1. That a number of men be assembled at Fort pitt from Virginia and Pensilvania amounting to 1500 rank and file for which purpose 3000 should be called for and if more than 1500 appear the least effective be dismissed. To these should be added 100 light cavalry one half armed with lances. The whole should be ready to march by the first day of June, and for that purpose they should be called together for the 1st. day of May, so as to be in readiness by the 15th. The real and declared Object of this Corp should be to attack Detroit and Destroy the Towns on the route thither of those Indians who are inimical to the United States.
2dly. That 500 men be Stationed at or near Wyoming this Winter to cover the frontiers of Pensilvania and New Jersey to be reinforced by 1,000 men from those States early in the spring, for this purpose 2,000 men must be called for to appear on the 1st. of May, so as to be in readiness by the 15th. They must march on the 1st. of June at the farthest for Oncoquaga to proceed from thence against Niagara. This is also to be declared.
3dly. That in Addition to the Garrison of Fort Schuyler or Stanwix 1500 Men be stationed this winter along the Mohawk river, and preparations of every kind made to build Vessels of Force on Lake Ontario early next Spring And to take post at or near Oswego; a reinforcement of 2,500 Men from the Militia of New york and the Western parts of Connecticut and Massachusets must be added to these early in the spring for which purpose a Demand must be made of 5,000. A Party consisting of 500 Regular Troops and 1,000 Militia must march from Schenectady so as to meet those destined to Act against Niagara at Oncoquaga. They should be joined by about 100 light Dragoons armed As aforesaid together with all the Warriors which can be Collected from the friendly Tribes. In their march to Niagara they should destroy the Seneka and other Townships of Indians who are inimical.
4thly. That 2,500 men be marched from Fort Schuyler as early as possible after the middle of May to Oswego and take a post there or in the Neighbourhood to be defended by about 500. men That they be also employed in forwarding the Vessels to be built for Securing the Navigation of Lake Ontario and in making Excursions towards Niagara so as to keep the Indian Country in Alarm and facilitate the operations in that Quarter.
5thly. That a number of Regiments be cantoned along The upper Parts of Connecticut River to be recruited in the winter so as to form a body of 5,000 Regular Troops rank and file and every preparation made to penetrate into Canada by the way of the River St. Francis. The time Of their Departure must depend upon Circumstances And their Object be kept as secret as the nature of the thing will permit. When they arrive at the St. Lawrence they must take a good Post at the mouth of St. Francis and turn their attention immediately to the reduction Of Montreal, St. Johns and the North end of Lake Champlain. These Operations will be facilitated by the several movements to the westward drawing the attention of the enemy to that Quarter. If successful so as to secure a passage across the Lake farther reinforcements may be thrown in and an Additional retreat secured that way. The next operation will be in Concert with the Troops who are to gain the Navigation of Lake Ontario &c. This Operation however must be feeble so long as the Necessity exists of securing their rear towards Quebec. Such detachment however as can be spared Perhaps 2,000 with as many Canadians as will join them are to proceed up Cadaraqui and take a post defencible by about 300 men at or near the mouth of Lake Ontario. They will then join themselves to those posted as Aforesaid at or near Oswego and leaving a Garrison at that post proceed together to the party at or near Niagara at which place they Ought if possible to arrive by the middle of September. The Troops who have marched against Detroit should Also whether Successful or not return to Niagara if that post is possessed or beseiged by the Americans as a Safe retreat can by that means be Accomplished for the Whole in Case of Accidents.
On the Supposition that these Operations Succeed still another campaign must be made to reduce the City of Quebec. The American Troops must Continue all winter in Canada. To supply them with Provisions Cloathing &c. will be difficult if not impracticable. The expence will be ruinous. The Enemy will have time to reinforce. Nothing can be attempted Against Halifax. Considering these circumstances it is perhaps more prudent to make Incursions with Cavalry, light Infantry and Chasseurs to harrass and Alarm the Enemy and thereby prevent them from desolating our Frontiers which seems to be their Object During the next Campaign.
But if the reduction of Halifax and Quebec Are Objects of the highest importance to the Allies they must be attempted.
The importance to France is derived from the following considerations.
1st. The fishery of Newfoundland is justly considered As the basis of a good Marine.
2dly. The possession of those two places necessarily secures to the party and their friends the Island and Fisheries.
3dly. It will strengthen her allies and guarantee more Strongly their freedom and Independence.
4thly. It will have an Influence in extending the Commerce of France and restoring her to a Share Of the Fur trade now Monopolized by Great britain.
The importance to America results from the following Considerations.
1st. The peace of their Frontiers.
2dly. The arrang’ment of their Finances.
3dly. The accession of two States to the Union.
4thly. The protection and Security of their Commerce.
5thly. That it will enable them to bend their whole Attention and resourses to the Creation of a marine which will at once Serve them and Assist their Allies.
6thly. That it will secure the Fisheries to the United States and France their Ally to the total exclusion Of Great britain.
Add to these considerations
1st. That Great britain by holding those places will infest the Coasts of America with small Armed Vessels to the great Injury of the French as well as American trade.
2dly. That her possessions in the West Indies materially Depend on the possession of Ports to supply them With bread and Lumber and to refit their Ships and receive their Sick as well soldiers as Seamen.
In Order then to secure as far as human wisdom Can provide the reduction of those places aid must be Obtained from France.
Suppose a body of from 4,000 to 5000 French Troops Sail from Brest in the begining of May under Convoy Of four Ships of the Line and four Frigates. Their Object to be avowed but their Cloathing Stores &c. such as designate them for the West Indies. Each Soldier must have a good blanket of a Large Size to be made into a Coat when the Weather grows cool, Thick cloathing for these Troops should be sent in August so as to arrive at such place as Circumstances by that time may indicate by the begining of October. These troops by the end of June or begining of July might Arrive at Quebec which for the reasons already assigned they would in all probability find quite defenceless. Possessing themselves of that City and leaving there the Line of Battleships the marines and a very small Garrison with as many of the Canadians As can readily be assembled, for which purpose spare Arms Should be provided which might be put up in boxes and marked as for the Militia of one of the French Islands. The Frigates and Transports should proceed up the river St. Lawrence and a Dis Embarkation take place at the Mouth of the river St. Francis. If the Americans are already At that place the troops will cooperate for the purposes Above mentioned. If not a post must be taken there and Expresses sent &c. In the Interim three of the Frigates with four of the smallest Transports should proceed to Montreal and if possible possess that City, when the Nobles and Clergy should be immediately called together by the General who should if possible be well Acquainted with The manners both of France and of the United States. The Troops should bring with them very ample provisions especially of Salted Flesh as they will come to a Country exhausted by the British Army. By the latter end of July or about the middle of August the reduction of Canada might be so far compleated that the ships might proceed to the Investiture of Halifax taking On board large supplies of Flour, a part of the Troops might march and be followed by the sick as they recover. A considerable body of American Troops also might then be spared for that Service which with the Militia of the States of Massachusets and New hampshire might proceed to the attack of Halifax so as to arrive the begining of September and if that place should fall by the begining or middle of October, The Troops might either proceed against Newfoundland or remain in Garrison until the Spring at which time that Conquest might be compleated. If Halifax should not be taken then the Squadron and Troops would still be in time to Operate against the West Indies.