[Copy of a letter from Brigadier Harmar to the Secretary at War.] Fort Harmar January 10^th 1788. Sir, I had the honor of addressing you on the 24^th of November by Mr. Bartholomew Tardiveau and on the 19^th of December last, by Lieutenant Kersey, which I hope have safe arrivd. I now have the acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26^th of October with the following enclosures, — Viz: 1st. A duplicate of your letter of the 16^th of October. 2nd. Resolve of Congress of the 13^th October respecting certain person and conferring a certain John Sullivan. 3d. Resolve of Congress of the 22^d of October empowering the Governor of the Western Territory to hold a treaty with the Indians, if in his judgement the public good requires it. 4 th. Resolve of Congress of the 22^d of October reserving certain tracts of lands therein described in order to satisfy the claims of the late Army. 5th. Resolve of Congress of the 9^th of October for continuing the present Corps for three years longer. Agreeably to your directions I have sent orders to the Officers commanding at the several Posts to put his troops forfaitely upon their guard, in order to avoid surprises, as from the intelligence you have transmitted me, there may be a possibility of the Indians confederating under Brant, and committing hostilities. I am in hopes that the general treaty which the Governor of the Western Territory means to hold in the Spring, will pacify the savages, and settle all differences. The information which you are pleased to make me, of respecting the lands referred to satisfy the claims of the late Army, I shall give according to the best of my knowledge. The million of acres which is to be bounded south by the Ohio Company Purchase, I believe will be found to be excellent land; especially if it should take in the lands on the Muskingum, and its branches which I am led to suppose will be the case, from all accounts the Muskingum river continues more to the Eastward than is laid down in Captain Hutchins's maps; if so, the tract reserved for the late Army will be very valuable. Having never been personally present at the mouth of the Ohio, it is out of my power to give further information respecting the lands thereabout, than what was rendered in my letter of the 24^th November last. Viz: From Fort Massac to the mouth of the Ohio and from thence about twenty miles up the Mississippi, the country overflows and is by no means habitable. This information proceeds from Mr. Tardiveau. The commercial situation (as you partly observe) is fine indeed. It is a great misfortune that it is so subject to inundation. I beg leave to refer you to Mr. Tardiveau for more particular intelligence upon this subject. It is my opinion that a million of acres adjoining the other million on the Muskingum would take in excellent land, and comprehend a very valuable tract of country. I have also the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14^th of November last, with its several enclosures. viz: 1st. A duplicate of your letter of the 26^th of October last, with its Enclosures. 2nd. Copy of a letter from John Sullivan to Major William Brown, dated Charlestown 24^th Sep^t. 1787. 3^d. Resolve of Congress of the 26^th of October respecting furnishing the Governor of the Western Territory with Troops. 4th. Resolve of Congress of the 29^th October associating the Superintendent with the Governor in case of a treaty. 5th. The Act of New Jersey, appointing its Officers agreeably to the resolve of Congress of the 3rd of October last. On the 6^th of last month, I wrote to Major Wyllys at the rapids of the Ohio, and enclosed him a copy of the inflammatory letter written by Mr. Sullivan to His Excellency the Spanish Minister, and informed him that if said Sullivan should be found in the Federal Territory, I had orders to seize and confine him. It is the universal sentiment of the inhabitants westward of the Alleghany mountains, that they ought to enjoy the free navigation of the Mississippi; but I very much question whether the Kentucky, Cumberland people, and those below will have the audacity, to attempt to seize upon the Natches and New Orleans. Such an enterprise would certainly be a disgrace to the United States. I know of no cannon and the necessary apparatus, which they have in their possession, to carry on such an expedition. I shall transmit a duplicate of your letter of the 14^th of November and a copy of Sullivan's letter to Major Brown, to Major Wyllys (as soon as the weather permits) which strict orders to watch closely and know their designs. I shall likewise give him directions to send an Officer and two or three confidential persons to Franklie and Kentucky under pretence of exploring the Country, in order that I may be made acquainted with their intended manœuvres. It appears to me that this matter will not be so serious as is imagined but rather an evidence of the mutinous disposition of Sullivan and an insignificant banditti. Sullivan was the principal ring-leader in the mutiny of the Pennsylvania line during the late war, and it is high time to put an end of his career. If he can be apprehended in Franklie, our out of the Federal Territory I should suppose myself justifiable in giving orders for that purpose. We have had a remarkable spell of hard weather since Christmas. The Thermometer has been 16 degrees below the 0. point. The river is now fast bound with ice and according to custom, we have only twelve days meat and flour on hand through the neglect of the Contractors. The men have nearly 40 days Whiskey due them. As soon as the weather will permit I shall send Major Wyllys the necessary orders respecting Sullivan and his adherents. If from the intelligence which I have given you respecting the inundation of the lands at the mouth of the Ohio, it should be judged adviseable to fix upon some other tract of country to satisfy the claims of the late Army, whenever Congress may be pleased to fixat upon said tract, I shall (agreeably to your directions) Notion an adequate body of troops in the vicinity thereof, in order that the surveyors may be protected in the execution of their business. I am anxiously waiting for the arrival of the second suit of Clothing for the three Companies and shall expect the third suit for the other companies early in March. Captain McDougys company which is at the Post suffers much for want of woolen overalls. I observe that the overalls are to be all blue. I am sorry that it was out of your power to have white cloth procured. White overalls in my opinion more military. