of the Council of Safety, 1776. 363

could our officers be brought to a proper sense of their duty
and dignity and the weight of the army, the enemy might be
checked in their course; for this you may rely on however
their parade may indicate the contrary, yet it is a fact, they are
as much afraid and cautious of us, as we can be any of us
of them, their officers alone give the superiority, and in this
instance I have greater hopes of our officers and men s fighting
than ever, for here is no hopes of running away left; Fight or
starve and surrender at discretion has almost become the
word, which event might have proved favorable to the com-
mon interest, had they reduced us to this dilemma before, at
least it would have prevented much disgrace and brought our
army to think of fighting. Our northern Generals have intro-
duced a new system for conducting this war, which subverts
every principle in the art of war adopted by other States, for
instead of instructing their troops in the principles of military
discipline, preparing and encouraging to meet their enemies
in the fields and woods, they train them to run away and to
make them believe they never can be safe unless under cover
of an intrenchment, which they would rather extend from the
North to the South pole than risque an engagement. Disci-
pline here is totally neglected and yet after all it is the only
bulwark in war; had our troops been trained better, and wor-
ried less with the pickaxe and spade, by this time our army
would have been in a condition to have sought for their enemy
in town. I am pretty sure this cannot be the case soon under
our present system.
The Enemy's army has been said to amount to 20,000 effec-
tive men but I dont believe it exceeds 17,000. Ours on this
side the North river amount to about 17,000 effective, but
great numbers of the sick are recovering fast. Agreeable to
your orders I directed Cap^t Hindman to get me a stamp made
in Philad^a and the arms shall be stampd &^c Being often inter-
rupted and hurried you'll excuse this scrawl and believe that I
remain With sincerity and real regard Gentlemen
Your very obed^t & Hble Serv^t
W Smallwood.

P. S. M^r D. Jenifer mate to the Independants has applied
to resign and have permitted him. We have now four mates
and no head Surgeon which are very sufficient as we have
little medicine.

C.S.C.

[Garrett to Jenifer.]
Sir.
I wrote you the 14^th by Cap^t Smith, the same day got three
gentlemen of our County to assist me in the collection of

Original.