Western Sun, Volume 3, Number 33, Vincennes, Knox County, 11 August 1810 — Page 2

e! it to perform the commoneft e volutions Inch the luvs direct thnn to be taught with futtnietu precifion to fatisfy a mihtaiy nun. It fuch a one there is, it has eleaped my oSiVrvauon and enquiry. And what, mydr fir, is the fact with regard to our own fedion of the union ? Our able bodied mm h-ve been enrolled and formed into commies, battalions, regiments, brigades and divifions, and the proper number and grades of officers appointed to command thnn. But after m 'king allowance for the greu entreafe of numbers, do they form a better defence for the country than flie pofftfiVd 15 or 20 years ago, when there wss fcaicely any organization at all? 'From a knowledge of the ardent patriotism which pervades the Weftern country, I am perfuadrd that an army of volunteers might be railed whenever the government may call fjrone -but would it be compofed of men better difciplined, or better calculated for invTtrdiite fervicethan thofe who compofed the various expeditions undertaken in the Courfe nf the Indian war, when no attempt to train them to regular difcipline had been trade? No one who is in the leaft acquainted with what the militia were, and what they are now, can anfwer this queftion af. firmatively. It follows then that our militia laws have been of no ufe .and that the time that has been fpent by our citizens in attending the days of mutter, is juft fo much loft to themfelves and the community, or rather, worfe than loft, for it is too well known that they are generally devoted to riot and intemperance. I have never met with a finale individual who would affirm trut he derived any benefit from attending the militia muftrrs. The induftrious man and the pond citizen attend them becaufe the law direct him to do fo, and tofavc his fine, but he makes his efcape as foonaspoffiblr, with the conviction that he his loft a d y which might have been ufefully emplvfd at home, without having benefitted Iiis country It is the lazy and intemperate alone, who rejoice at the approach of a milder day, becaufe it affords an opportunity of gratifying their vicious propenfities. Thrfe obfervations apply more particularly

to the company mutters, where I believe in 19 out of 20 inftances, little elfc is done tint relits to military duty than barely calling the rolls. At the battalion and repimentl muftrrs there are generally indeed fome awkrd attempts made to perform the m tnutl rxercife, and fome few of the evolutions directed by the Baron de Stuben. In th few inftances where thtfe happen to be commanded by old revolutionary officers, or others who have in fome degree attended to their duty, the progrefs that they might make in difcipline is entirely preven t-d by the great Lngth of time which intervenes between the days of training.Ourlw$ generally pr-fcribe a battalion mufW in the fpring, and one of the regi-m-nts in the fall. It rarely happens that more thin one of thefe takes place. But in the few ififtatues where more punctuality isobfrrved and where the commanding officer i rp4ble, and really attempts to inftruct Ins men, it muft be evident tint the lefTon given in the fpring, will be totally obliterated by the fll, and of that which is given in the? latter feafon, not a trace will remain at th- expiration of the feven months whic h firings about the vernal mee. tii'ir. How it could be fuppofed that the science of war could be learnt in this manner is rnoft fu-prifing. And yet, bad as it is, this is the belt Ode of the picture. For it is very certain that throughout the weftern country, of thofe who command the various militia corps, and on whom the tffk of inftruction is devolved, there are very few who are better informrd than the men vhnm they attempt to teaih. Our legifltures appear to be well apprifed of the importance of a well difciplined militia th- prraTiMrto many ot the Nws exprefj this on viction. But they frem to have foj;p f-d that nothing was nrcriTary to effr c ih-ir willi-v. to cufe the mm to be enrolled and f-um-d 'via companies, regi.nents. !o . and oc afion -lly to meet tog thrr rhf y rid not rrcollrct. that tr male m-n fiddlers, tnft'uctors wrr necefT-irv ami that to prniu'e th-Te fnfficient encouTrmnt Oi.-vuld he ff-rrd to it. dure perf to qualify thnMr'vrs for the t-f;. 1 is not fi e-ifi!v attained as is g-n-rally fu 'i f-tl. l0 f,,rni a comy'ete clilnplinari uriTt th fyltm of modern tctics, rrqni'-s s much preparation and as much Jc.i.wl-d.j- (Virrirr. as for either of th'f- pt-fTi ,ns m whirh the apprUtion of Itarncd, has uccn generally applied. Nor

