[Page 1: modern "Illegible Text" notice — not document content] [Page 2: wrapper/docket page, heavily damaged and largely illegible. Upper right corner contains partially legible handwriting.] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [to?] the [undecipherable] [archival stamp/label: undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] As relative to the late [undecipherable]. 25^th April 1791. I had Some expectation that M^r. [Hodgdon?] might have been here, but I will leave Some general directions [to?] him and for the [Asst?] General Butler [undecipherable] [undecipherable] my [place?]. 1^st June 1791. Neither recruits nor levies are [undecipherable] [undecipherable] here, [or?] the [Quarter?] master, but [undecipherable] [undecipherable] will arrive [undecipherable] soon [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] redone — [The?] river is now [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [some?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] anxiety for the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] — if the boats do not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in a very few days, it will be with [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [difficulty?] they will get on at all. I hear [undecipherable] of M^r. Hodgson, where is he or what is he doing? 26^th June — I had a letter from Gen^l. Butler at [undecipherable] [rough?] of the [9^th?] instant. The following is an extract [of?] [that?] letter — 'my greatest apprehensions of delay are in the [Quarter] master and Contractors departments. [I know?] of no horse [provisioners?] except for [undecipherable] [and?] [carrying?] their equipments arrive — not [undecipherable] the troops yet come [undecipherable] [saddles?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] -lade — until [undecipherable] [levies?] for [Pennsylvania?] -[points?] good [pack saddles?] I have [done?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] made here. I have written [to?] [indeed?] [Hodgdon?], and enclosed him a copy of the [return?] [Quarter?] [Ferguson?] of [on militia stores], but I fear he will not receive it at Pittsburgh. Extract [from?] Major Ferguson's letter to Gen^l. [St. Clair?]: [he?] [undecipherable] beg leave to report that the casks [undecipherable] when [undecipherable] was last [sent?] were very [short?] [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] -[her?] the [provisors?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] occasions [from?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] bridges made of [undecipherable] will not [be?] [undecipherable] 5^th July — [undecipherable] [Hodg]don, who arrived at Pittsburgh on the 10^th. [undecipherable] He wrote to me from thence on the 22^d. He does not propose to leave it until he has forward- ed the cavalry horses and those for the Artillery and [undecipherable] pack horses he has engaged there — at the same [time?] he says he depends chiefly upon Kentucky. I have ordered him to repair to this place immedi- ately, and leave the embarkation at Pitts[burg]h to [the?] [undecipherable] some other person, but I hope the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] will [undecipherable] there — I imagine he could [undecipherable] taki[ng?] [undecipherable] [we?] now have [had?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] de[lay?] [undecipherable] on the whole, or in part that m[ay?] [undecipherable] [in?] [defi?]cien[cy?] [undecipherable] than departments, as that we could have marched with certainty at a given day, after the troops were assembling — it may be done yet, if they would come forward, but the whole operation seems to me to be put off [for?] [a?] month at least — As I am perfectly in the dark about the time I may expect the troops to be assembled here — M[r?]. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for the transportation of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the Quarter master has [undecipherable] [undecipherable] is [also?] [undecipherable] wait [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [him?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] are directed. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and endeavoring M[r?]. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 24^th July — [undecipherable] without any account of Gen^l. Butler, [undecipherable] Quarter master, nor is there [a?] richer man or horse arrived — it is impossible for me to stir one step in [undecipherable] [the preparations for the [campaign?]] beyond what can be done at this place in the [Laboratory?] and with the artificers, and indeed it looks to me as if the expectations of the public would be [dis?]ap- pointed [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the troops, and stores arri[ved?] at [undecipherable] it would be the beginning [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [that?] [he?] [has?] [not?] [left?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [receive?] in [until?] he gets to the inhabited parts [undecipherable] keys from [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and that the inhabitants [undecipherable] [carry?] over [undecipherable] great extent of country. There is much [undecipherable] [undecipherable] upon this [quarter?] [of?] for camp kettles and the Sheet iron that has been sent here will make but 130 — there may be a disappoint- ment. I wrote to M^r. [Hodg]don on the 25^th June on this subject. There are not any shot [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the three- pounders [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [officer?] [assistant?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] will [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] day to day, that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to announce to you that the army was [going?] [undecipherable] at [last?] that all the arrangements in [undecipherable] [quarter?] [master?] depart- ment and the Commissaries were [undecipherable] for which there has been time sufficient; but I am still disap- pointed — I cannot yet inform you that one of them has taken place — not a man has arrived, [undecipherable] Bills [since?] [undecipherable] since my last — nor have I heard from M^r. [Hodg]don since 22^d of last month, and am not at all informed of what he is doing; nor from M^r. [Auer?] [undecipherable] is no reason for him at all — [undecipherable] only in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] those gentlemen [undecipherable] [undecipherable] they are taking [undecipherable] [of?] [the?] [army?] [would?