1318
AMERICAN I:IISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
militia to the frontier to repel the threatened attacks and to teach our enemies to fear and respect us.-It is with feelings of the deepest regret that I have yielded to a sense of duty in agreeing not to go out in person on this expedition, not because I think there is any neces- sity for my presence, or that the officers who command you will need my aid, but because I wish to share equally with you in all your labors, and all your fatigues in defending this colony-but my duty to the settlers in attending to the unfinished business of the Co. and completing the gen' s:ystem for our defence which is in contemplation to adopt and the wishes of the people strongly urged upon me re- quires that I should remain at home. I shall not be idle in your absence. The command therefore of the expedition agreebly to the militia law devolves.upon Capt A. C. B. [Aylett C. Buckner] and the most prompt and attentive obedience to his orders is expected from all the officers and men composing the expedition. Mr. John C. Quick has been appointed Adjutant during the ex- peclition and it will be a part of his duty to drill the officers and men and instruct them in their duty under the orders of the Commander whenever it may be deemd necessary to do so-The utmost attention is necessary to this part of your duties-A body of armed men act- ng in union and with system are formidable, frequently irresistable tnd always prepared to act on the defensive, whilst the same body without discipline or system are incapable of acting efficiently on the offensive and fall an easy prey to an attacking force. Your own security, your own strength and your own interests therefore requires that you should patiently and attentively attend to drilling, and apply all your leisure moments on the march to this highly important and essential bi·anch of your duty-I present the Adjutant to you recommended by a long course of practice in mili- tary duties both as an officer of the.U. S. regular army and of U. S. militia in active service, and also recommended as a. man of honor and confidence and I feel no hesitation in believing that you will find him a valuable officer-and tha.t you will strictly attend to his in- structions-a rigid obedience to orders is the basis of all military discipline and organization-The officers who command you are re- sponsible for their conduct to their superior and their duty as well as their honor imperiously requires strictest obedience to the orders is- sued to them so also with the privates, their duty as soldiers, and their honor as such, as good citizens, requires the most rigid attention and obedience or their part to the order they may receive from their officers- This is the commencement of hostile movements on our part in the only war of any consequence we have had since our settlement in this country, and I feel confident that y~ur decisive con_duct on this first expedition will so harrass our enemies that they will seek safety by
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