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Documents on the Defense of Great Britain
A Pan for Driving the Live Stock off such Parts of the Country as
may become Exposed to the Inroads of the Enemy in Case of an Invasion,
&c.
"If an enemy should land upon our shores, every possible exertion
should be made immediately to deprive him of the means of subsistence."
"The navy will soon cut off his communication with the sea; the
army will confine him on shore in such a way as to make it impossible
for him to draw any supplies from the adjacent country. In this situation,
he will be forced to lay down his arms, or to give battle on such disadvantageous
terms, as can leave no doubt of his being defeated."
"But if unforeseen and improbable circumstances should enable
him to make some progress at first, a steady perseverance to the same
system will increase his difficulties at every step; sooner or later
he must inevitably pay the forfeit of his temerity."
"How much the accomplishment of this object will be facilitated
by driving away the live stock, and consuming, or, in case of absolute
necessity, destroying all other means of subsistence, in those parts
of the country which may be in imminent danger of falling into his possession,
is too evident to need any discussion."
"The only question is, how to effect this purpose with the greatest
celerity and order, and with the least possible injury to individuals.
To this end a well-digested plan is obviously indispensable."
"In clearing the country likely to be in this situation, the first
principle is an indemnification from the community at large to the individuals,
for the value of all stock which may be removed in consequence of invasion,
if not restored to the respective owners; as also for whatever moveable
property may be destroyed by our own arms; to prevent its falling into
the hands of the enemy, provided that the proprietor comes forward and
enters into such arrangements as may be proposed to preserve it, either
by personal attendance at the time, or otherwise, in some mode of service,
at the moment of invasion. It must be allowed, for any property destroyed
either by our own arms, or by the enemy, if it should appear that no
previous preparation or exertion had been made use of to remove it;
and that all property left in this state is to be destroyed, if necessary,
to prevent its falling into the enemy's hands. Upon these grounds,
the following preparatory arrangements are proposed for immediate consideration:
"1st, The inhabitants of every parish, hundred, or
other division of the country, of convenient size, should forthwith
agree among themselves, upon proper places of rendezvous, at which
their cattle, waggons, and carts, might be collected, in case of an
order to drive the country, being received from the general commanding
in the district, or any competent person authorised by him to give
such an order, or in case of any signal he or they may have appointed
for this purpose being made; proper march-rout[e]s should be fixed
upon for driving them away to certain places of security in the interior
of the country, taking care to choose bye-roads for that purpose;
that the great turnpike-roads may remain entirely free for the marching
of troops and artillery; and where it may be unavoidable to pass over
one or more of the great roads, it should be done in such a manner
that they may only be crossed, and occupied during the shortest space
of time possible. If a column of troops, artillery, or army supplies,
should happen to be moving on the great road at the place of crossing,
the stock may easily be stopped in its progress, until the military
shall have passed the same; every arrangement for these purposes must
be concerted with the general commanding in the district, or submitted
to his approbation."
"To avoid loss, confusion, and delay in this operation, it will
be necessary that the inhabitants of each parish or other division,
should choose from among themselves a sufficient number of persons
to drive and attend the cattle, under the direction of one or more
leaders, to be chosen by the proprietors, which leaders should have
authority and means given them, by the proprietors, to provide the
necessary subsistence for the cattle, and persons attending them,
upon the road and at the places of security fixed upon, and to determine
the places of halting and refreshment during their march, and other
arrangements of detail after their arrival. Such places as afford
good water and plenty of pasture should be preferred and pointed out
by the civil authority of the county, for the depots, in concert with
the general commanding the forces in the district, who is instructed
to give every assistance and accommodation in his power, for the protection
and subsistence of the cattle, and of the persons attending the same."
"It should be also recommended to the proprietors to mark their
cattle, not only with the initials of their names, but also to add
some distinctive mark, common to the whole parish, that confusion
may be avoided, if the stock of several parishes should come to join
in one body."
"2nd. As it may be impossible for the inhabitants,
in case of alarm, immediately to remove the more bulky articles of
property, such as grain, hay, and straw, which nevertheless cannot
be suffered to fall into the hands of the enemy, consistently with
the essential object of depriving him of all means of subsistence,
it should be recommended to them to appoint several discreet trusty
persons from among themselves, to remain in the parish as long as
the same shall not actually be in possession of the enemy, or entirely
cut off from the army. This arrangement will not only facilitate
the means of supplying our own army with what must otherwise be destroyed,
to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy, but it will, in
many circumstances, also diminish the chance of loss. Receipts will
be given by the troops for all articles which may be taken for their
use; on the production of which receipts the proprietors will afterwards
be entitled to payment, at fair and reasonable prices, according to
regulations to be established for that purpose. The persons so named
would point out the places where supplies are deposited, and take
the receipts of the troops in trust for the absent proprietors."
"3rd. Care should be taken by the inhabitants of
such parishes as may be in imminent danger of falling into the hands
of the enemy, that all mills and ovens be rendered useless to him,
by carrying off or destroying some essential part of the machines
of the former, which cannot easily be replaced; and by breaking the
latter. In both cases, that mode of derangement is the most eligible
which, while if effectually answers the purpose, may afterwards be
repaid at the smallest expense.*"
"*Breaking the upper millstone and the crown of the oven are
deemed the most effectual and least expensive modes of derangement."
"4th. A corps of guides, not exceeding [left blank
in original document, possibly for security reasons] on horseback
and on foot, consisting of those who are best acquainted with the
roads, lanes, foot-paths, bridges, creeks, rivers, fording-places,
and other communications, in the several parts of the country, should
be selected in the maritime counties, and their names and places of
abode be communicated to the general, commanding in the district to
which such counties respectively belong."
"5th. The unarmed inhabitants will have an opportunity
of rendering services equally necessary and important, by forming
themselves into companies of pioneers, under the direction of leaders,
to be appointed by the civil authority of the county."
"A numerous body of pioneers is so essential to the movements
of an army, and to the obstruction of the progress of the enemy, that,
it is intended, in case of their being called into actual service, to
make a competent daily allowance to all who may offer to come forward
in the capacity of pioneers.
"In that case, these pioneers should, if possible, come forward
with tools, of the following description, viz. six pick-axes,
six spades, six shovels, three bill-hooks, and four felling-axes, to
every twenty-five men.
"The duty of the pioneers will generally consist in repairing
and opening such roads, bridges, and communications, as may facilitate
the movements f our own army, and in breaking up or obstructing such
as it may be necessary to render impassable to the enemy.
[Here follow the allowances to be made to the pioneers and the forms
of the papers to be subscribed by those who enter into the views of
this plan.]
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