Duer. It will save the Southern States and divert the enemy from immediately attacking them. It will save N Y and the middle states from the incursions of Indians Laurens. 1000 or 1200 too few. Situation of the country much changed since 1771 The banks of the Mis. lined with inhabitants, many of them enemies to these States. Many have gone and are going from the US who are enemies and discontented. We cannot keep it a secret, they will be ready to oppose our troops and there are sundry advantagious posts can be taken, where they and the regulars can oppose our passage. Besides two enemys to oppose not mentiond. 1. The Ague and fever 2. Choctaws. If we have troops to spare, They shd. be applied to defend Georgia, which is in a defenseless state and in wch they have md. inroads and carrd off 2 tken The plan not well concerted. That part respecting frigates particularly. first we [have no] frig. if we hd [they]* cd. be betr. employd. 1. force inadequate. 2. The enemy [have] more strength than we can oppose wth. 3. If we 4 See no. 559B, post. [559B ] Library of Congress. 2 Thomson uses here a species of shorthand or cipher, apparently indicating numbers, but of which the translation has not been discovered. See notes 3, 4, 5, below. The cipher used here is: "V—.” 4 The manuscript has here a diagonal stroke: 5 The manuscript has "V", the same character translated "have", above. they cd. be better employed Has no objection to send thinks it would be proper and prudent. had force to spare person to N. O. Burke. agst it We shd. bend our whole force agst the enemy's army. Exp. and prepara. will be great. We must set off wth full supplies of arms, amm. and provs. for 6 mo. We cannot depend on the inhab. on the banks for provs. They have none to spare. They do not raise prov. (here Mr Morris beg leave to set him right in that matter. he has imported from thence cargoes of rice and exported from thence to the W. I. cargoes of indian corn.) B. continues this informa. does not satisfy him that they have now provisions to spare. But if they had we have not money to purchase it. Impracticable to keep poss. of the river Ought to be given up, because disagreeable to Southern States, who will not suffer that count [r]y to be poss. by Spain as it is necessary for their own safety. Harrison. Answers the objection abt. it being divulged. The fever and Ague. All accts agree the country on the Miss. healthy tho' Mobille unhealthy. Ind. cant become enemies by our going down. Want of money answered. Obj. abt frig and georg. answd. Wilson. Draws an argumt. for undertaking it Now from the obj. that a number have gone and are going to settle there who are enemies or discontented with the governments of these states. We shd. get poss: of that country to prevent such from fix themselves where they will undoubtedly be dangerous and troublesome even tho we shd. defeat the enemy here. The gains poss. will open a new trade, wch. the poss. of Aug.' will not and this can be secured tho Pensac. or Mob. are not attacked. As it must sometime be undertaken as it can never be undertn. at any fut time with a greatr. probaby of success than the present, he is for the present exp. 8 Burke. The Argumt. of encrease of settlers not of wt. because they are freemen not slaves and however they may differ in sentimts. they retain and their posty will in a higher degree retain a love of it. And hopes for a Union wth. the inhab. wch. will be better than a conquest. Moved to postpone carried to postpone." Dear Sir 560. HENRY LAURENS TO JOHN LEWIS GERVAIS.1 PHILADELPHIA 25 July 1777. I should have excepted of Public Intelligence that our Fleet of Xebeques and Galleys lie ready in the River for a concerted Expedition below, upon which they wd. have sail'd before this time but for an improper Demand of Increase of Wages made by the Lieutenants 12 in number. the Congress ordered them immediately to be dismiss'd the 6 New Orleans. 7 St. Augustine. 8 Pensacola or Mobile. The expedition conducted by James Willing in the beginning of 1778 was prob ably a revision of this project. See no. 749A, post. [560] S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letter-Book, Jan., 1776-Mar., 1778, p. 109. |