To George Washington from Henry Knox, 10 April 1794
From Henry Knox
War Department April 10. 1794
The Secretary of War respectfully reports to the President of the United States1
That it appears from an examination of the Acts which have passed during the present session of Congress, that the duties hereinafter enumerated to be performed by the said Secretary under the directions of the President of the United States
to wit
1st. The act for the defence of certain ports & harbors.2
The purchase of the lands on which the fortifications are to be erected, provided such lands shall be private property, and shall not be ceded by the respective states, conformably to the third section of the said Act.
It is presumed however that those purchases are not3 to be made until a sufficient time shall elapse to ascertain whether the respective states will make, or not, the cessions in question. The other parts of the said Act are in a train of execution.4
2d. The act relatively to the naval armament.5
Preparatory arrangements are making by the master builders of this city to ascertain the sizes of the ships and to have drafts and models made of the same. The sizes of the cannon and the places where it may be expedient under all circumstances to build the frigates contemplated are also under consideration. As soon as these particulars shall be satisfactorily ascertained (which will be very shortly) a particular report thereon will be submitted to the President of the United States.6 But it is doubted whether any considerable progress can be made in this business until there shall be an appropriation to defray the expenses thereof.7
3d. The act for erecting and repairing of Arsenals and Magazines, and for other purposes.8
The first section of this act requires two places to be designated as Arsenals and Magazines in addition to Carlisle and Springfield either or both of which may be continued as part of the number of three or four setts of Arsenals and Magazines at the discretion of the President.
Springfield seems to combine all the requisite qualities of a permanent Arsenal and Magazine, but there are certain repairs which will be necessary.9
But a question arises as to Carlisle. The subscriber submits the opinion that the buildings there be put into repair which probably may be done in a respectable degree for one thousand or one thousand five hundred Dollars. This measure seems necessary whether the buildings be retained or sold. No doubt exists as to the defective qualities of the place as a national repository on account of the locality of the situation and the expences which would accrue in transporting the stores by land to and from the said place. At present however it does not seem that any authority is vested for the purpose of selling the buildings. The repairs therefore seem indispensible upon œconomical principles.10
If the idea of a permanent establishment at Carlisle be upon mature consideration deemed inadmissible then it would seem most proper to form a Magazine upon the Potowmac above the falls. The place most suitable to be sought, combining the greatest facilities of water transportation, populousness of the neighbouring country, and water for the necessary works. A person of accurate judgment ought to be appointed for this purpose, and to report the place for the decision of the President.11
The southern Magazine and Arsenal may probably be fixed upon the Santee so as to combine all the water communications, water for the works, and other advantages which properly belong to the establishment, and in like manner to report for decision. It would seem proper for the person or persons who should perform this business ought to be an able surveyor who should return an accurate plan of the proposed scites and of the elevation of the grounds and all other circumstances in the vicinity.12
A question may arise whether the Armouries specified in the second section of the said Act should be immediately commenced in the places which shall be decided upon and the proportions of stores destined to each place transported thereto with all convenient expedition. These measures seen to be the natural and immediate consequences of the places being fixed. And also that prompt measures should be adopted to have the permanent buildings erected of the nature and form which shall be adopted to the quantity of stores intended to be deposited. If these ideas should be approved proper characters for Superintendants and Master Armourers will be sought after and their names submitted.
The third section specifies a person to superintend the receiving safe keeping and distribution of Stores, and also for the due accounting of the same. It would seem by the law that this appointment is vested solely in the President of the United States, and it is so explained by the members of both houses. Samuel Hodgdon is submitted as the person most proper for this office. He has been in the practice of some of the most essential of its duties for sixteen years, and his integrity and competency appear to have been amply tested by experience.13
It is submitted that the arms ammunition and military stores contemplated the fourth section of the said Act should be purchased according to the following list.
