Head Quarters, Fort Washington, to January 14, 1790. Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29^th October last, to which I shall now particularly [strikethrough: apply] reply. The governor of the Western Territory is at this post on the 2^d instant, and dispatched [undecipherable] on the 3^d for the Illinois country. I furnished him, agreeably to his request, with an escort of fifty three men, under the immediate command of, of Lieut. [undecipherable] — Major [undecipherable] accompanies on this tour. I did not leave the Muskingum until the 24^th ulto, being detained so long [undecipherable] for his and the [undecipherable] master's arrival there. We were four days upon our passage. The distance from thence to this garrison (which is directly opposite the mouth of Licking river,) is about three hundred miles. Major [undecipherable: Doughty] is left to command at Fort Harmar. This will be one of the most [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. When [undecipherable] of any in the [undecipherable] Territory. It is built of hewn timber, a [undecipherable] square [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable], with [undecipherable] block houses at the angles. I am particularly indebted to Captain Ferguson and Lieutenant [undecipherable] for their most praiseworthy industry and attention in forwarding the work thus far. The plan — Major [undecipherable] — on account of its superior excellence, I have thought fit to [undecipherable] it with the name of Fort Washington. The public ought I be- lieve to [undecipherable] the value of these buildings, whereas to erect them, although they will cost them but little. [undecipherable] justly or rightly Kentucky [undecipherable] at home [undecipherable] [undecipherable], and will [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of Kentucky, wherever boats arrive there, they are scarcely of any [undecipherable]. to the [undecipherable], they are frequently set adrift in order to make room for the arrival of others. I have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the above [undecipherable] for the moderate size of from one to two [undecipherable] each: thus much for the [undecipherable] work. No other expenses (wagon hire, mules, and some glass excepted) [undecipherable] to be charged to the labor of the troops. The time to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] ourselves and the stone is at hand. Be pleased to [undecipherable] the enclosed plan of the fort. The distance between here and Great Miami is thirty eight measured miles. Near the little Miami [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] there is a settlement called Columbia; here (seven miles distant from Columbia) there is another named Losantiville, but lately changed to Cincinnati, and Judge Symmes himself resides at the other, about fifteen miles [undecipherable] hence called the Miami City, at the north bend of the Ohio River. They are in general but small [undecipherable], and the inhabitants of the poorer class of people. It is very probable that the Chief [undecipherable], [undecipherable], the [undecipherable] distress, when [undecipherable] of any in the [undecipherable] Territory [undecipherable] the ensuing summer, and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] me that the commissioners [undecipherable] him seem appointed to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] likely [undecipherable] them returned from the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. I observe that the Governor of the Western Territory is empowered by the President of the United States, in order to [undecipherable] of the Indians, should under the measure [undecipherable] [undecipherable] call on the [undecipherable] counties of Pennsylvania and Virginia for Militia — not exceeding, in the whole, fifteen hundred — to act in conjunction with the federal troops, to men of [undecipherable], officers in [undecipherable] of defense, as the said Governor and the commanding officer of the troops, [undecipherable], shall judge necessary for the public [undecipherable], and [undecipherable] of the inhabitants of the [undecipherable]. You may rest assured, sir, that in all these cases, the most perfect harmony will ever subsist between the Governor and myself. By this time it is presumed Congress is convened, and that instead of a temporary a permanent establishment of the troops will be [strikethrough: undecipherable] made. Lieutenant Armstrong I see, has been writing to the War Office about brevet rank. He is a valuable officer, but instead of troubling you upon the occasion, it is my opinion he should have represented his grievances, if any there were, unto his commanding officer. By the latest advices from Major Hamtramck, he writes me that he had maneuvered in such a manner as to divide the Wea Indians, and that eighty of their warriors had come into Post Vincennes, and put themselves under the protection of the United States. This may be considered as a very favourable circumstance, provided these fellow [undecipherable: gentry] adhere to their allegiance. The difficulty of forwarding my dispatches from this post to the War Office is great; up the river, from here to Fort Pitt, is about [undecipherable: five] hundred miles; it is too fatiguing to be monthly sending a boat against the stream for the purpose, unless an extraordinary occasion should require it. I am therefore making arrangements to send my letters to Danville, in Kentucky, from thence to be forwarded through the wilderness and deposited in the post office at Richmond, which I believe to be the most expeditious conveyance. I have the honor to be &c., Jos Harmer The honorable Major-General Knox, Secretary at War, New York