But I should fail in respect to congress, to dwell on observations of this kind in a letter to them." [Sidenote: Proceedings of Congress respecting the army.] At length the committee presented their report, reorganizing the regiments, reducing their number, and apportioning on the several states their respective numbers to complete the establishment.

This report, being approved by congress, was transmitted to the Commander-in-chief for his consideration.

By this arrangement, the states were required to recruit their quotas for the war, and to bring them into the field by the first of January; but, if in any state, it should be found impracticable to raise the men for the war by the first day of December, it was recommended to such state to supply the deficiency with men engaged to serve for not less than one year.
In compliance with the request of congress, General Washington submitted his objections to the plan, in a long and respectful letter.
He recommended that legionary corps should be substituted in the place of regiments entirely of cavalry.

He thought it more adviseable that the infantry attached to the cavalry should compose a part of the corps permanently, than that it should be drawn occasionally from the regiments of foot.
The reduction in the number of regiments appeared to him a subject of great delicacy.

The last reduction, he said, had occasioned many to quit the service, independent of those who were discontinued; and had left durable seeds of discontent among those who remained.