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Report to Secretary of War

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Title	Report to Secretary of War
Subject	United States Military Academy -- History United States Military Academy -- Curricula
Description	6 p. ; 32 x 21 cm Officer, Continental Army, lawyer, statesman. Report to the Secretary of War, proposing a basic plan for the organization, administration and curriculum of a national military academy
Author	Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804
Full Text	New York Nov 23, 1799 Sir The near approach of a session of Congress will ________ lead you to the consideration of such measures for the improvement of our Military System as may require Legislative sanction. Under this impression, I am inclined now to present to you some objects which appear to me very interesting, and shall take the liberty to add hereafter such others as shall have occurred. One, which I have always thought of primary importance is a Military Academy. This object has repeatedly engaged the favorable attention of the Administration, & some steps toward it have been taken. But these, as yet, are very inadequate—A more perfect plan is in a high degree desirable. No sentiment is more just than this, that in proportion as the circumstances and policy of a country forbid a large Military Establishment, it is important that as much perfection as possible should be given to that which may at any time exist. Since it is agreed that we are not to keep on foot numerous forces _______ & disciplined. Military science in its various branches ought to be cultivated, with particular care, in proper nurseries, so that there may always exist a sufficient body of it ready to be imparted & diffused, and a competent number of persons in condition to act as instructors to the additional Troops which events may necessarily require to be raised. This will be to substitute the elements of an army to the thing itself, and it will greatly lend to enable the Government to dispense with a large body of standing forces, from the facility which it will give of forming officers and soldiers promptly upon emergencies. No sound mind can doubt the essentiality of Military Science in time of War any more than the moral certainty that the most pacific policy of the part of a government will not preserve it from being engaged in War more or less frequently-- To avoid great evils it must either have a respectable force prepared for service, or the means of preparing such a force with expedition. The latter most agreeable to the genius of our Government and Nation is the object of a Military Academy.— I propose that this academy shall consist of five schools one to be called the “Fundamental School” another “The school of Engineers and Artillerists” another “The School of Cavalry” another “The School of Infantry” and a fifth “The School of the Navy”, and of the following officers and persons.— “A Director General to superintend the whole Institution” “A Director of the “Fundamental School” “A Director of the School of Engineers and Artillerists” “A Director of the School of Cavalry” “A Director of the School of Infantry” “A Director of the School of the Navy” “Five Professors of Mathematics” “Three Professors of Natural Philosophy” “One Professor of Chemistry” “Two Architects” “Two Drawing Masters” “A Riding Master” “A Fencing Master” To be distributed among the several Schools.— To the Fundamental School— A Director, Four professors of Mathematics, One professor of Natural Philosophy. A Drawing Master.— To the School of Engineers and Artillerists A Director, A professor of Mathematics, A professor of Natural Philosophy, A Professor of Chemistry, An Architect, A Drawing Master.— To the School of Cavalry A Director, A Riding Master, A Fencing Master ,. To the School of Infantry, A Director. To the School of the Navy A Director, A professor of Mathematics, A Professor of Natural Philosophy, An Architect. ------------------------------------ In the Fundamental School to be taught.— Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, the laws of motion, Mechanics Geography and Surveying—Design of Structures and Landscapes.-- The principles of Tactics. In the School of Engineers & Artillerists is to be taught.— Fluscions, Conic Sections, Hydraulics, Hydrostatics & Pheumatics, The theory and Practice of Gunnery.—Fortifications, including ______ & Mining, and the Attack and defence of Places.— Chemistry, especially Mineralogy, the Fabrication of Cannon & other Arms. The principles of Construction, with particular reference to Aqueducts Canals & Bridges, The composition of Artificial Fires.— In the School of Cavalry— The tactics and police of Cavalry, Equitation the use of the Small & Broad Sword.— In the School of Infantry, “The tactics and police of Infantry” In the School of the Navy,-- Spherics, Astronomy, Navigation, with the doctrine of the “Tides, Naval Architecture.— The Director General and the other Directors to be officers of the Army & Navy conforming to the nature of each school.— These Schools to be provided with proper apparatus and instruments for philosophical & chemical experiments, for astronomical & Natural Observations, for surveying and for such other processes as are requisite to the illustration of the several topics of instruction.— The Cadets of the Army and young persons destined for Military Naval Service ought to study two years in the Fundamental School, & if destined for the Corps of Engineers and Artillerists or for the Navy two years more in the appropriate school.—if for the Cavalry or Infantry one year more in the appropriate school.—But persons who by previous instruction elsewhere may have become acquainted with some or all of the branches taught in the Fundamental School, may after due examination by the Professors of that School, be either received therefore a shorter term or pass immediately to one of the other Schools, according to the nature & extent of their acquisitions.