Memorandum from William Eustis, [ca. 1 April] 1812
Memorandum from William Eustis
[ca. 1 April 1812]
| 1 | That the President be authorised1 to cause to be inlisted, a number of the men provided by the act of 2 Jan: 1812, being of the Infantry & Artillery, not exceeding twelve hundred to each regiment, for the term of 18 months, to be entitled to the bounty of 16 Dollars, and to three months pay at the expiration of their term of service, but not to the bounty of land.3 |
| 2 | This Law to be passed immediately. |
| 3. | That provision be subsequently made for extending the old Regiments to the size of the new—making an addition of ten thousand for five years—if they can be raised.4 |
| 4 | Appropriation for Militia called into service to be made immediately |
| 5. | The Appt. of two additional major Generals & three Brigadiers should be cotemporaneous with the Act authorising the enlargement of the old Regiments.5 |
Draft (DLC). Undated. Dated “1812” in the Index to the James Madison Papers. Date assigned here on the basis of evidence presented in n. 3. Docketed by JM.
1. Eustis wrote here, then crossed out, “provided he shall deem it expedient.”
2. Left blank by Eustis. The reference was to the 11 Jan. 1812 “Act to raise an additional Military Force.”
3. In the secret session of the House of Representatives on 2 Apr. 1812, Felix Grundy of Tennessee presented a bill “in addition to the act, entitled ‘An act to raise an additional military force.’” It was passed the same day, approved by the Senate on 7 Apr., and signed by JM the next day. Its contents provided for the enlistment of up to 15,000 men for a period of eighteen months, subject to these troops’ receiving the same allowances, pay, and bounties (land excepted) as other enlisted men (, 12th Cong., 1st sess., 189, 190, 193, 1598–1600, 1619; , 2:704).
4. This paragraph was crossed out in the Ms.
5. This paragraph was crossed out in the Ms. On 3 Apr. 1812 the House considered a bill giving the president the authority to appoint additional brigadier generals “in certain cases.” The bill was defeated on 25 Apr. (, 12th Cong., 1st sess., 1324, 1327–28, 1333–34, 1601, 1615–17).