[Letter], 1812 Apr. 9, Savannah [to] D[avid] B. Mitchell, Governor of Georgia, Milledgeville / Jno [i.e., John] Cumming

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Savannah
9 April 1812
Dear Sir
I observe an order published by General Floyd calling on the volunteers to be ready to march at a moments warning and considering our situation in this Place as much exposed as [unclear text: well ] to the depredations of a foreign enemy as to the destruction consequent on insurrection if a subtle foe should aid our domestics in a work of desolation. I therefore take the liberty of suggesting a plan to your Excellency for obviating the casualties or for lessening their effects, if we should be so unfortunate as to be visited by them. The Plan I would propose and which meets the full approbation of all the old respectable inhabitants [unclear text: which ] I have had the opportunity of consulting, is this To organize a corps consisting solely of men with families, and of Bachelors of not less than 35 years of age, none of whom should belong to any existing volunteer company that this body should appoint their own officers but be without commissions and without uniforms to continue a distinct body from the Militia Until the Governor should declare the object of the association no longer necessary
Under an association of this Kind two things would be requisite to make the numbers so great as to be useful viz [videlicet] exemption from Militia duty under the officers [added text: in ] whose [unclear text: beat ] the members might live, and freedom from any draft which the government might be compelled to make The exemption from Militia duty would not be disadvantageous


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To their discipline for I think it may be expected that this body would be better trained in a month after their organization, than in the ranks of [added text: the ] Militia for a whole life, and it may be farther observed that the corps contemplated would consist chiefly of citizens who are either so advanced as to be beyond the age for military duty under the existing law, or of such as almost uniformly prefer paying the fines imposed by that law for defaults to mustering as their officers call Freedom from any draft [document folded] the government might be obliged to make, it is conceived would not injure the Service, because if engaged in actual war more men would be required in Savannah than its entire Population could furnish and this corps being organized for the express purpose of defending the city would on all occasions be ready and subject to the orders of whatever officer had the command here within the limits of the City and Port and thus Placed as the Guardians of their wives their children, and their Property, would present a firm front to either foreign or domestic enemies This association would be absolutely essential for the preservation of tranquility if the young men now in the ranks of the volunteer companies were called away
And it is conjectured that it would afford no [unclear text: impediment ] to filling up their ranks, as no unmarried man under 35 years would be admitted into the association and it is not likely anymore advanced in years altho [although] unmarried or any married men with families of any age would Join volunteer companies if no such association existed


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I might suggest many other considerations to your Excellency but I am convinced all the advantages of the Plan will occur at once to you, and therefore I omit any farther details of them, only observing that the exemption from other Militia duty, and freedom from any draft would give the officers which might be appointed sufficient power over the association for the moment a man refused to obey orders he would be struck off from the list and returned to the officer commanding in the [illegible text] in which he lived [document is torn] thus be liable to any draft which might become necessary [unclear text: or ] then be compelled to Join the ranks of his country's defenders perhaps many miles from that or those he holds most dear
Should your Excellency approve of the Plan and afford me authority for saying that the exemptions stated in this letter would be granted. I would immediately begin to raise the [unclear text: corps ] contemplated and in this event I would request an order to obtain as many stand of arms as the number of men who would Join the association these arms to be obtained on such terms as they have been given to Volunteer Companies -- should any part of the plan here sketched be objectionable and yet the general part approved. I would readily alter it to any conditions your Excellency might point out. I trust you will see that the Publick [Public] good alone has prom [added text: p ] ted this letter and that you will forgive me if I have unnecessarily called your attention to the Subject --

I have the Honor to be Your Excellency's, Most Obt. Sert [Obedient Servant]
[Signed] Jno [John] Cumming



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Military

Jno. [John] Cumming

9 April 1812
Ind. [Indian] War

His Excellency D. B. Mitchell Governor of Georgia Milledgeville