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.

282 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [AET. 46.
and in the mean time you are to consider yourself authorized, as far as can depend upon me, to take every
measure conducive to that end. I am sensible this
command will not be in itself the most agreeable piece
of service, and that you would prefer a post on the
principal theatre of action; but the vast importance of
it has determined me to confide it to you, and I am
persuaded your object is to be useful to the public.
If you get things in a proper train by the opening of
the campaign, so that the prosecution may be assigned
to other hands, I shall be extremely happy to avail myself of your services with the main army. I am, &c.*
There had been a series of misapprehensions on the subject of
constructing military works in the Highlands, as well as a train of
obstacles to their progress. On the 5th of November, Congress had
appointed General Gates to command in the Highlands, or rather had
connected that post with the northern department, and invested him
with ample powers to carry on the works; but, as he was made President of the Board of War, he never entered upon these duties. Again,
on the 18th of February, Governor Clinton was requested to take the superintendence of the works; but the multiplicity of his civil employments
made it necessary for him to decline the undertaking. Meantime General Putnam went to Connecticut, and left the post in charge of General
Parsons. Unfortunately this officer conceived the notion, that he had no
control over the works in the Highlands; that the resolves of Congress
in regard to Gates and Clinton were personal, and not designed to apply
to any one else; and that, having no direct instructions, he could not
rightfully assume any authority in the matter. By the judicious advice
of Governor Clinton, however, he was prevailed upon to exercise a
proper supervision, till General McDougall arrived. When these doubts
in regard to the extent of command are considered, and also the tardy
movements of the engineer in executing a plan, which he did not approve, the extreme fatigue of the service in the midst of winter, the
privations and sufferings of the men, and the want of teams and other
necessary aids, it is not surprising, that very slow progress had been
made. General McDougall took the command on the 28th of March.
Two days previously Kosciuszko arrived, who had been appointed engineer in the place of Radi~re. From that time the works were pressed
forward with spirit. To the scientific skill and sedulous application of
Kosciuszko, the public was mainly indebted for the construction of the
military defences at West Point.