I is the fkill neceffary for mneuvcring a re giment or brigade, to be acquired without

conliderable attention and practical inltruction.it is impoflible to acquire it by reading alone. A man may indeed make him-

felt' acquainted with the manner of perfor

ming certain maneuvres in this way, but i the grace, the harmony, and precifion of movement, which is fo necefiary in all military evolutions, can only be acquired by ; practice. If our legiflatures are really dej firous to have the militia fo well difciplined j as to form an effectual defence to our country againft every invader if they wifli to 1 bring it to that ftate of perfection as entire

ly to fupercede the neceflity of a (landing army, the fyftcm heretofore in ufe mull be entirely changed. Inflead of the few days now appropriated to the purpofes of train

ing, and the very few hours of thofe days actually employed, fome weeks at leaft muft

he devoted to the purpofe, and the men

j mult DC caugiii in campsoi uutipiiuc uiuic

duties, which, reprefenting a faithful image of actual war, forms the bed fchool in which it can be taught. For the accomplithment of an object fo defirable and neceffary no pains or expence Ihould be fpared able officers (hould be fought after and employed and every ftimulus (hould beufed to engage our youth to enter with ardor on a courfe of difcipline which is to qualify them to defend their country. Occafional military orations fhould teach them the ne-

! ceffuy of fubordination and obedience, and j by placing before them the illullrious examples of military virtue, with which the

; hiftory of the Grecian and Roman republies abound, imprefs on their minds that the

temporary iaenbee ot pcrlonal lioerty vnicn the military life impofes, have been cheerfully fubmitted to by the pureft patriots, and the rnoft zealous republicans. At the frequent reviews which (hould take place, particularly that by the commander in chief every thing that is facinating in military array, the u whole pomp of war" (hould be introduced, to keep up the ardour of the youth, and excite the emulation of the fcveral corps nor aught rewards and diftinctions to be with-held from thofe which excelthe latter to be fuch only as accords with republican inftitutions, and, however trifling might be the intrinfic value of the former, opinion would foon render them as precious to the receiver, as the oak or laurel crowns, which were formerly the reward of fuccefsful (kill or valor. By a fteady purfuit of this plan for a few years, our militia would become formidable to any European army which (hould land on our (hores for it is very certain that it is difcipline alone, or the facility of performing evolutions with rapidity and preiilion, which m. kes one body of troops fuperior to another of this innumerable inftances might be adduced, from modern, as well as ancient hiftory. The Thebans were indebted for their victories over the 'til then unconquered Spartans, as much to fome new manoeuvres which had been introduced into their tactics and which they had practiced with unwearied affiduity. as to the great abilities of their generals Epaminondas, and Pelopidas. That unexpected 8c rapid movement which decided the battle of Leuctra, could never have been executed in the face of fuch an enemy, if it had not been familiar to them from long previous practice. And at that of Mantinea, although their operations was directed by a perfect matter of the art of war, who did every thing that depended on him by putting the left wing of the enemy compofed of Athenians in the ar, and bringing his Thebans to act hand to banc with the Spartans, the event uiuft ftill havt depended upon fuperior vnlor, or fiiperior difcipline valor was no where more predo minant than in the Spartan infantry and tfieir evolutions were as well undrrftood by the foldiers a the general but the fuperi or rompactnefs of the military wedge, com pofrd of the proverbially Hnpid Beotions, the fcorn of Greece, which practice had enabled them to prefers, triumphed over the ciefrrndantt of Leonidas and the pupils of AgileUus. The trocpswith which the preat l'Vdrrick commenced the Silefian wir Ind never heard th- report of a hofUir 4 u:i - hut in the battles of Molwitz, of Prague, of Knfback, and Leu:hen, they practired thole leflons wh'Kh they had been taught in the peaceful Hrlds of Berlin and Potfdam. When he His preparing for Ins firfl campaign, the Audrian niirnfter wiflied t difTuade I im from the enterprife, hy infpuin with fr r s tor a conteft where his

