The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-12-30
HEAD QUARTERS.
Norfolk, 18th Dec. 1919.

enclose to DC laid before his Exce,len-
cy the Governor a requisiti u for militia. To
De placed in the service of the United Slates.
he companies Of Cavalry, Artiilerv. hi.
neircn and infantry, viii; be nreaoi7ed in the
niece expressed IN the plan had The honor
70 iay ueiore the Executive in Ju,y last.
shculd ret discharge the duty owe The
nation, II dad nat J. commend ,hat such ct
hcers, new in service. as have displayed
particular intelligence. activity ard zeai ,r
promote the cheracter Of the ar,rv. .bor,d
be invited to continue. The propriety of
IhiS measure becomes more obvious a the
term CT service in the troops is diminished.
--ih every requs'tion are to b. found Off
Gers VITO want nothing but experience 10
MAKE them eminen,ly usefu If suct conid
De Kept IN service, the army might hope TO
acquire some consistency, skhl and v;g~ur.
EGI the perpetual Change Of both officers
ana men, iortids al! hope of Improvements
In the troops, and will, sooner or iater. lead
to some sigma! disaster to our arms. ? am
aware the abuse to which the power If
Seiecnop, Sf!evoiviVg, as 1t necessarily nu 8,
ON she Held officers Of the army, } is Liable,
ne correction should be found, las it ouqht
TO be m all abuses Of power) in the ieaious
invest sgation ~ is mode IT exercise. aud an
exemplary punishment, (augrnen,in- with
the rank Of tie cifer.ie,,) whensaever it
mas been exerted with a view TO nzl sonal
or poI5icei tavoEitsm, or with aly eve bnt
TO the pubiic good.
am not Unspprzed Of the feelings which,
nnhappliv exist on this subject; and in sta
ing my opiRo1s thus frankly, kn4w that
SUBJECT mvself to the possible i,uputa,;en sF
s!'hsh considerations. But prefer upr,ef
iitec fepro2ch 70 the abandonment Of an
important duty. | should fail in duty. is
d'd not submit this Recommendation On q
POINT or vital ilrpprt to the honor M! safety
or ,he state. AS to myself, the ground. ON
which you know. my continuance in service.
was rIaced With the executive piil protec.
he from all imputati"n of person-l motives.
lhe oehcit OF the last requisifion, the dis
charge ct 50 many persons, under the ne
cree OF The General Court, who were ey4
pected to continue 6 months, and the deter
'nination or the General Government to
calculate the tour Of those in reauisi,ion
VINO mad been employed 10y the state, n
from the time of transfer to the Uni ed
. a'es. bur ct their employment BY the
sta'e. viii leave Us far short Of oar comma
ment IN January i; and beg yon to e.t,3e,.i,e
me arrival 81 the troops as much as possibie.
IS intended That those who go cot shall
leave their arms, &c. ;
In the r-qais'ions of cavalry, r,ast re
que't that ta1 AcrSes and men be mustered
nd mat they be properly equipped MANY
troopers nave come down, 10, only withou
uniform, but without Caps. boots. spurs, pro
per brides, and MANY other essentials. and
On hor'es wholly unfit for cavalry dr,v.
MS a. use has been carried SO far, parsica.
iariy Whefs substitutes have been received.
mat shall b. Compelled to order muster
mere ano roget those net properly equip
pea. his is the most expensive arm Of H.,
ar"v' aod It is better to get rid of ,he
charge, It we cannot have the benefit Of il.
have the honor to be,
very respectfully,
your obsdeni servant,
ROBER { 3. TAYLOR:
-, .Brgadier General Commanding.
The Adjutant General of Virginia.