1

Knoxville 7th April 1803

Sir,

The President of the United States has
addressed to me a letter respecting the mili-
tia a copy of which I have herewith en-
closed. It will be necessary and
proper that vigorous exertions be used on
your part to carry into effect the
militia system in conformity with the
existing laws, and that you endeavour
to have your Brigade instructed in
military discipline and a knowledge
of tactics. If they should ever be called
into actual service they will then be
not in name only, but in reality, a
[?] and permanent bulwark of
national defence.

A complete full return of the milita and of
the arms and acoutrements in of the state
(I believe) has never yet been made. It will
be expected that the law on that subject
will be fully complied with the present year.