I have the honor to present Your Excellency the state of the troops necessary for the defence of the works at West Point.1

Fort Clinton and the two water batteries	630
Fort Putnam	300
Rock Hill	100
Redoubt No. 1 with the battery in front	170
Grand battery upon the point to the
left of the redoubt	40
Battery at the place marked out	50
Redoubt No. 2 with the battery	170
Redoubt No. 3 with the two batteries	130
Fort Webb with the battery upon the left	200
Observ: Fort Webb in the state in which it is considering its
development requires about 300 men but it will be put in a
situation to fulfil its object with a good deal less.
Fort Willys with its batteries in front
and upon the left	170
Works on Constitution-Island
Redoubt the nearest the River with its two batteries	80
Center Redoubt with its batterie	120
Third Redoubt with its batterie	160
Grand battery on the water	60
Lower battery	40
Redoubts upon the Heights of the left side of the River
1st Redoubt upon the lower mountain
with its batteries	150
Another redoubt with its batteries	160
Post of 50 men at Robertson’s ferry	50
Another at the other place of debarkation
a mile distant	50
a third at Fort Montgomery	50
	2880

The following is the disposition which seems to me the most proper for barracks.

Fort Clinton—This fort being perhaps the most exposed of all to a surprise during the winter when the River is entirely frozen, above all if the enemy keep Kings ferry—we ought to lodge in the fort itself and in its advanced work the greatest part of the men necessary for its defence.

We may at once construct a barrack in fort Clinton upon the bomb proof for the officers—We cannot erect a barrack in the remaining vacant ground of the work, because we must still be erecting other bomb proofs—but in the advanced work we may construct a barrack for 300.

If we choose it we may construct another in some other place within the old fort for the rest of the necessary Garrison.

Putnam—This Fort being embosomed in the midst of others—I think that it will suffice to have wherewith to lodge an hundred men or 150—which we already have in the barracks and bomb proofs—They may be relieved dayly—The rest of the men necessary to its defence may lodge in the great barracks already made.

Fort Webb—It suffices for Fort Webb to put under cover a serjeants guard to prevent its being injured—and the planks; platforms & fascines torn up for fire wood.

Fort Willys—This fort being the most advanced and that which guards the others it ought to lodge within its whole Garrison—We should therefore raise the necessary barracks.

Rock Hill—a covering for a corporals guard to be relieved each day will suffice.

Redoubt No. 1—If we can work this Winter at the Bomb proofs of this redoubt we shall be obliged to make the barracks without, except a covering for a subaltern guard within during the night.

Redoubt No. 2 Is the same as the foregoing.

[ditto] No. 3—the same: The barracks for these three places will be made as near as possible, and we may surround them with a pallisade and make an approach to the respective redoubts pallisaded on both sides, to prevent surprise and secure a communication.

Robertson’s ferry—Here we should construct a barrack for 50 men; and we can surround this barrack with a pallisade of ten feet behind the pallisade a parapet of four feet to fire from the upper part of the pallisade—The foot of this pallisade will be defended by another pallisade inclining towards the horizon, in order that the enemy may not be able to cut the pallisade within—This post is essential, because it is this which gives the alarm to the others and prevents surprises.

The place of debarkation a mile from Robertsons—the same.

Fort Montgomery—the same.

Works upon Constitution Island.

This Island ought also to contain the [nu]mber2 of troops necessary to its defence; it will be well to make near each redoubt a barrack for its garrison.

Redoubts upon the Mountains on the West side of the River.3

As the bomb proofs of these two redoubts will be finished in a little time, we may make barracks upon the bomb proofs. This will be much the best. But I apprehend that the soldiers inhabiting them during the Winter, will make a prodigious destruction; and that in spring we shall find them in very bad condition. Perhaps on this account it may be preferable to make the barracks without: Your Excellency will order what you think proper. I have the honor to be With the most profound respect Yr Excellency’s Most humble & Very Obedient servt