[No 12] War Office July 17^th 1790. Circular To the Lieutenants of the counties of Washington in Pennsylvania; and Harrison — Randolph — Ohio — Monongahalia and Kenha[undecipherable] in Virginia — And Mason — Bourbon — Woodford — Madison — Lincoln — Mercer — Nelson — and Jefferson in Kentucky — [By post — and duplicates sent by Lieutenant Ernest 14^th September 1790.] [The manuscript replaced the letter to the Lieutenants in [undecipherable] Virginia.] Sir I had the honor on the 13^th of April last to address you on the Subject of the incursions of Small parties of Indians on the Western frontiers In that letter I authorised you, in the name of the President of the united States, in certain cases of imminent danger, to call out, for the protection of the county, certain Species of patroles, denominated Scouts, at the expence of the United States. — Sir [of the most + replaced the letter to the Lieutenants in Kentucky and dated 3 July 1790.] I have the honor to inform you, that Judge Innes transmitted me a copy of a letter written by him to you, dated the 10^th May last on the Subject of Scouts to be called out in certain cases for the internal defence of your county at the expence of the United States. Since writing the former letter to Judge Innes, authorizing him to write to you the arrangement has been changed and + I have now the honor, by the direction of the President of the United States, to inform you that the authority contained in said letter relative to said Scouts, is to be considered as having ceased and terminated upon your receiving this letter; duplicates of which I have written and transmitted to you. The representations of the then deplorable Situation of the frontier counties, and the high estimation of the said Scouts were held in by the inhabitants, were the inducements of the President of the United States, to consent to calling forth that expensive Species of militia as a temporary measure for the protection of the exposed counties. But as experience has demonstrated the inefficacy of defensive measures for an extensive frontier, against straggling parties of Indians, and as conditional orders have been transmitted to the governor of the Western territory, and the commanding officer of the troops of the United States, to act offensively against the Shawanoes and outcast Cherokees joined with them, inhabiting north west of the Ohio, who are probably the banditte, which has for some time past committed depredations on the counties lying along the Ohio. And as the militia or rangers hereafter described will in cases of necessity be permitted at the expence of the union in lieu of the Scouts, it is presumed that no injury will be sustained by revoking the authority for calling into service, so expensive a Species of the Troops as the said Scouts. The President of the United States is anxiously desirous of effectually protecting the frontiers, and he will take all such reasonable measures, as in his Judgement the case may require, and for which he shall receive the following rates of pay, which are the same as is by law established for the regular troops of the United States and the militia Viz^t Lieutenant.... twenty two dollars Ensign...... eighteen dollars Sergeant.... five.... dollars } per month. Corporal.... four.... dollars Privates..... three dollars 3^dly The said rangers Shall be furnished with rations in such manner as the Lieutenants of the county Shall think proper. The United States will allow for each ration Six pence Virginia currency, or eight and one third hundredths parts of a dollar. The Subattern to have two, and the non-commissioned and privates one ration each. 4^thly The Lieutenants of each county will be responsible on oath, that the said rangers Shall be called into service only in cases of imminent danger, and that they be discharged as soon as the danger Shall cease. That when any Service Shall have been performed by said rangers, the following evidence thereof will be required. 1^st A return of the names, rank, ages, residence, and times of Service, of each of the said rangers. 2^nd An abstract, or account for the number of said rangers agreably to the aforesaid return. 3^rd An abstract of the rations agreably to the aforesaid return. 4^th These papers to be signed and verified upon oath by the lieutenant of the county, or commanding officer of the militia, who will transmit the same to brigadier general Harmar or the commanding officer of the troops of the United States on the Ohio. 5^th Brigadier general Harmar, or the commanding officer of the troops, will certify on the said return; that the said rangers were ordered into service, in pursuance of his authority; or the authority of the governor of the western territory. 6^thly The paymaster of the regiment of regular troops will receive the amount of the said abstracts from the Treasury or pay office of the United States, and pay the same to the county Lieutenants, and the said county Lieutenants will pay each of the rangers respectively, taking triplicate receipts for the payments — two of which he must transmit to the paymaster aforesaid, within two months from the time he Shall have received the money from the said paymaster. And until these said receipts Shall be transmitted to the said paymaster, the Lieutenants of the counties will be held responsible, for the Sums they may have received on Such proportions thereof for which they Shall not have produced receipts from the individual rangers (or their attornies) who performed the Service. And whereas Some of the counties may be involved in Such immediate danger, as not to permit the county Lieutenants Sufficient times to obtain the authority herein mentioned from the said governor or commanding officer, in which case the county Lieutenants may order out the rangers herein mentioned, under the regulations prefcribed, on condition that as Soon as may be, the Said Lieutenants of the county, and two magistrates, make a Statement to the Said governor and commanding officer, of the reasons which induced them to order out the said rangers. This Statement will be considered as essential, in order that general Harmar or the commanding officer may ground thereon his certificate on the pay abstracts, without which payments will not be made. It may perhaps be considered as unnecessary, after Stating the vouchers before mentioned, to add any further precautions against unnecessarily calling out the rangers before described — but as the Said Service is, at best only to be viewed as an expedient, rather temporary and depulsory, than permanent and regular; it is the earnest desire of the President of the United States, that it Should be conducted with the highest œconomy. He therefore has desired that the county Lieutenants may be Strongly impressed with this idea, as well from a personal regard to themselves as to the common welfare of the western country, and the United States. If the permission now given be used with great discretion, and only in cases of real necessity, every consideration will in future, Justify a more extensive and perfect protection, Should the Situation of the frontiers require the Same. I Shall beg that immediately upon your receiving this letter that you will inform me thereof.