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ARMSTRONG TO HARRISON

War Department

4th April 1813

Sir

Your dispatch of the 17th ult. from Chilicothe has been received, and I hasten to repeat to you the views of the President, in relation to the next Campaign, and the injunctions growing out of these, with regard to the arrangement of militia.

Our first object is to get a command of the lakes. Means to accomplish this object, have been taken, and we have the fullest assurance that by the 1st day of June, it will be accomplished.

This fact assured, there can be no longer a doubt by what means, or by what route, the Division of the army assigned to you ought to approach Malden. A passage by water will carry you directly to the Fortress you would attack, without impairing your strength by fatigue, or diminishing it by battle. A passage by land, will on the other hand, call for great efforts, and expose you to great losses, which, if they do not destroy, will at least cripple you. The former will be easy, safe and economical, the latter difficult, dangerous and enormously expensive.

On the other supposition, that, we fail to obtain the command of the Lake, a new question will arise -- whether the campaign shall take an offensive or defensive character? Be this question determined as it may, the utmost extent which will be given to the force employed, will be seven thousand effectives.

Various reasons determine this point -- The enemy never have had in the field for the defense of Malden more than two thousand men -- Their number has no doubt been hitherto limited by their means of Subsistence, and this cause is not likely to suffer any very material chance in their favor, during the ensuing campaign. More than seven thousand men there- fore would be unnecessary on our part again: tomaintain a greater number would be impracticable, in the present state of the Treasury. It now remains only to signify to you clearly and distinctly the kind of force the government mean hereafter to employ, on offensive operations, if it can be obtained.

When the legislature at their last session adopted the measure of augmenting the army to fifty two regiments of the line, it was expressly in the view of superceding hereafter the necessity of employing militia, excepting in moment of actual invasion. In obedience to this policy the President assigned to the 8th Military District of the United States, some of these new regiments, which, if filled and super-added to the two Regiments of the line now in that District and the 24th on march for it, will give a total of seven regiments, or 7000 men. This number forbids the belief, that any employment of militia drafts will be necessary, where it shall have been collected. Till, however, this is done, or at least, till time be given for the experiment, so many militia only are to be called out, as shall be necessary for the defense of your post on the Miami, and of your depots of provision on the Lake. And should the recruiting service go on less fortunately than in other parts of the union -- you are in that case, and in that case only, authorised to call out as many militia drafts, as will make good the defenses -- and organiz- ing these under the rules already prescribed, await the farther orders of the president, in your camp at the Rapids.

To those orders, I have to add, that you will regard it as your duty to keep this Department regularly and frequently informed of the actual conditions of the troops under your command -- as well in regard to equipment and supplies of provision and ammunition, as to numbers, discipline and health -- and that your weekly and monthly reports shall include also the state of the ordnance, and Quarter Master's Departments, noting particularly the no. of Horses and oxen, employed by both. You will readily perceive the necessity for giving this order, where I state, that no return of any description from your division of the army has ever been received at the Adjutant General's office. Your proportion of the new Staff, has been given to you -- Capt. Adams has been appointed Assist. Adjutant General, and Mr. Bartlett, Dep. Quarter Master General, of your division. The Brigadier Generals, McArthur and Cass are employed in superintending the recruiting service. A letter from the latter gives reason to believe that this will go on well in Ohio.

I am sir, with great respect, Your Most Obedient & very humble Servant

John Armstrong

Major General Harrison

Comg. in the 8th Mil. District.

89, 90