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd of November last, enclosing me duplicates of yours of the 14^th of November. Captain Rümeys resignation which was offered on the 10^th November (after having received the formality of the approbation of Congress) will cause promotion for Lieutenant Ashton and Ensign Bear. The Enclosed list is the order which I wish to take place in appointing the Officers for the quota of Pennsylvania, I have written to the Supreme Executive Council upon this subject. A considerable length of time certainly elapsed between by letters of the 17^th of August and the 24^th of November, but beg you to attribute it to no other cause than awaiting for Mr. Tardiveaus arrival. I was obliged at last to embark at the rapids of the Ohio for this Post without him. I sincerely hope that he has long since safe arrived, as also Lieutenant Kersey, by whom I had the honor of addressing you. Duplicates of these, my two last letters were not sent on. I have written to the posts below (but it will be a considerable time before an answer can be had) to know what prospects there are of reengaging the men of the six old Companies, and to use all possible diligence to effect the object. Captain Hart has been written to upon the same subject. There are three old companies at this Post, the men have been sounded, and I am in hopes, we shall be able to retain 40 or 50 of them; but this is merely conjecture. The three Companies raised in 1786, having more than a year to serve, I shall make no proposals to them upon this head. In order to commence the business in time, Captain Smith and Lieutenant Kersey have been dispatched from hence to their respective States, for the purpose of recruiting. About the beginning of next month I shall dispatch Lieutenant Potts and Ensign Jeffers, a good Serjeant, and two trusty men to Connecticut; likewise Captain Bradford as Subaltern and two non-commissioned officers to the State of New York, and an Officer and Non Commissioned Officer to the State of Pennsylvania, to expedite the business. It shall be my object to manœuvre with the old Soldiers in order to re-enlist them; One of them is worth half a dozen recruits, as they have a knowledge of the Country and have acquired the habits of a Soldier. There will be a necessity of appointing another Captain to command the company which is to be composed of the fractional parts from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Whosoever may answer a good purpose for one of the States, (whichever you may be pleased to call upon) to furnish the Captain immediately, who by being employed in recruiting, would be anxious for his own sake, to speedily raise his company & join the Corps. I pray you to let seniority take place; the eldest Subaltern from the state which is called upon ought to be Captain. If the men upon the expiration of their time incline to go home, which I believe out of novelty will generally be the case, especially the Connecticut quota, the recruiting Officers being on the spot, will in a short time be able to reengage them, as I am convinced they will soon be fond of the life of a citizen. I have received no letters from the Posts below since we left them. If anything material should have happened, the Commanding Officers are ordered to send me immediate intelligence thereof by Express. Consequently I take it for granted, that at the rapids of the Ohio and at Post Vincennes, all is well. The muster of the Field & Staff and of the four Companies at this Post, is made from the 1^st of January 1787, to the 31^st of December 1787, inclusive. The troops were mustered by Major Doughty. By his conveyance I enclose the Rolls to Lieutenant Beatty. It will be some time before the troops at the other Posts can be mustered and the rolls forwarded. Be pleased to receive the following Enclosures. viz: 1st. Monthly return of the regiment dated 1st instant. 2nd. Return of the Ordnance and Military Stores on hand at the several posts dated the 1st inst. 3d. Return of Quartermaster's Stores on hand at the several Posts dated the 1st instant. 4th. Estimate of Military Stores wanting for the service of the United States in the Western department, dated the 1st instant. 5th. Copy of Captain Harts letter to me dated December 5^th 1787, which will show the state of affairs in that quarter. 6th. Address of the French inhabitants at the Illinois, dated August 3^d 1787. It was intended to have been transmitted by Mr. Tardiveau. 7th. Prices of the articles at Post Vincennes. The prices are enormous, and the Officers and the Officers stationed there are in a very disagreeable situation, with respect to Subsistence money. I beg leave to observe that Post McIntosh is by no means tenable. The small party stationed there at present I propose to order to Post Pitt, in order to receive Stores, clothing &c. and the Officer commanding there may forward them, also any dispatches which may carrier from the War Office. It should have been evacuated last Spring, but for the orders I received from you countermanding the same. I shall direct Major Doughty to proceed there early in the Spring, and to dismantle it. The Post is built of hewn timber, it will be easy to raft it to this Post, where it will be of service. I shall not give these orders until I have your sanction for so doing. If a communication should be wanting to Lake Erie, a Block House for the reception of stores can instantly be built near the Big Beaver. The Boats are entirely unfit for another expedition, ascending the Wabash last Summer, returning in the fall, and being dragged over the rapids of the Ohio (the water was so low) have wrecked them almost to pieces. I beg leave to know your particular Orders respecting the waiters of the Officers. I am entitled to four anchor armes. Whether are they, being soldiers, entitled to draw rations or not? If Every Officer was to find his servant, and the public to make him compensation for the same, it would be for the benefit of the service, as the Officers Waiters reduce the effective strength of the regiment materially. I have the honor to be Sir, With perfect esteem and respect, Your Most hmbl and ob^t Servt. Jos Harmar, Lt. Col. Com^d. 1^st U.S. Reg. The Honorable, Major General Knox Secretary at War