The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-03


feelings and 80 hcsbie To car inte ;leleence
!; now becomes Important to ie,uia stoui
the iong, depression, into which have been
.bctrave, rs the ;pteresting considerations
Involved in tue SUBJECT. to the i..rtiena,
part cna,ic.ieG fGc,ewith, which has bech
periri4ncd by the Executive # TIM, Cnm
mon@ca.l, ;.irins the recess OF the Legis-
Hiurc.
lsacel 81 the partially Of ny country, in
h:pliy irspol>ib'e trust, and greatly anxi
ous ,hrt nothing should &c wanting on my
part. kept an ;,,tSn,;y. eye upon the pro-
grcss CT events, am.! believing that meas res
were tending 10 the catas,ruphe which uit
matcly occurred, !, so early as March last,
addressed a circular letter to the Lieutenant
Colonel COMMANDMENTS OF Regiments, eX-
l,nrting shcn, to yigilan, discharge vi their
s;,,ty, pointing ous the necessity OF being
prepared for the eyc@;, and particularly.
inyiting their attcn,iA TO the condition of
the public arms. A copy of this letter will
be found in the packet "A. No. /.
Awaiting myself uf the discretion given By
law, and with the advice Of Council, l
caused moreover. the militia of certain
counties, whose situation was the most ex-
posed, to be armed entire, with deduction
of 20 per cent for non efectives. ordered
large proportion of the mounted ordnance
+, 20 be, distributed in the same section of
country, also, munitions of war to be dcpo-
sited in the most vulnerable parts, sa that,
at the approach of danger. the whole coun-
try, (being prepared,) might by simulta-
neous movement. unite its forces to repel in
Vasiol.
received on the 18th April. letter from
the Secretary atWar, (under date of the
15ih) sighfying the wish of the President OF
the United States, that should Immediate
ly place in rcquisition, Virginia's quota of
militia (being IL ,0OO) in conformity with
law OF Congress, passed April 10th, 1912,
copy OF which is in the same packet mark
ed 9. BY this it will be seen that discre-
tion was given the executive OF detaching ri
Ncmen, equal to one tenth part OF the re-
QUESTION. That alternative was embraced,
and, as the western part OF the state abound
cd in good .marksmen. thought it tavora-
bic to the service, to detach the greater
part of that description of force from that
quarter, and the foot of the mountains on
this side; Of course relieving the infantry of
the line, i'll the same ratio, in which the ri
temen were detached, and thereby pre-
serving the most entire equality toevery part
OF the state. My general orders issued i'll
pursuance of this request from the Presi-
dent of the United States, are also trans,
mttcd, marked No. 3. by which it will be
seen, that an appeal was made to the cou-
rage and patriotism of our fellow soldiers,
p who were invited by voluntary tender of
their services TO supercedc the necessity of
a draft. Iii u source Of pride to reflect that
this appeal was not made in vain; in some
parts OF the state, more came forward than
were called for, in others gvhoie Regiments
made tender OF their services. Anxious
TO preserve an example of patriotism, so
honorable to those who furnished it, and so
worthy OF imitation by all, l directed the
Brigadier Generals to report the name OF
each citizen, who had so acted, that he
might be presented to the representatives
OF the people, to receive at their hands that
mead of appreciation 10 Which he is so Justly
entitled.
wrote a letter 20 the Secretary at War,
eader date of April 17tn. concerning the
measures necessary to be adopted for the
defence OF this state, which will be found "a
Zaong the accompanying documents, marked
No. 4. HIS answer is transmitted, marked
No. 5. Believing from the character of
our enemy, that the Eastern frontier was
the only vulnerable point of this state,
deemed it correct to repair to Norfolk and
It's vicinity, in person, for the purpose OF
learning whatever might be essential to its
defence. The result OF my observations,
transmitted to the Secretary at War, by
letter, No. 6.
On the 22d of June received letter
from The Secretary of State, covering the
act of Congress, declaring war against G.;
Britain, Ireland and their dependencies, &
Thought proper TO transmit copies thereof,
with circular letter to the commandments
of regiments; copy of which correspond
ence is marked No 7. On the 21st OF July,
] received letter from the Secretary at
War, communicating the request of the
President OF the United States. to place 500
OF the militia, before detached, i'll immedi-
ate acquisition for the defence of Norfolk,
m conjunction with the regular force stati-
.oned there. In making the selection, / re-
solved to leave the physical force of the
country, most liable TO invasion, undimiriSh-
cd; aud Al the same time, if possible to
SELECT the troops from portion OF the stase,
whose climate, and general character, cor
responded with the country they were about
TO occupy, and thereby obviate the alarm,
which by some were felt as to the unheal-
ti,inesS of the situation. These obj ,cts, t is
believed, were attained in the course pursu-
ed, except with respect to- the. company Of
Artillery from Bedford. This, however, had
volunteered its service "a kind of force al
ways preferred,) and was the nearest to the
scene Of action, with the exception of those
companies residing along the shores of our
large navigable rivers. which, for the rea.
.sOa before stated, / had determined not to
call from their homes. Although under the
rule hal prescribed to uiysclf (thc pro-
pFiety OF which IS submitted 10 tue Legisla-
tTrcO could not have done Otherwise than
call upon this company, yet there is ample
cause Of rcgFet in the loss Of seven Of that
COMPANY. Aud sincerely sVmDathize with