Estimate of the expence of purchasing the following articles—
| 7000 Muskets and Bayonets | at 9 Dolls. | 63000 |
It is presumed the above number added to the good muskets in possession of the United states together with those which are deemed worthy of repair will amount to 50,000 the number directed.
| 2000 | spare bayonets | at 1 Doll. | 2000 |
| 1000 | large horseman’s pistols | at 4 Dolls. | 4000 |
| 10000 | Knapsacks | at 50 Cents | 5000 |
| 10000 | Cartridge boxes | at 1 Dollr | 10000 |
| 2000 | Soldiers Tents | at 10 Dolls. | 20000 |
| 100 | Horseman’s do for company Officers | at 20 Dolls. | 2000 |
| 20 | Marquees for General & Field Officers | at 150 Dolls. | 3000 |
| 20 | eight inch brass howitzers each weighg 1500 lb | at 50 Cents | 15000 |
| 20 | field carriages for ditto | at 180 Ds. | 3600 |
| 100 | tons of Saltpetre or 100 tons powder | ||
| at 400 Ds. ⅌ ton or 20 D. ⅌ Cwt | 40000 | ||
| 200 | tons of Lead | ||
| 173. D. 20 C. ⅌ ton or 8 66/100 ⅌ Cwt | 34640 | ||
| Dolls. | 202,240 | ||
It is to be understood that all these articles are additional to any contained in preceding estimates.
The above is a copy of an estimate laid before Congress on the 4th march last,14 and therefore ought to be provided, and as they have appropriated the sum of three hundred and forty thousand Dollars it is submitted that the excess be expended in the purchase of one hundred and fifty tons of Powder, or Saltpetre and Sulphur equal thereto.
| 150 tons of Powder | at 400 Dolls. | 60000 |
| 400 tons of Lead | 69280 | |
| 129,280 |
But it is to be apprehended that the rise of the above articles will greatly diminish the quantities specified in the estimate.
As the article of ammunition is now under consideration. This will not be an improper place to bring to the view of the President of the United States the following general ideas upon this subject.
The United States have now in store about four thousand four hundred barrells of powder, but the four hundred may be considered as in a train of expenditure, a considerable proportion thereof being with the army. If to this quantity be added the two hundred and fifty tons for which the appropriations are made, there then would be about nine thousand barrells. This quantity would have been pretty respectable were it not for two circumstances which have been created by late laws to wit—
The first is the fortification of certain ports and harbours.
The second, the creation of six frigates.
These objects will require and bring into use seven hundred pieces of cannon, which may be averaged as of the caliber of twenty four pounders. Each of these pieces ought to be provided with two hundred pounds of powder each round of eight pounds. This additional demand alone requires a provision of five hundred and sixty tons which with the consumption for experiments signals &c. ought to be encreased to six hundred tons or twelve thousand barrells.
If we are to make provision for a war we ought to have in possession for all purposes the amount of twenty four thousand barrells of powder; from this quantity is to be deducted the quantity on hand and the quantity for which appropriations are made amounting to nine thousand barrells.
The quantity then of fifteen thousand barrells would remain to be provided. The cost of this quantity at five hundred Dollars per ton would amount to the sum of four hundred thousand Dollars for which an appropriation by law will be necessary.
It may however be doubted whether the powder could be obtained for the five hundred Dollars per ton unless arrangements shall be made for procuring it from abroad.
The following is a Summary View of this subject.
| Required | ||||
| A provision of two hundred rounds | tons | barrells | ||
| for the frigates & sea coast | 560 | 11200 | ||
| contingencies | 40 | 800 | ||
| For the troops which may be raised, estimated at three years supply at 10 pounds ⅌ man. | 300 | 6000 | ||
| One half being estimated for exercise for the artillery | 300 | 6000 | ||
| 1200 | 24000 | |||
| On hand | 200 | |||
| Appropriation for | 250 | 450 | 9000 | |
| Deficient and to be provided | 750 | or | 15000 | |
| barrells | ||||
A question arises on this statement whether any further measures should be taken for to obtain an appropriation for this essential article to carry on a war.15 All which is humbly submitted to the President of the United States.
