To James Madison from Alexander J. Dallas, 11 April 1815
From Alexander J. Dallas
11 Ap. 1815.
Dr. Sir.
I inclose the draft of a letter to the General officers, on the execution of the Act of the 3d. of March 1815, with a copy of the Act.1 You will see by a Memorandum from Mr. Monroe,2 that he thinks the peace establishment is to be composed of 10,000 men, exclusive of Officers. Genl. Scott agrees in that opinion; and I shall be very glad to adopt it, with your approbation. I shall write to you again tomorrow; and have only to request the favor of an early instruction upon the present communication. I am, Dr Sir, faithfully & respectfully Yr. obed: Servant
A. J. Dallas
RC (CSmH). Enclosure not found, but see n. 1.
1. See Dallas to JM, 9 Apr. 1815, and n. 2. Dallas’s 8 Apr. 1815 instructions to the board of officers provided guidelines for establishing the organization of the army, selecting officers to be retained, and designating military stations, and requested that the generals report on their decisions as soon as possible (DNA: RG 107, Confidential and Unofficial Letters Sent). The instructions were published in the Daily National Intelligencer on 22 May 1815, along with the officer list of the peacetime army.
2. Not found.