[Copy.] War department 5^th May 1791— Sir I have received your letter from Baltimore on the 30. Ultimo. The Clothing and tents for upwards of two hundred Men have been forwarded to Hagers town and the same to Winchester and the remainder to complete the Virginia Battalion will be forwarded tomorrow together with Camp Kettle and some Canteens— As I presume you have made a perfect arrangement relative to both the Virginia and Maryland Battalions I shall say nothing further upon that subject excepting that I have received no more information either from you or Colonel Darke than is contained in your letter. Mr. Ewan of my office will set out from hence the next day after tomorrow to inspect and muster the Companies as they shall assemble at the rendevous's of Winchester and Hagers town— Captain Knowles marched from Trenton on the 2^nd Ultimo with one hundred and one levies Captain Armstrong from the City and Lieutenant Hall from Christiana Bridge on the same day and Major Ferguson informs me that one hundred and sixty Levies will immediately march from Carlisle— Captain Pratt will march from Trenton in a day or two with upwards of one hundred more of the levies of New Jersey, and I have little doubt of the battalion of that State being completed and on its march before the 20 inst. I pray you to urge the Completion of the battalions of this state— Major General St. Clair I am informed has descended the Ohio. It is to be presumed he has left orders for you at Fort Pitt. In these orders I hope he has directed part of the levies to be posted for the covering of the upper parts of the Ohio, so that the Militia who have been called out by the County lieutenants under the direction of the President of the United States, as contained in my letter of the 10^th of March should be discharged, tho' he should not have instructed you upon this point and has left discretionary with you as to the disposition of some of the levies and it should be your judgement that they may be used for the temporary purpose of covering the frontier on the upper parts of the Ohio I pray you to dispose of them accordingly. In this case you will instantly dispatch the most pointed orders to all the County Lieutenants of Pennsylvania and Virginia so directed in the names to discharge all the Militia called out by virtue of the Presidents directions contained in my letter of the 10^th of March but excepting such small parties as upon many judges indispensable for to serve as scouts or rangers to give the alarm. The great expence incurred by the Militia renders that this object should be attended to as soon as the arrival of the levies will render it proper. In the temporary disposition of the levies you will pay a just regard to the protection of the Settlements at Marietta and the french Settlements below both of which are entitled to protection in the same manner as the inhabitants on the south of the Ohio. I suppose General St. Clair will have directed that all the Regulars and probably part of the levies descend the Ohio to Head Quarters. It is far from my intention of interfering in the least degree with his orders. my object is to discharge the Militia consistently with the other objects of the troops. I shall expect to hear from you every opportunity until you descend the Ohio. With great respect I have the honor &c. Signed H. Knox Sec^y of War. L.C. Brigadier General, Richard Butler &