The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-12-17
FROM me National InfcNgenee..]
THE INVESTIGATION.
PEPOPT

he Committee charged with an enquiry
so Intimately concerning the character Of the
administration, the sensibiiity of the nation. Z,
the honor of its arms. rs the causes Of the sue.
cess OF the enemy in his recent enterprises A.
g;nnst this metropolis, &c. have enleavore,,
10 combine dispatch with effect, in the oan-
ner III which they have collected The facts
ment: w.
Proesedings Ct IRE C05i,1et oF7fh Jxne. 1874
Previous TO the "a OF July, this CITY ccnpo-
seu part Of military district No. S raT.lv
~ June iast, the secretary Of war furnished
TIC pres ioeh,, at his request, with general
report of the strength of the regular troons
and militia then in the service of the United
states, and their distribution which was
submitted to the heads of departments by the
president on the 9TH of June The secretary
OF the navy had furSished the president with
s.'',i'tr estimate OF our naval forces that
which was applicable to the lin;ss Of m;,;tarv
district No. 70, will hereafter appear Bv
reference TO the estimate of the land forcee
1t appears, that the aggregate numbc,. os
troops stationed in district No. S Oh the -,b
oI June, amounted to 2,2OS, of which there
were 2,l54 ehectives stationed as follows
AT Norfolk, 22+ artillerists, the goth s5.h
and lst battalion of the 3Sth regiment of in
fantry, amounting to 912 at Baltimore, III
art'ilerists, I'd battalion of the Ssth regiment
OF infantry, amounting TO SIG, sea-fencibles
10 10 Al Annapolis, 90 artllerists at Fort
w Washington, 81 ditto ST Msry's 36th rer;
ment CT infantry, $50. The meeting Of the
cabinet on he 9TH, and the estimates of land
ana naval forces, had no particular relation
20 0nc ceteNce OF any part of military d:stric.
NO Out for measures generally, and par
ueuiafly In regard to the campaign on our
territorial frontiers in the north and north
west Nor does 1t appear that the city had
excited more than ordinary attention at this
time. N'-'
Proceedings The Co6inet 1st July.
bat soon after, certain intelligence being
received OF the complete success of the allies
in the subjusation of France, the President
believed that the enemy had tic inclination
ard the power to increase his military and
naval force against the United States: and
III that event he believed that variety of Con-
s,oerations would present this city as one of
the prominent objects of attack. On the
10Th OF June, dispatches were received from
Mr.. Gallatin and Mr.. Bayard, confirming the
views OF the president, which induced him 20
convene the heads CT departments on the first
OF July at which time he presented plan of
force Immediately to be called into the
held. and al additional force to be kept in
readiness to march without delay in case of
necessity. 1t seemed to be his object that
some position should be taken between the
Eastern branch and Patuxent, with two or
three Thousand men, and that an additional
force OF ten or twelve thousand militia and
volunteers should be held in readiness in the
neighboring states, including the militia of the
district OF Columbia, and that convenient de-
pots OF arms and military equipments should
oe estaoiished. he measures suggested were
approved by the heads of departments or,
Nt no xrcr nc Ioac
dissent was expressed
Correspondence cf lie Secretary oJ,a- and General
WIu6er.
The next day, July the I'd, by a general or
der OF the war department, the 10th military
district was created, to embrace the state Of
Maryland, the district of Columbia, and that
part OF Virginia lying between the Rappahan-
mock and Potomac, under the command of
origatiler general Winder, who being then in
Baltimore, was advised ofthe fact by letter
from the secretary of war of the same date.
On the 18th of July, requsition was made On
certain states for corps of 9S,5Oo men, de-
signaling the quota Of each, with request IN
the executive of each state to detach and
hold IN readiness for immediate service their
respective detachments, recommending the
eZpediency of fixing the places Of rendezvous
with due regard to points, the importance
or exposure ofwhich would most likely at
tract the views OF the enemy. Of that rcuui-
sitton, 1000 electives from the quota of Vjr-
GINA, 5000 from that of PENNSYLVANIA. 5000.
the whole quota of Maryland. and 2OOO the
estimated number ofthe militia of the district
Of Columbia, were put at the disposition of the
commanding general, as hereafter aprcare,
making TIE aggregate number Of 5000, eX-
elusive OF the regular troops, viz. the Seth re-
gment, one battalion Of the 33th, two troops
OF Dragons, two companies of the 10th nfan-
try, one company OF the 18th, and two com
panic9 Of sea fencibles, supposed TO amount to
1000 men, besides the artillery composing the
garrisons of forts M'fienry and Washington.
On the 9th Of July, general Winder in a
letter to the s""~etaTy Of war, on the subject
OF the duties ch dcvolved upon him as
commander Oh the 10th military district, a
previous conversation is alluded to as having
taken place between then, in consequence OF
the request Of the secretary in his letter ofthe
I'd Of July. Gen. w appears to have under
stood the intentloRof the sec'y. Of warto be
that the miliNa force proposed for the 10th rai-
ltary district should not orly be drafted and
designated, but hat part on IT should be cal
led ntethe field until the hostile squadron in
the Chesapeake should be reinforced to such
AN extent as to render il probable e1at seri-
Gus attack was contemplated states the diff
hculty OF collecting a force in an emergency,
sufficient TO retard the advance Of the enemy
and suggests the expelisncy OF calling out
5000 Of The militia, with "a view to station
item IL equal proportions between South Ri
YER and Washington, and in the vicinity of
Baltimore