rating force of these corps to seven thousand five
hundred and fiftythree rank and file, and I should be uncandid if I
were not to acknowledge, that I do not expect it will be increased by
recruits in the course of the campaign, to more than ten thousand fit
for duty in the field. This, Sir, in my opinion will be the full
amount of the established regiments of the States east of
Pennsylvania. To ascertain the number of militia, who may be assembled
for occasional offensive operations, is more than I can do. The
general opinion is, that there will be no want of militia for my
enterprise we can have in view. Be this as it may, this one thing is
certain, that this class of men are not only slow in their movements,
but undertaking to judge also of the propriety of them in point of
amount, will wait till the necessity for it strikes them, which, in
most cases, is as injurious to the service as inability or want of
inclination; disappointment being the consequence of delay. This
observation I could not refrain from making, because in all combined
operations, especially those which may depend upon the season or a
limited period for their execution, it is of the utmost importance to
be known.

The enclosed return, which is a copy of the last state of the force
under the order of Major General Greene, which has come to my hands,
will give your Excellency every information in my power, respecting
the state and condition of that army; which was to be augmented by the
partisan corps of Colonel Armand, consisting of about two hundred
horse and foot. Independent of those, there are two small regiments at
Fort Pitt. One from the State of Pennsylvania, the other from
Virginia, which are included in the general establishment of the army;
but no particular return is here given of them.

What measures are adopted by the States of Georgia and North and South
Carolina, to recruit their battalions, I know not. Virginia marched
about four hundred men the latter end of February for the southern
army; and by an act of the legislature, passed at their last session,
resolved to raise more; but in what forwardness they are, or what is
to be expected from the act, I am equally uninformed. Maryland and
Pennsylvania depend upon voluntary enlistments, and are proceeding
very slowly in the business of recruiting.

This, Sir, is an accurate state of the force we have at present, and
my expectation of what it may be, independent of militia.

The ene