Knox, Henry (1750-1806) [Suggestions to George Washington regarding maintenance and expansion of the United States military]

The first principle of the security of the United States must rest and consist in a hardy militia, in whom the ideas of freedom and a generous love of their country shall be inherent. Those upon every invasion will form the advanced guard of defence - and if the war should continue, a sufficient number must be selected, under the discipline of a regular army to oppose the invaders. It ought to be the care of the respective legislatures, as soon as possible, to form the militia upon the best principles consistent with the good of of [sic] society, and Congress should recommend one system for the militia to pervade the United States. The general principles of this system should consist in a similarity in the formation of battalions, & in the manner of being armed - and a certain number, perhaps one third, of the train bands annually be drawn out and encamped in large bodies, with the officers, for a term not less than twelve nor more than twenty days, in which all the general principles of war should be industriously practiced. The tents - straw - rations and camp kettles to be furnished at the expence of the State and the troops paid for the time actually encamped.
Every method should be devised to make the profession of arms honorable, for which reason it would be necessary for the first men of the community to attend these annual exhibitions of war, either as officers, soldiers or spectators. To an enlightened people arguments are unnecessary to enforce a truth so obvious. This is the moment to form habits which shall give a lustre to the American character.
The people universally should be furnished with arms and know how to use them. Besides, each State ought for its own dignity to have an arsenal of a certain number of arms, a sufficient quantity of ammunition and camp-equipage, with a train of field ordnance [strikeout]
The local situation of some of the States will require a small force for garrisons, to protect their harbours from insults and their frontiers from the depredations of the savages. This mat [2] matter will be regulated by Congress and the States.
But besides the forces necessary to be kept up by the respective States, it appears to be indispensably necessary that the United States should have some troops for the security of their extensive boundary westward, as well as for the preservation of West Point, the key to America. If troops are not stationed on the frontiers, the extensive Country which is ceded by the peace to the United States will not avail them much. Whereas, on the contrary, the security of those parts will render the Country immediately so valuable as to enable Congress to form funds to defray much of the expence arising from the war. Perhaps this number ought not to be less, including artillery in the post of Detroit, and others which it may be necessary to establish, for the trade with the the [sic] natives, as well as to give a confidence to the settlers of the country. West Point has been so pre-eminently advantageous in the defence of the United States, and is still so important in that view, as well as of preserving the Union, that it cannot be presumed it will be abandoned, unless other reasons, more important than the defence and union of America can be found out and urged for the measure. The Stores at West Point are great in quantity and generally well deposited. But it would be necessary to have a dry stone magazine built for the powder, and an arsenal for the arms and to cover the carriages of the artillery. [strikeout] The number of troops might be three companies of artillery, one of sappers and miners, and one or two infantry battalions of four companies, all upon the present establishment.
The United States being sensible of their own rising importance in the commerce and power of the world will omit nothing that shall conduce to extend their duration and greatness. Causes of war will happen, and we shall not long retain our existence, without being possessed of the means to exert ourselves to the greatest effect. A perfect knowledge of the principles of war by land and sea is absolutely incumbent on a people, circumstanced as we are and determined to be free and independ [3] pendent. From these considerations arise an indispensable necessity of forming and adopting a complete system of military education. This system should embrace the whole theory of the art of war as practiced by the most enlightened nations, and accompanied by such professors as would form the pupils for the state or the field, as their inclinations or circumstances should dictate.
The education for the Sea and land officers, being different in their natures, will require different institutions.
It will be necessary and consistent with œconomy to fix the military academies in the same places with the arsenals of the United States. The same troops will serve as guards and in the works of the artificers. It is uncertain how many arsenals may be determined upon, but the situation of the Country seems to require at least three general deposits - one for the southern, one for the middle, and one for the eastern States including N. York. In each of these there ought to be deposited arms - ammunition - field artillery and camp equipage for thirty thousand men -and also one hundred heavy cannon and mortars with all the apparatus of a siege and a sufficiency of ammunition.
In each of the military academies and arsenals there should be four or five hundred soldiers, enlisted to serve seven years. These should be formed into three companies of artillery, one of sappers and miners, and the remainder into a corps of infantry, fifty of whom occasionally should act as cavalry. There should also be one company of artificers, to consist of fifty men [inserted: of different trades]. The soldiers in all cases to assist the artificers, for which they should be allowed some small addition of pay. At this place should be a manufactury of arms, pistols, swords, and every implement used in the infantry and cavalry - the necessary furnaces to cast [inserted: iron] cannon of all dimensions, and all sizes of shot and shells - a brass foundery [sic] to cast cannon and all other brass apparatus which should be wanted - and a complete laboratory for the preparation of ordnance and military stores of all kinds. The
[4] The artillery [struck: artificers] [inserted: officers] and engineers should be the same persons, but in the first instance, they should have different masters.
There should be professors of the different sciences and fine arts, whose establishments should be such as to induce men of ability to accept of the offices.
At each academy there might be admitted forty pupils annually, who should study for three years. All the scholars should be obliged to study the science of artillery and engineering and go through the necessary studies for that purpose. The students to pay a certain price annually for their education, and be furnished with a certain quantity of clothing, subsisted with rations and accommodated with convenient apartments, by the public.
The arsenal and academy to be under the direction of one person - and a code of military laws, conformable to their circumstances be made the rule of conduct.
Congress should authorize the Secretary of War and such other persons as they might think proper to inspect annually into the state and improvements of the academies and conditions of the stores - and to report to Congress.
These are my general ideas upon the establishments necessary to take place. Particular systems cannot be formed until the general principles shall be determined by Congress.

Signed.
H Knox
Major General, Com-
manding the Artillery

West Point
17th April 1783.

To His Excellency
General Washington.

[docket]
An opinion upon the New
establishments delivered to his
Excellency General Washington
17 April 1783