The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

306 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [.ET. 26.
deficient in point of intelligence, as to be unacquainted
with our motions, while we are advancing by slow degrees towards them.
From what has been said relative to the two roads, it
appears to me very clear, that the old one is infinitely
better, than the other can be made, and that there is no
room to hesitate in deciding which to take, when we
consider the advanced season, and the little time left to
execute our plan.
I shall, therefore, in the last place offer, as desired,
my sentiments on advancing by deposits. The first deposit I should have proposed to be at the Little Meadows, had time permitted; but, as the case now stands,
I think it should be at the Great Crossing, or the Great
Meadows. The Great Crossing I esteem the most advantageous post, on several accounts, especially on
those of water and security of passage; but then it does
not abound with forage, as the Meadows do, nor with so
much level land fit for culture. To this latter place a
body of fifteen hundred men may march with three
hundred wagons (or with carrying-horses, which would
be much better), allowing each wagon to carry eight
hundred weight of flour and four hundred of salt meat.
Our next deposit will probably be at Salt Lick, about
thirty-five miles from the Meadows. To this place I
think it necessary to send two thousand five hundred
men, to construct some post, taking six days' provisions
only, which is sufficient to serve them till the convoy
comes up, by which time an entrenched camp, or some
other defensive work, may be effected. From hence I
conceive it highly expedient to detach three or four
thousand of the best troops to invest the fort, and to
prevent, if possible, an engagement in the woods, which
of all things ought to be avoided. The artillery and
stores may be brought up in four days from Salt Lick.