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [let?] it be [able?] [undecipherable] [anyone?] will [send?] [undecipherable] them [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] counties which I [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Indians?] [undecipherable] thought fit to inform me, and if he is, it is an ill- advised measure, as the horses will be much injured in being [undecipherable] together in boats for ten or [twelve?] days, at the least [undecipherable] [undecipherable] considerable [undecipherable] [undecipherable] curred, and when [undecipherable] [undecipherable] does more [undecipherable] [undecipherable] at the cut all the way it's [proper?] [undecipherable] not be very well. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Butler of [his?] [to?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] out at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] are [undecipherable] [deleted?], it [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a letter of the [6^th?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and it [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] is advisable to be a little [careful?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [imminent?] forward has been damaged [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [that?] in the boat running a ground, and [undecipherable] I presume out on pasture and a supply of forage for them here; But there is no pasture here but the woods, and that none of it is consumed [undecipherable] by the cattle, [and?] it is not [sufficient?] [undecipherable] a single well for the horses, so that it is almost certain [undecipherable] when they are turned out many of them will be [undecipherable] and the reason he depended upon for a further supply of forage, an inhabitant [undecipherable] [undecipherable]; in short [undecipherable] arrangements altogether [undecipherable] been [taken?] with [undecipherable] [undecipherable] thoughts. informed you what steps [undecipherable] I have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] which [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [visitation?] [undecipherable] orders; but at present it has this appearance, that I must take the whole duty of providing for the transportation upon myself, for it is not likely that either M^r. [Hodg]don [undecipherable] or the Quarter Master will be forward in time — I will delay it however as [long?] as possible without mani- fest injury to the Service — 9^th August — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [some?] of them assembled [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] sent in [cavalry?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] except twenty seven which are [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. I have forbidden their being let out without [undecipherable] [being?] fettered, as there was a person sent down to take care of them as a conductor, it would not enter into my head that it should be necessary to give [undecipherable] [undecipherable] such a direction in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] instance. Whoever Sir has had the care of [the?] [artillery?] arms in order in Philadelphia has done it very un- faithfully — many of the [butches?] are so rotten [undecipherable] [undecipherable] out [undecipherable] the touchholes — many of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Little?] [undecipherable] [stocks?] are too high — [undecipherable] bayonets have been fitted [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] standing on one side and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a great many a like looks out [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] the [extraordinary?] new conveniences demand here are endless, and I have kept other things equally necessary back — and amongst the troops who last arrived [undecipherable] the [old?] [ridge?] ones are extremely [undecipherable] and must be repaired before they take the field. The number of ares in fore[ce?] [undecipherable] next to no- thing, and I do not find that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] commission [undecipherable] [undecipherable] one hundred perhaps, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] has ordered [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I found [undecipherable] to make [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] do [undecipherable] could [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and order [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I can not conceive — entrenching [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the pro- portion. Two travelling forges are [undecipherable], said to be complete, but there is not an anvil to either, and these are extremely wanted in the shops at this mo- ment — The [undecipherable] for sale in the [vicinity?] [undecipherable] which I have ordered to be purchased, another, so we can not do without — and [undecipherable] three must be hired. [undecipherable] I have mentioned the travelling forges [undecipherable] before, while I am writing Major [undecipherable] [came?] [on?] to [call?] [undecipherable] to inform me that the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [to?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] nothing but axes and [rewards?] [undecipherable] it is [undecipherable] [undecipherable] this may have been a [error?] [undecipherable] in the [Magazines?] and that [some?] [undecipherable] numbered axes may be found to continue the tools — but I will put an end to this long [Epistle?], which I am afraid you may call list of grievances and perhaps it may de- serve the name — [to?] [undecipherable] remedy them I must, nevertheless it is proper you should be acquainted with them, and but for the assistance of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] would remedyless — 8^th August [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] come [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [John?