Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-02-22
for each person they bringin.l Twice read


the part of this House, to wait on the Pre-
sient of the United States and inform him
ut his re election to that Office. The reso
luton was concurred in, and Mcssrs. Ma
con, SEWER and Tallmadge appointed com
mittce on the part of this House.
The engrossed bill extending the time
tor issuing and locating military land war;,
rants, was read thrd time and passed.
ADDITIONAL GENERAL OFFICERS.
On motion of Mr.. Williams, the House
resolved itself into a committee Of the whole
Mr.. Lewis in the chair. OH the bill author
isng the appointment of additional general
| officers in the army of the u. States.
The bill provides for the appointment of
additional major generals, and
brigader generals.1
The.following letter from the Secretary
OF War gu this subject was read:
WAR DEPARTMENT.,
SIR,
In reply 10 the letter you did me the
honor to write to me, on the 5th intst. BY
direction of the committee on military at
fairs, respectfully submitted the following
opinions:
LIST. That an increased number of gene
raj officersis essential to- the public service
The number of regiments, provided for by
Jaw, is TIVE of light dragons, three of hea>
Wy artillery, one of light artillery, one of
rl'iemen, and forty five of infantry, making
together fifty two regiments.
The simplest organization is ever the
best. Hence 1t is that as regiment con
sists OF two battalious, SO brigade should
CONSIST OF two regiments, and division of
two brigades.
\ his SDht,e 0f ,,,;J H. c.,...1
practice sufficiently large The manage
ment oi two thousand men in the field will
be ample duty for a brigadicr, and the di-
recton OF double that number will give full
occupation to major general. To enlarge
the sphere OF command in either grade,
would not be mean OF best promoting the
public good.
Taking these ideas as the bases of the
rule, and taking for granted also, that our
ranks are filled, the present establishment
would require twenty five brigadiers, and
twelve major generals. BUT the latter adj
MISSION requires qualification, and under
existing circumstances, it may be sufficient
that the higher staff should consist of eight
major geueraIs, and sixteen brigadiers g
| The eenerslargument, on this head, might
be fortified byour own practice during the
| war OF the revolution, and by that of Euro
iRean nations at ell times. Believing howe
YER, that this view of the subject has been
| already taken by the Adjutant General, in
| a late communication to you, | forbear to
| do more than suggest 1t.
= The recruiting service would be much
promoted were the bounty in land commu-
table into money, at the option of the soldi-
er,'and at the end of his service. This mo-
dihcation wonld be addressed TO both des-
criptions OF men-those who would prefer
meney, and such as would prefer land
need hardly remark that bounties at
the close OF service, have many advantages
owe. those given before service begins
The former tie men down to- their duty
the latter furnish, il not the motive, at least
the means of debauob and descrtion.
Another and a public reason, for the pre-
ference may be found, in the greater con
,eniencewith which money may be. paid at
the end, than at the commencement of
war
i have the honor to be,
with great respect,
Sir, your most obedent humblb seryt.
JOHN ARMSTRONG.
Hon. ID. r. UIlhams,
Chairman Of the Committee on Dl2itary
.4Pabs
Mr.. Williams explained the progress Of
this bill, &c. He took occasion to advert
10 declaration recently made in debate
by Mr.. Quincy, that it was intended to ap-
point I1spt. General 70 command the ar
mics OF the United States, to which Mr.W
said he was precluded by illness from re-
plying To at the TIME He now declared that
M such intention had ever existed in the
minds Of administration ; thas the late Sc
cresary of War (Mr Eus;is) had declared
20 Rim (Mr w. that he had endeavored to
impress on his colleagues inofice the neces-
sity OF appointing a commander in chief:
but that, TO use the Secretaiy's own words.
he could not get the people in the zvhife
hOnse the Presidents house1 to assen, 70
It that by the gentleman who temporarily
succeeded Mr.. L. in the War Office, he
had been informed that no such thing was
in contemplation or would be suggested in
any manner to Congress. And all this Mr..
w. said he had heard long before the de
claTation made by Mr.. Quincy, and should
then have stated, had no: severe and sud
den indisposition prevented him from reply
ing ~ he had intended, TO that gentleman's
speech.
MIR. Quincy expressed his gratihcationeat
his information observing that he had beer
by no means alone in the impressions he had
entertained ON that subject, which prevail
ed pretty generally on both sides Of the
House.
After sorne further consideration
The blanks in the bill were filed with
ak major generals and six brigadier gene
rails.
The committee then rose ard reported
the bill which WAS ordered 20 Ne engrcss