The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-12-27
aDifteiIamp.

CORRESPONDENTS CONTINUED
,r .fns.sers 10 Mr. xanOen. Queries.
LETTER x.
.1nssferdam, Oers6er l6, 1850.
SIR,
THE tenth head of inquiry Is, How
great is the force of America. The num-
be. of men ! Their discipline, sc. from the
commencement of the troubles Is there q
good supply of warlikc stores Are t'r.se
70 be found partly or entirely In America -
Or must they be imported {"
The force Of America consists Of regs-'
lar army, and of militia the regular army
has een various at different times. The
first regular army which was formed in
April, l775, was enlisted Cor six months on
" the next was enlisted for one year /; the
next for three years the last period expired
last february. AT each of these periods, be-
tween the expiration of a term of enlist
mcnt, and the formation of new army, the
English have given themselves airs Of tri-
umph, and have done some brilliant exploits.
In the winter of l775-6, indeed, they were
in Boston and although our army, after the
expiration of the first period of enlistment
for six months, was reduced TO small num-
Der, yet the English were not in a condition
to, attempt any thing. In the winter Of
l776-7, after The expiration of the second
term of enlistment, and before the new army
was brought together, the English marched
through the Jersies. After the expiration of
the last term of enlistment, which was for
loe E.h
airy, the English went to their old cxuitations
again, and undertook the expedition ~
Charleston. In the course of the last spring
and sumI.er, however, it seems the army has
been renewed and they are now enlisted,
in general, during the war.
To state the numbers of the regular army
according to the establishment, that is, ac-
cording to the number of regiments at their
full compliment, / suppose the continental
army has sometime amounted TO fourscorc
thousand men. But the American regi-
ments have not often been full any more
than the English. There arc in the war of
fce at Philadelphia, regular monthly returns
of the army, from l7T5 to this day, but arr
not able, from memory, 70 give an'accurate
account of them, it is sufficient TO say that
the American regular army has been general
| ly superiour to. that Of the English /; and il
would not be good policy to keep larger
army, unless we had prospect Of putting an
| end to the British power in America by it.
| But this, without naval superiority, is very
difficult, if not impracticabls the English
take possession of seaport town, fortily
| it in the strongest manner, and cover II with
| their men-of.war, so that our army cannot
come at it. If France and Spain should CO.
/ peratc with us so FIR as to send ships enough
/ to maintain the superiority at sea, It would
not require many years, perhaps not many
months, to cxtcrminate the English from the
United States. But this policy those Courts
have not adopted, which is little surprizing
bccause,it is obvious, that by captivating the
British feet and army in America, the most
decisive blow would be given to their power
which can possibly be given in any quarter o
the globe.
j What number of regular troops Gen
Washington has at this time under his i'm
mediate command, am unable precisely Il
say presume, however, that he has no
less than twenty thousand men, besides ths
French troops under the Comte dc Rocham
be.u. Nor am / able to say, how many Gen
eral Gates has to the southward
But Besides the regular army we are t.
consider the militia. Several Of the Colonies
were formed into militia, from the begin
ming of their settlement. After the com
mencement of this war, all the others follow
ed their example, and made laws, by whicl
all the inhabitants Of America are now enroll
ed in militia, which may be computed q
| tivc hundred thousand men. But these ar
scattered over territory Of one hundred an
Fifty miles in breadth, and at least fifteen hun
dred miles in length, lying along upon tn
, sea coast. This gives the English the ad
vantage, by means of their superiority at se'
to remove suddenly and easily from one pal
Of the continent to another, as from Bosto
10 New York, from Ncw-Ycrk to Rhode
Island, from New-York TO Chesapeake {
Z Delaware bay, or to Savannah or Charleston
and the Americans the disadvantage, OF ~
l,r;ncr ablf to march either the regular trOol