The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-03-12
MESSAGE

II ,Nar, ace onhanied Syi;h sundry Docs
menis +; ia obedience TO q reSoiati3n Of the
S1st Of December iast, requesting such ia
formation as may tend 20 ex11tGia the ccu-
SEES ofEe failure ofthe arms IF the United
States, VIZ The Northern Fronti,T.
Continued.
Correspondence between the Secretary OF War &
major general wilkinson.
Submitted to the Pre- sdeut by the secretary of war
On the esd July and communicated to gen. Wi
k,nson on the 5th Aug 1913.
The time at which, we have reason to expect an
ascsndancy On Lake Ontario has arrived. Ia
hopes that head be fulfilled, though but Tor
short period, avail ourselves OF the circu,n
starce, to give to the campaign new and Increased
activity.
Fer this purpose our forces the Ortario should
be concentrated because neither section OF them,
they now divided, Is competent to any great OBJ
feet
The point of conce mira lion is more doubtful
1st. IL at fort George, our utmos; success but
Civ the corsmand OF the peninsus, whiya, it
gen. Hsrrison succeeds ssainst Mshi-n, will be oil
diminished interest, both 10 Us and to the enemy ::
to US, beeause Maldea will more completely cover
our western frontier, and control the ssvages than
forts George and Erie: to the eneny, becsose Nal.
den usi our inrosd upon the peninsula will but have
the effect Of shortening, nos ct dividing the enemys
Gne of operations in a word, su cess at this port
win not give to the campaign character of decisive
Gdetn;age.
I'd Ii, on the other hand, we make Sackett',
HsrhoS te-point of eonce ntr,tion, Kingston may be-
come the object Of our attack, which, by the way,
win but be returning to the original plan ofeampaign,
p eserited TO gen. pearbarn. Thsplace is of much
importance the enemy and will no doubt be ,ie-
Tended Nv him With obstnscy and with ell the
resources which be safely drawn from other
points That il msy be taken By joint apple alton
Ut our nasal and military means, is not however
90 be questioned. The enclosed diagram will show
the number and character of the enemy's dssences.
His batteries No. cRunot be sustsiHed but Ivy hs
10Y 't,aee ear ed q a Of
Nos Q and S. Ii he divides his force between both
we oppose one half of his strength with tie whole
OF ours. If he concentrates at No. 2 We seize no.
s, AID cormsnd both the town. TIE shipping. II
he Concentrates at No. s. oceupy No. 2 d with
naarly the same reSu Is
Contemporary with this movement, smother ma,
be made on the side OF Lake CHAMPAIGN, ind ca
ting an intention OF attacking Montresi and Its d.
pspiepciss, and really att cki"g them, il, to s We
Kingston, these posts have been materially weak
ensd.
81 Anot err and diff rent operation, to Which our
means are competent w,'u!d be q move neni from
Saelsett's iiarbor to Madrid TIL St I.a~rsnc-
Atth place the river may be most cas- y crosed.
The ground opposite 10 II IS marrow bluff skirted
by the river side, and swamp of ereas extent
difficult passage on the other. This gained * f6r,i-
fed, cur 1eet continuing 10 mmand the wster line
from the head If he river n q, sensburg, and lax
St. anes occupied with few guu-boSts & barpes
the army may march asains. MontresI, in concert
with gen. Hampton The ouly natural fieuty 90 liz
execution Of this plan would be presented BY branch
of the Grand river, which mast be crossed JIt al
thisseason, though deep, It is believed to he forlG
bic,
Under the preceding suppostion, it 10 respectful,
unlimited Whether it will not be most advisable
10 NIX Stcsett's Hdrbcy the point OF coneentra
ton, suI leave T. the commanding general AT eiee
Inn { q be determined by circumstance be.
tween the two plans suggested uEder the Cd s. Sd
JOHN ARMSTRONG.
Approved snd adopted esd July, 1915
Uash;up,,u 9y1 & 1919
hive examined the projects OF the campAisu in
tsndea for the past ADD ensuing stages of 1t, the
ride o Csnads, which you put into my hands yes
terday.-Ths novelty Of the subject to ma, and the
presSlre Of time, will prevent the deiibers tie
consideration oft which its Importance merits -
aud, therefore, shall eonfne myself few brei
observations, touching the project Of the 23d ult.
LIST Il ne eomuland Lake Ontario, without
which The project 10 inDrsc,ics5e) ard our force
he competent to carry Kingsion, the incorporation
Of our trospa should take pl,ee at SscksIt's Hsr-
Dor, and the attack be male prompS;y sc DOS
able.
2d. On the contrary, should cur confined dispo.
sable force be deemed Incompetent to the certain
sud speedy reduction OF kingston, then il may be
preferable TO strengthen force at fort George
cut Up the British force ia that quarter destroy tic
2ndisn establishments, and Cshuuid gen. Harrison
Isil IN las ocJeetsI march detacbmert to eat:ure
SjaLien
While these operations are pending, bold
feia:, or provisional attack Montreal, BY major
General Hampton, will certainly call SIR GEORGE
Provost to that place sd, it is presurnabie that
seeing n1O7em ants drt eted towards Erie le
may carry his best troops with him from Kings
ton.
These suggestions spring from my desire TO ha.
zsrd little possible 10 the outset, aad to Sc.
cure infsb wbstever may b attempted, with
the intention to increase our conf 4. nee 10
diminish that OF the enemy, ard TO bopul1pise the
xGf
After operations the peninsula have been
closed, we RAY rsze the works there u der your
provisions, leave our s.tlements on the strsi, in
trsneghy, *, Ike lightning, must direct oar Whole
force sgaus Kingston aud, swing Reduced that
pace, & esquire the shippay, may de sc nd the
stream, aud form Junction viii, the column of gen
Hqn,pton, N the reg borh0od Of Moulreal shSa d
Gle lNaness st tie permit by which all our
movements after the conquest of u Canada must
b. governed
TO give gen. Hsmpton's movements a fnenec;ne
aspect, and u enable him TO profit by events. he
should tske with him heavy ffan Of haltering can.
hon sbd mortar pieces, which will be found i,,dis
penssbe IN the attack of Montreal; and 10 wen
e" tir-s pa = art 10 favor protrscted season
would advise that henry column II. militia or vol
Htteefs IL engaged for three months only should
he ru in mot o. from the vicinity IF TAXI Mem.
phraoisgog- 10 descend the river 60 ST. Frsncis n.
take pos tle right bsuk OfIske S. Petre WI
hattsr'ug train of travelling carriages oreanized
snh eq tnped sthcrto Ssep post CO retire when the
"a N or otter circumstances shoGm render expei;
eat.
BEFORE close this letter I viii beg Ieavs to cal,
yuur ate 'irr tos,veral pacific points on which
f'qu re formation Snd authority, which deem es.
s,u.ia TO the sanitary discharge Of the hjeh and
roistnu trust about IL devnlva tour