parade j2tta!icm would have to encounter the veteran troops ot lui nuftrefi, whofe

vtlor ind difcipline had beet proved in fields of actual danger. Your majclly' troops are very fine' laid he but you muO recollect that ours have feen the Wolf." You think my troops are ftne (fid Frederick,) I will convince you that they are good.M The fucceeding battle of Mol witz,, fiiewed that troops that can maroeuvre well, though they may never have feen an cnemy are able to cope with veterans, and to conquer in fpite of the blunder of their generals the king had committed a miftake in his difpofition which could not have been rectified by marlhal Shwerin if the difcipline of the troops had not been perfect. I have recommended camps of difcipline toinftruct thofe who are already capible ot bearing arms but the career of military inftruction for our youth (hould commence as foon as their mental and bodily powers lnve acquired fufiicient (Irength. Profef forfliipsof tactics (hould be eftablifhed in all our feminariee and even the amufc mentsof the children (hould refemble thofe of th; ancient Gymnafia, that they may grow up in the practice of thofe exercifts which will enable them to bear with eafe the duty of the camp, and lobours of the field. It will no doubt be urged as a reafon for continuing the old plan that the poorer clafs of our citiiens cannot fpare five or fix weeks ill a year from their farms to learn mi litary duty I know that they cannot without being paid but is not our government able to pay them if it is not, they aught to make themfelves fo, by laying additional taxes. But I am per fu a tied that the money that is devoted to other objects may be moie ufefully, and certainly more confidently appropriated to this purpofe. Under our prefent circumftances, the 6000 regular troops we have are very proper, but 1 think that 100,000 difciplined militia would be better, and that the money which is fpent on the former, would foon effect the difcipline of the latter. I am far from thinking a fleet unneceffary, and there is no man who tttaches more importance to the improvement of our country by canals and roads. 1 do not think, however, that tbefe (hould be the full objects on which our revenue (hould be expended, and I recollect that every man in Home was a foldier before they had a fleet or an Appian or Flaminian way. The de fence of every defpotic government is a ftanding army. Defpots, therefore, very properly make it the first object of their care andexpence. 1 he fafcty of a republic entirely depends on the difcipline of its militia, and we, very inconfiftently, make it the last object of our attention, The general government have lately turned their thoughts to the militia, and have refolved to arm the whole of them. You, my dear fir, need not be told, that a fyftem of induction fhould be commenced as foon as the arms are delivered and that even with this fyftem, the arms mould only be occafi onally put into the hands of the men, until they had learnt to value them, and to take care of them. Unlefs this precaution is ufed, themillions of dollars which the arms will coft, had much better be expended upon the gun boats, on which the eloquent author of the attempt to " arm the whole of the mi'itiaM has lavifhed fo much bitter invective and farcafm. It would certainly be better to apply the money that is intended to " arm the whole" to difcipline and arm a part of the militia. And it aught to have occured to mr. Randolph, than whom no man is better acquainted with :iftnry, that Carthage pofTrffcd arms as well as Koine, but not like the litter, a difciplined militia. Rome therefore furvived the (laughter of Trebia, of Thrafiamene, and Cannae, whilft the fate of Carthage was determined by the finglc defeat of Zama.

