[Copy] War Department May 25^th 1791. Sir The Secretary at War being absent for a few days at New York, I am commanded by the President of the United States to transmit to you the enclosed communications from Col^o Simoler Pickering, which have been received in the absence of the Secretary, relative to Captain Frederick Aupaumut Chief of the Stock-bridge Indians who is gone forward on an embassy to the hostile Indians to persuade them to listen to the voice of peace. I have the honor also to transmit you extracts of Col^o Pickering's letters to the Secretary at War dated the 16^th and 20^th instant on the same business — and also a duplicate to the Secretary to have dispatches to you of the 21^st instant. I have the honor to be Sir, with great respect Your's most Obedient Humble Servant [signed] H. Knox, Sec^y [undecipherable] Major General St Clair [undecipherable] No 9