War Department July 29^th 1790 Sir I have the honor to acknowledge that on the 8^th instant, I received your favor of the 10^th of May last — in which was enclosed a copy of your circular letter to the lieutenants or commanding officers of the counties of Mason Bourbon Woodford, Madison Lincoln, Mercer, Nelson & Jefferson. The measure of employing the scouts at such an expense was adopted at a moment which was conceived to be urgent and not admitting of delay. But it was intended only as a temporary expedient until other arrangements could be taken. The President of the United States had it then in contemplation to take such the steps as the case might require, and for which he should be duly authorized. In consequence of the repeated Indian predations committed on the Ohio, he has directed that the governor of the western territory & brigadier general general Harmar shall call a certain number of militia to be combined in an operation with the regular troops, to act offensively against the Shawanese, and other banditti north west of the Ohio, provided that such operations shall not interfere with any treaty of peace the governor may be about making with the regular tribes — And as this order is intended to remain in force until the said banditti be extirpated, it is to be expected, that the measure may in a considerable degree be productive of security to the frontiers, especially when it shall be combined with the treaties the governor may make with the Wabash Indians. The troops and the militia who shall perform the expedition, are to be mounted on horseback provided the nature of the country may permit that mode of operation. The general remarks, and the particular measures in case of necessity of calling out for the internal defence of each respective county, the rangers described in the enclosed copy of a letter to the county lieutenants may it is presumed render the discontinuance of the scouts of little or no injury. It is considered that the rangers will be tolerable substitutes for the scouts, and if there should be any difference in their goodness the additional numbers of the former may make up for the deficiency of the latter. The pay of the militia or rangers is authorized by law but there is no provision for the excessive high pay of the scouts. I have confided the letters to the lieutenants of the counties of Mason, Bourbon, Woodford, Madison Lincoln, Mercer, Nelson & Jefferson to your protection, and I pray you to forward them in the most expeditious manner. You will please to observe that the rangers may in case of necessity be called out by the lieutenant of any respective county, without waiting for authority from the governor or Brigadier general Harmar — The only condition is, that a statement of the circumstances of the case be made in order to obtain the certificate on the pay abstract. I have the honor to thank you Sir in the name of the President of the United States for the prompt manner in which you executed his wishes on the former occasion. The arrangement you made will continue until the one now enclosed shall be brought into execution. I have the honor to be Sir Your mo^st obedient humble Servant H Knox Sec^y of War [Sec^y of War — Dat^d July 29^th 1790 to the honourable Judge Innes] The honourable Judge Innes.