H. Knox
LS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC, GW. The docket reads, “Report of the Secy of War 10 April 1794. of things required by law to be done by the President.”
1. GW requested this report in his letter to Knox of 9 April.
2. See “An Act to provide for the Defence of certain Ports and Harbors in the United States,” 20 March (. 1:345–46).
3. The word “not” is missing from the letter-book copy.
4. For the cessions of land made by Maryland and North Carolina and for Knox’s efforts to implemented this act, both now and throughout the remainder of 1794, see , 1:71–107.
5. See “An Act to provide a Naval Armament,” 27 March (. 1:350).
6. Knox’s report, if written, has not been identified.
7. Section 3 of “An Act to authorize the President of the United States during the recess of the present Congress, to cause to be purchased or built a number of Vessels to be equipped as Galleys, or otherwise, in the service of the United States,” 5 June, provided an appropriation of $80,000 (. 1:376).
8. See “An Act to provide for the erecting and repairing of Arsenals and Magazines, and for other purposes,” 2 April (. 1:352).
9. The repair of the Revolutionary War-era magazine and armory at Springfield, Mass., probably was approved at some point later this year, because David Ames received an appointment as its superintendent in July (Knox to GW, 17 July, DLC:GW). On the operation of this armory from 1795 until 1 Oct. 1799, see James McHenry’s report of 6 Jan. 1800 (, 1:130–32).
10. Carlisle, Pa., was the site of a British post during the French and Indian War, and the British built an armory there in 1769. Under American control during the Revolutionary War, it continued to serve as armory and was the Quartermaster Supply Headquarters for the Western Department. It was not until 1801 that the federal government acquired this site, but a federal armory or arsenal was not built on it (, 675–77). Instead, a location on the Schuylkill River near Philadelphia was designated for a new federal arsenal (see Knox to GW, 17 July, DLC:GW).
11. John Hills subsequently was appointed to report on proper spots for erecting arsenals (Knox to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 13 June, DLC:GW). About his report, see GW to Burgess Ball, 27 July (NNGL); Knox to GW, 14 July (second letter, DLC:GW); and GW to Knox, 30 Sept. (DLC:GW). On the selection of a specific site, see Timothy Pickering to U.S. Senate, 12 Dec. 1795 (, 1:109–10; see also GW to James McHenry, 13 Dec. 1798 [source note to first letter, , 3:250–65]). In 1796, the federal government purchased a 125-acre tract bounded by the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, and construction of the armory began at Harper’s Ferry in 1799.
12. On the selection of a location in South Carolina, see Pickering to U.S. Senate, 12 Dec. 1795, , 1:109–10. The proposed site was situated near Columbia, S.C., which lies at the head of navigation on the Congaree River (Knox to GW, 14 July 1794 [third letter, DLC:GW]; see also GW to McHenry, 13 Dec. 1798 [source note to first letter]). The confluence of this river with the Wateree River forms the Santee River. The eventual site chosen for a federal arsenal was at Rocky Mount on the Wateree River, but construction did not begin until 1803 (Statement of Sums Expended . . . on Fortifications, Arsenals, Armories, and Magazines, 6 Feb. 1805, , 1:178–84).
13. Samuel Hodgdon’s experience included his service as field commissary, deputy commissary general, and commissary general of military stores during the Revolutionary War. During the Washington administration he served as commissary of military stores, 1788–91, and then as quartermaster general, 1791–92, before becoming commissary of military stores again. He received the title of superintendent of military stores later in 1794 and retained this position until 1800.
14. See Knox’s report to the U.S. House of Representatives of 5 March (, 1:65–66).
15. “An Act making appropriations for certain purposes therein expressed,” 9 June, provided additional funding for War Department expenses connected with the defensive measures passed in the first session of the Third Congress (. 1:394–95).