Peace establishment.
When the evacuation of the seaboard by the
British was completed in November, 1783, the northern and western frontier posts continued to be held by British garrisons.
These were Oswegatchie (now
Ogdensburg),
Oswego,
Niagara,
Presque Isle (now
Erie),
Sandusky,
Detroit, Mackinaw, and some of lesser importance.
The occupation of these posts by garrisons did not enter into the calculations for an immediate peace establishment at the close of the Revolution, and the military force retained was less than 700 men. These were under the command of
Knox, and placed in garrison at
West Point and
Pittsburg.
Even these were discharged very soon afterwards, excepting twenty-five men to guard the stores at
Pittsburg and fifty-five for
West Point.
No officer above the rank of captain was retained in the service.
It was provided, however, that whenever the western posts should be surrendered by the
British, Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania should furnish their quota of 700 twelve-months' men to do garrison duty.
At the close of the
War of 1812
President Madison proposed a military peace establishment of 20,000 men. When Congress considered it, the House of Representatives proposed 6.000, and the Senate proposed 15,000.
There was a compromise, and 10,000 was the number agreed to. Two
major-generals, four brigadiergenerals, and the necessary staff, regimental, and company officers, were selected by the
President from those in the service.
The supernumerary officers and men, according to the original terms of enlistment, were to be discharged, with three months extra pay. The naval establishment was left as it was, with an additional appropriation of $200,000 annually for three years for its gradual increase.
A board of three naval officers was created to exercise, under the
Secretary of the Navy, the general superintendence of tile Navy Department.
The grade of officers in the naval service remained unaltered, a proposition to create the offices of admiral and vice-admiral having failed.
See
army
[
103]
