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.

150 WASHINGTON'S W;RITINGS. [VET. 24.
are more than fifteen or eighteen miles, or a day's march,
asunder, and garrisoned with less than eighty or a hundred men each, the object is not answered, and for these
reasons. First, if they are at greater distances, it will
be inconvenient for the soldiers to scout, and will allow
the enemy to pass between undiscovered. Secondly if
they are garrisoned with less than eighty or a hundred
men, the number will be too few to afford detachments.
Then, again, our frontiers are so extensive, that, were
the enemy to attack us on the one side, they might, before the troops on the other could reach the spot, overrun and destroy half the country. And it is more than
probable, if they had a design in one direction, they
would make a feint in another. We are also to consider
what sums the building of twenty forts, and the removing of stores and provisions to each, would cost. In the
last place, we are to inquire where and when this expense will end. For, unless we endeavour to remove
the cause, we shall be liable to the same incursions
seven years hence as now, if the war continues, and the
enemy is allowed to remain on the Ohio.
I shall next give the reasons, which I think make for
a defensive plan. If the neighbouring colonies refuse
us their assistance, we have neither strength nor ability
to conduct fin expedition; and, if we had, and were the
whole to join us, I do not see to what purpose, since we
have neither a train of artillery, artillery-men, nor engineers to execute any scheme beyond the mountains
against a regular fortress. Again, we have neither
stores nor provisions, arms nor ammunition, wagons nor
horses, in any degree proportioned to the service; and
to undertake an affair, where we are sure to fall through,
would be productive of the worst consequences. By
another defeat we should entirely lose the interest of
every Indian.