The Upper House. 281

Garrisons forming Regiments and Companies of Soldiers and in
Short everything of this sort is in a manner quite new to us and of
which we do not profess or think ourselves Competent Judges:
We have thought proper to request the favour of His Excellency
(who from his Experience and knowledge in these maters and his
acquaintance with the Western parts of this Province must be able
to advise us) to Communicate to this house his Sentiments on Sev-
eral parts of your Bill and as His Excellency has not refused to
oblige us therein We Submit to your Consideration the following
Propositions hopeing and as it is not yet too late that if all or any
of the Propositions meet with your approbation you will not be
averse to such a Correction of the Bill as might Render it more
perfect and make it Answer better than it may do in its present form
the good Ends for which it was designed and framed
1^st Tho a Fort on the North Mountain will be very proper and
necessary yet such a Fort alone Garrisoned with only 200 Men will
not effectually Secure and protect the Inhabitants because the North
Mountain is so near the Settlements on Conegocheigh that parties
of Indians may easily pass the Fort come down destroy the Inhabi-
tants and retire again beyond the Fort in a few hours without being
observed or before an alarm can be given: but if beside such Fort
another Strong one was to be raised on the Eminence at the Con-
flux of the North and South Branches of Potowmack and a Block
house or small Fort between that and the North Mountain and a
Body of three hundred men Supported to Garrison them and Patroll
or Range on the frontiers it would be very dificult for the Enemy to
make any Incursions and destroy the Inhabitants without being dis-
covered by such Patrolling or Ranging Parties, and in Case they
should Venture down yet as soon as they should do any Mischief an

U. H. J.
Liber No. 35
May 14

Alarm would be given and detachments from the Western Forts
timely apprized thereof and ordered to dispose of themselves in the
best manner to cut of the Enemys retreat most of the three hun-
dred men would be ready to Join and Act in Conjunction with the
Troops of the Neighbouring Colonies on Occasion or would be able
of themselves to March into the Enemys Country and Annoy them
in their Towns or hunting grounds and as the Constructing or Gar-
risoning such Forts to the Westward of the North Mountain would
also Contribute much to the Safety of the Neighbouring Provinces
and is no more than is necessary to be done before any Expedition
be undertaken or carried on to the Westward the expence thereof
might be defrayed out of the Sum proposed to be granted for his
Majesty's Service and which the Bill directs to be paid to the Com-
mander in Chief that is or may be appointed to carry on such Expedi-
tion. A Fort at the Mouth of the South Branch would Secure a large
Tract of Adjacent fine Pasture Land the Advantages of which to
Troops employed on an Expedition to the Westward are too obvious

p. 101