Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-07-05
THE PROSPECT IN 1875.

Washington's CONFIDENTIAL Comments on
the State of the Country I'm a Letter to
Lund Washington.
Col. MoRRIs's, ON THE HEIGHTS OF
HARLEM, 3Oth September, 1776.-Deor
Lat1,d: Your letter of the 18th, which
is the only one received and unanswer-
ed, now lies before me. The amaze
ment which you seem to be in at the
uncountable measures which have been
adopted by would be good deal
increased if / had the time to unfold
the whole system of their management
since this time twelve months. do
not know how to account for the unfor-
tunate steps which have been taken but
from that fatal idea of Cancellation
which prevailed SO long-fatal, call it,
because from my soul I wish it may
prove SO, though my fears leave me to
think there is too much danger Of it.
This time last year I pointed out the
evil consequences of short enlistments,
the expenses Of militia, and little indie
pendence that was to be placed
on them. assured - that the
longer they delayed raising a
standing army the more difficult and
chargeable would they find it to get
one, and that, at the same time that the
militia would answer no valuable pur-
pose, the frequent calling them in
would be attended with an expense
that they could have no conception of.
Whether, as I have said before, the un-
fortunate hope of reconciliation was
the cause, or the fear of standing
army prevailed, will not undertake to
say; but the policy was to engage men
for twelve months only. The conse
quence of which, you have had grea
bodies of militia in pay that never was
in camp; you have had immense guam
titles of provisions drawn by men that
never rendered you one hours service
lat least useful), and this is in the most
profuse and wasteful way. Your
stores have been expended, every kind
of military (?) destroyed by them; your
numbers fuctuating, uncertain and for
ever far short of report-at no one
time, I believe, equal to twenty thou
sand men fit for duty. At present our
number fit for duty (by this days re-
port) amount to 14,759, beside 3,427 on
command, and the enemy within a
stones throw of us. It is true a body
of militia are again ordered out, but
they come without any conveniences,
and soon return. I discharged regi-
ment the other day that had In it IA rank
and file fit for duty only, and several that
had less than fifty. In short, such is
my situation that if I were to wish the
bitterest curse to an enemy on this
side Of the grave, should put him in
my stead with my feelings; and yet I
do not know what plan of conduct to
pursue. l see the impossibility of
serving with reputation or doing any
essential service to the cause by centin-
uing in command, and yet | am told
that l if quit the command inevitable
ruin will follow, from the distraction
that will ensue. In confidence I tell
you that / was never in such an
unhappy, divided state since | was
born. To lose all comfort and happi-
ness on the one hand, whilst I am fully
persuaded that under such system Of
management as has been adopted /
cannot have the least chance for repu-
tation, nor those allowances made
which the nature of the case requires
and to be told, on the other, that if ]
leave the service all will be lost, is, at
the same time that | am bereft of every
peaceful moment, distressing to de.
gree. But I will be done with the sub.
ject, with the precaution to you that it
is not fit one to be publicly known OF
discussed. If [ fall, it may not be amiss
that these circumstances be known. and
declaration made in credit to the jus.
tice of my character. And if the men
will stand by me (which by the
by [ depair Of, am resolved not to be
forced from this ground while | have
life; and a few days will determine the
point, if the enemy should not change
their plan of operations; for they GER
tainlv will not-I am sure they ought
MOTTO waste the season that is now
fast advancing, and must be precious
to them. I thought to have given you
a more explicit account Of my situa-
tion, expectation and feelings, but l
have not time. I am wearied to death
all day with variety of perpleying
circumstances disturbed at the con-
duct Of the militia, whose. behavior and
want of discipline has done great in
jury to the other troops, who never had
officers, except in a few instances,
worth the bread they eat. My time,
in short, is so much engrossed that /
have not leisure for corresponding
unless it is on mere matters of public
business. I am, with truth and
sincerity, dear Lund, your afectionate
friend, GEO. WASHINGTON.