[Copy.] War department 11^th August 1801. Sir I have received your letter of the fourth instant. It is considered by the President of the United States as an unwappy Omen, that the Troops for the Campaign had not descended the Ohio at the time you wrote. No retardment for the essential Objects of the Campaign should be permitted since the idea of defensive protection of the Frontiers against a few straggling Indians the Counties are sufficiently strong for that purpose. If you should therefore be still at Fort Pitt it is the decided orders of the President of the United States that you issue to Head Quarters with all possible dispatch together with all the Troops Ordnance and Stores for the Campaign. It has been constantly intimated that Captain Kibson was the rear of the Troops for the Campaign and that no dependence could be placed on those who would arrive after him. As there cannot be any delinquence the Commanding General has the authority for removing them. Captain [undecipherable] will not be at Fort Pitt in less than fifteen days from the present time and Captains Butler in not less than one month being only marches from New Brunswick this day. Colonel Gibson therefore cannot have any object at Fort Pitt and he must instantly repair to Head Quarters. Any sums raised by Captain Kibnes or any other person after the present moment will not be of any service and are therefore to be suspended. I send a Commission for Doctor Browne. Three Blank Commissions will be prepared and forwarded by the next post. The same sort of defensive protection is to be permitted for Marietta and Gallipolis in proportion to their numbers as to the other exposed river. I am Sir, &c Henry Knox a.C. Major General Richard Butler [Endorsed: No. 2.]