Theloisof men, compared with her population was nothing men in abur.dtnce were left but no foldiers. Let her rnili tia be difviplined, and the independence of America would he preferved againft a world united. '1 hr lofs of her capitol. and a luccelfion of defeats might diftrefs, but would not ruin her as long as 0,e had men enough to furm an army, liberty would have a temple. In Greece (as long as Greece was free) every man waaf0ljifr. Hence it happened that thofe fmall republic s could he conquered only by extirpation. In the diCttrous Sicilian expedition, a third of the citizens of Athens perifiied and yet (lie furvived to reap new Uurels, whilft the proud empire of Carthage, was humbled in the duft by i Gngle defeat. The uarcerui

victories of Marathon, Sahmis and PIntea were atthieved by a difciplined militia and the Roman legions which conquered the world, were nothing more. Amongft thefe hardy republics!. s, nothing would be thought more difgraceful than to he ignorant of the tactics then in practice, or to be unable to manage with dexterity the fword, the fpear and the fltield. Our youth practice with no other arms hut the pillol, and learn no other warfare but fuch as is to fcrve them in a contert with their fellow citizens. With thefe principles, and this fort of education, they will po(T-fs only the courage of oftentation, and will brave death in what is called the field of honor, ' but fly at the fight of the enemy." Being called to a diftant part of the territory, I muft conclude this long, letter without having finifhed all the obfervations which I intended to make the fubject (hall be refumed on my return, and the particular motivr communicated which induced me to addrefs myfrlf particularly to you. I have the honor to be, Dc3r fir, Your friend And humble fervant, WILLIAM HENRY HARRISO His Excellency Charles Scottt Governor of Kentucky,

1 he difpofition gi en by Epaminondsa to his army at Mantinea, was adopted Yj the king of Prulia (Fiederick the II.) ia feveral of his great battles .that of Kolin, Rofback, and particularly Luthen, were al molt exact copies of the excellent arrangement made Oy the great Theban. Why then was he not fuicefsful in the former of thefe ? I anfwer, becaufe marfhal Daun was not an Archidamus, who inherited the perfonal valor, but not the great talents of his father. Or, becaufe the Prufians were not as obedient to difcipline as the Thebaic. For the king exprefsly attributes his mHfortune at Kohn to the difobedience of hia orders by general Mannftcin he aftert alfo, that the fame general had nearly loft him the battle of Prague, and was the cccafion of the immence (laughter which tho Prufians fuftained in that action. It was the intention of Frederirk, both at Kolirt and Prague to refufe his right wing to the enemy, and to make all his efforts with hia left. Mannftein, who, on both occafion commanded the front line of the right wing, d fdaining the inactive fituation in which he was placed, advanced upon the enemy it was nect fiary that he (hould bo tupported, and in this frrvicr was employed thofc battalions which at Kolin would have yiven the victory to the Prufians, and at Prague have rendered the viftory lefs bloody to the conquerors by fome thoufands. . The fatal rflfcas of difobedience in thefe indances will afford a fine leflon to the American officer, and (hews, that difciplino in the army of a modern defpot, cannot attain the perfection in which it cxiHed ia the armies of the ancient republics. It ia affertedby hiftoriaus that a Spartan foldier whofe fword was raifed to ftrikc an enemy, would withdraw his arm upon the fignal of retreat, believing, that obedience to his general, was the firft of military duties.

BEEF! BEEF.' BEEF! THE fubferiber wiftiing to furnifh tf;e citirens (Indians and negroes excepted) with god BEEF, will give Two Dollars and Seventy Five Cents per hundred, in CASH, payable in two months, for good tat whoiefome Reef Catile, delivered in Vincennes he hopes to meet with encouragement from every good American, William AVGmcn. mcennes, 9th Aug. 18 10. tf NOTICE, FOR a long time paft I have been endeavouring to collect my private oebts my debtors have told nse that it was owing the fcarcity of Cadi, that they could not difVhargc their accounts with me I now mlor.n them that I will take BEliK CATTLE that is not under four years old, delivered at m.j. NVah Purcell's or capt. Andreir lurcell's, on or before the l5:hday cfSeujember next, or good FLOUR at my own houfe, thofe who fail to comply with thia notice may expcA foils brut. Pzlcr JQ71CS. Auijuft 10:h, IS 10.