— In addition to these, detachments of Officers & noncommissioned Officers of the Army ought to attend the academy in rotation for the purpose of instruction & exercise according to the nature of the Corps to which they respectively belong. It would be a wise addition to the system, if the Government would always have such a number of Sergeants in addition to those belonging to the Regiments of the Establishment, as would suffice with them for an Army of Fifty thousand men.— The site of the academy ought to be upon a Navigable water.-- For this purpose a piece of ground ought to be purchased by the Government of dimensions sufficient for experiments in Gunnery, that is not less than twelve hundred yards in length and four hundred yards in breadth.—The situation upon a navigable water is requisite to admit of exemplifications of naval construction & exercises. It would also lend greatly to the perfection of the plan if, a position for the academy could be obtained oriented to foundries of Cannon & Manufactories of small arms.—The pupils would here acquire the knowledge of these arts, and the detachments of troops could be made useful in the prosecution of the works.— Barracks & other proper buildings must be erected for the accommodation of the Directors, Professors, & the students, and for the laboratories and other works to be carried on.— It’s proposed by the foregoing plan that the school of Engineers & Artilleries be united. The studies relative to these two branches of service run into each other so much that they may with convenience be pursued in the same school.— Yet it is conceived that the entire union of the officers of both in one Corps, as in our present Establishment, is not advisable. The Art of fortification, and the service of Artillery, though touching each other in many points, are in the main distinct branches, and each so comprehensive that their separation is essential to perfection in either.— This has been ascertained by experience. It is understood that one or more Governments of Europe, particularly attentive to the military art, have essayed the union of the two Corps, induced to it by their mutual relations in certain respects and by the desire of ensuring harmony in the service, and that the result of the experiment has let to a renunciation of the plan, as being productive of more disadvantages than advantages.— Influenced, as well by this experience in other countries, as by my own observations and reflections—I beg leave to suggest for consideration a new arrangement on the subject to be submitted, if approved, to the legislative body.— Let the Corps of Engineers and Artillerists be placed under one head, that the head to be a General Officer—but let the other Officers be separated & form distinct Corps.— A Regiment of Engineer Officers & two of Artillery Officers will form a due proportion in the scale of our Military Establishment—If deemed inexpedient to increase the total number of Officers—the object may be effected by suppressing two of the Battalions so as to continue the present total and transferring the surplus officers with due selection to the Regiment of Engineers to be composed of two Battalions.—Instead of the Artificers forming at present a part of each company of Artillerists, let there be a corps of Miners and artificers consisting of four companies, one company of armoires & Smiths, one of wheelwrights & Carpenters, one of Masons, and one of Miners.—This corps to be a portion of the Corps of Engineers and Artillerists under the command of its chief.—The officers to be taken from the Regiments of Engineers and Artillerists at his discretion; continuing nevertheless to rank & rise in the Corps from which they may be taken, but the President to be empowered if he thinks proper to appoint others to their places in the Regiments from which they may be detached.— The union of these different corps under one Chief is intended to promote a spirit of harmony and cooperation; while the separation of the officers id designed to favour a more profound and accurate knowledge of each branch.— It will no doubt, be observed, that though provision should be made by law for the proposed establishment in its full latitude—yet it may be left in the discretion of the President to appoint only so many of the Professors as experience shall shew to be necessary.— With great respect to all The Secretary of War
Contributors	Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Date Original	1799 Nov. 23
Type	Image\TIFF
Format	Manuscript

Title	01 Report to Secretary of War
Subject	United States Military Academy -- History United States Military Academy -- Curricula
Description	6 p. ; 32 x 21 cm ; Officer, Continental Army, lawyer, statesman. Report to the Secretary of War, proposing a basic plan for the organization, administration and curriculum of a national military academy
Author	Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804
Full Text	New York Nov 23, 1799 Sir The near approach of a session of Congress will ________ lead you to the consideration of such measures for the improvement of our Military System as may require Legislative sanction. Under this impression, I am inclined now to present to you some objects which appear to me very interesting, and shall take the liberty to add hereafter such others as shall have occurred. One, which I have always thought of primary importance is a Military Academy. This object has repeatedly engaged the favorable attention of the Administration, & some steps toward it have been taken. But these, as yet, are very inadequate-A more perfect plan is in a high degree desirable. No sentiment is more just than this, that in proportion as the circumstances and policy of a country forbid a large Military Establishment, it is important that as much perfection as possible should be given to that which may at any time exist. Since it is agreed that we are not to keep on
Contributors	Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Date Original	1799 Nov. 23
Type	Image\TIFF
Format	Manuscript

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