The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-01-25
ORiGIWNL.
PLAN OF DEFENCE.


PLAN OF DEFENCE.
We owe the following Plan TO the pen os
a Gentleman, who has seen some service.
ano deservedly stands high with a who
/ Know him. With respect even TO the pre-
sent state OF the Militia, we are compelled
20 disseu, from his opnions--we have a
mere favorable idea OF their discipline and
Capacities tor service than he has express
ed.-As for his Plan, we think it peculiar.
! W Worthy OF the attention OF the constituted
authorities.
1.-THE enemy sSor'l ct any time make sudden
descent nn tie eoast OF Virginia ut any po.ut otiie
IMAM Norok--in tie present state at things we have
no means OF re?eiling them hut 10y raw IN iit.s sud
deniy called FROM the homes, wholly undetermined
and commanded by officers but little acquainted with
the duties n the heli-the consequences would he ::
L. That the enemy would inevitably attain their
object with almost any force which he mjeht en-
poy, h-cslee unframed men cannot efectusy res at
disciplined soldiers, with any reasonable dispropor-
ton of nHmhers.
g In the tur,u'uous conflicts (on MIR marty which
would ensue, vast numbers or men would be lost
unless we abandoned the field almost without s,rug.
gle.
g. The officers would be t:.grac.d. which mev
perhaps he considered as 4 public IN: stortune-
All Cf which wond be remedied if YOU could
brig well trained force into the field in time
when, aided by the militia to he suddenly collected
IN the neighbourhooa of the scene of action and
which, althoush useless in systematic resistance
would vet be useful in bsrrassing the enemy-miyh,
defeat their projects 'f such force attended
with no greater less expense TO the state rlsn
other Militia there could probably be no objection
10 an attempt to procure il.
think such force could be procured in this
way
Let thirty-two co-lpaue, which shnnId snswer.
~ the establishment OF the U. S to wit--iUO pri.
Yates. II mn commissioned and commissioned
ohcera, be raised for voluntary serv'ce-uith lu.
proportion Of general and field officers, to wit:
Ct , s.:.; Of the fine 81
-ompar!es Of riR men o1g
companies OF flying artillery Ash
Total, exclusive Of General & Field. OGiser,,
and Staff oN2
The whole TO he equipped IS to qualify them for
rHpnf movements rs hereafter mentioned.
let the who'll he raised and differed as fellows
divide the state into 80 Military Districts nv Ree
menis, IN each Of which, one company Of Infantry
h''t+, Cavalry or ARTILLERY. should he raised let
any "'pcer WAC chooses, procure volunteers. and
'e commands be given to such officers az raise the
most men. "
Let the engagement of the men be to take the
heia whenever the enemy shall wake descent or
IN Vac opinion OF the Governor threaten dcscen. ON
Que coast and 10 serve unit! they are c,mpe!ed or
cease To threaten, provided their service sI,. not
exSeed weeEs--and let sucb service be deem
al seTyice.
Let every distinctly understa nd tha, he il to!
serve under the Officer with whoo he enro!Is him
sen, 'nd not 10 be transferred to another conlpany
Let each officer train with al! possible diligence
the men who volunteer with him, particularly. let
him practise long and foresd marches.
Let the Governor detail tbs general and field
oficero.
zach regiment would only furnish about 25 or so |
men &c complete the two bresdes.
Let There he no tents except four FOR each com |
paHy ior The officers & umissioneG officers
LET no nan or platoon officer carry any baggage
IN The bagssse wsgson except their cooking utensils
ard ~" 'enr tents and small trunk with the com.
pany's h"ohs and papers.
let each man eoat himself with pants! looms an,,
refund Jacket Of eoIonred stuff, aud carry in his |
knst'9ek two shirts, four pair of wooden socks, and
one pair Of shoes.
Let no man take a blanket. bur instead thereof a
s'ea' coat made Of biarketing some other coarse
stu" which may suit to sleep IN, or IS watch
Let proper number of pixies be taken in the
baggage wagon t. instead OF tcntpoles and |
on prouer occasions IS weapons
LET each man carry r.ls Of linen in his khan !,
sack So prepared as when stretched in succession
over frame INSIDE of The pixies, they will make . |
tents TO contain the whole company, Closed at The /
ends with the tents for the officers s. non.cnm !
missioned DiFicers
Let Their be light Wagon drawn by two horses
for each conlrs nv.
So equipped each company cou!d rnsrel 40 miles
day--h IS the ircumbrance @. baggage. SLOW and |
heavy baggage Wagons, which ruins military enter.
prizes.
- 3 r. Jr n n Y
D'A.)-Nt Put IN Bay on Lake Erie the e7th !
Ssot last, 1t JOSEPH CLARKE of the q tie |
e,stes Frmy, aged - years This aniabe Young
man YES born III Buckingham County, Va wber-
he rE6ey@t good educRtion, frari n. nc ne went
to the University OF Pennsylvania where he acgilir
ed The theory ard practice OF pbysic under our i'm
m"rtsi Bush. !etunins to lis natise State in 1900
after adding DIE be,ef5 CT , Or ) ears experience
20 h's Snowltdgr 90 1910 ns removed tp the North
West, whore vide field lay open TOT. dssv OF his
Abilities and where lie sought toiudnjcc tue bcuevo.
lent feelings Of heart awe 20 the mitigation Of bu
man dstress--Scarssly had he sat down ~ Charles
town, Indiana Territory, TO put in practice those
fond ideas, hen the Indians under the piopbct
raised the cr) OBJ Nsr--slaugk All agcs nth
out distinrtop.--)r. Clarke with proupttude and
ais0rty irtic3tiye OF iulure conduc, wsa anorys,
the Grs Who ruslic! t. Hsrrsc rs STANDARD to reueI
the afs'sns and Stop their cruel rpa-sucreq and his
conduct at tie BNt'e Of lpp, csuoe g,ineh him tie
applause ofhis colleagues After tbs action he &c
ted as s~rgcon to the ga rispn 1f Fort Harrison !
when coopad up for fifteen months so common with
others he suffered the greatest prIvuions--In the
oihc'Sl account OF the s"ge by the isdisns the com
In"nding officer Of u'i' Fort paid Just tribute to
~ Clarke WI" ~ the tonincrt danger Of his life
STOOD On houec envcopcd in 1arors amidst sto
Pr ~ h1s and 8naws a7d nv his exertiUns in saving
the stores the s7'cfy of the Fort was IMPUTED.
Alter periormmg these rieritorous services W.
next ma ~ Clarke renorncinc his prOfessior-S
ac'iHg u"lcr LiturnSpt'~ commission which his
Wodes'y and z"'l l"r he ser,t- made him prefer
to contrary -lisy'nR oineT 10 regiment he went