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] will [undecipherable] at military [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [unfit?] for any thing [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] can get no account of them but [undecipherable] [undecipherable] its contents unknown — which puts it out of my power to make the calculation for car- riage, or indeed to know what I have, or what is wanted. It is just a doubt that the army cannot mov[e?] — it is months [undecipherable] I am [undecipherable] taking my mea- sures for the first of next, and indeed they have been delayed so long in expectation of the Quarter Master that there is danger some of them may not [arrive?] at [undecipherable] — and are founded [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] from Pittsburgh. [to?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a great deal of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] complete it. I hope and trust this will not find you still at Pittsburgh, [and?] if it [should?] you are immediately to repair to this place with all the expedition you can make. You will observe from my letter of June [8^th?] that I have taken measures for procuring two hun- dred horses, which added to those I had reason to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Pittsburgh will, I believe be Suffici[ent] — when [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Pitts[burg]h will arrive I can [undecipherable] no [judge?] — it seems probable [that?] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] removed [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [station?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] don't [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [have?] the uncertainty about the mea- sures [undecipherable] unavoidably thrown [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [und?]ertake [undecipherable] preparations on my part, that has given [undecipherable] great deal of uneasiness — at the same time [undecipherable], I can assure you, except providing for the Quarter master's department, nothing, since the arrival of Major Ferguson has been delayed a mo- ment [undecipherable] [undecipherable] could be a shed [for?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] every thing was [done?] to begin, even to the making the tools with which the artificers were to work — From not having attended to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the horses [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Gen^l. Butler had ordered M^r. [Hodg]don to furnish [undecipherable] [Pitts?]burgh, I mistook [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I have likewise [ordered?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] horses to be purchased in the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] depart- ment and have applied for them to a [person?] [undecipherable] M^r. Hodgdon had some dependance upon — I have not [undecipherable] and have therefore sent a person to him who, in case he has them not [arrived?], is empowered [to?] [undecipherable] [and?] [undecipherable] [purchase?] on [any?] [undecipherable] but may be deficient in that number — I have also ordered twenty five [of a?] inferior quality to supply the [place?] of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] however twenty [undecipherable] or [four?] of [which?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] they have [undecipherable] without [undecipherable] the care of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] horse [undecipherable] [undecipherable] was in [undecipherable] is [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] want it, [and?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] care of Cap^t. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [September?] August — [Thence?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] attention to the directions [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that fills [Pittsburgh?] to turn off the waggons [undecipherable] [undecipherable] which would not have increased the land carriage a single mile, and to send the empty boats there, the difficulties between Pitts[burg]h and that place which it is to be feared [undecipherable] [undecipherable] found insuperable [undecipherable] would have been avoided. M^r. Hodgdon has not written to me [undecipherable] and I cannot account for his not obeying my [order?] of the [6^th?] of July — which was [a?] [undecipherable] [word?] — Time is [running?] very fast, and [you?] [undecipherable] yet much to do [reasons?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [satisfactory?] — I hope so too — but in [undecipherable] [no?] [man?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [reasons?] to be dissatisfied — he writes me on the subject that he will come on with [the?] [undecipherable] [Butler?]. If the number of horses you have contemplated to be [employed?] in the Quarter [Master's?] department is [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for the baggage of the army only, it is much more than will be necessary — if it is for the baggage and military stores they are much too few [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [the?] [military?] [stores?] alone demand a [great?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] more [undecipherable] [estimated?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] son, but [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in the [moment?] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [necessity?] were [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] at all arrived when I left [St?]. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] was [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and when they do, they are [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] into horse loads before it can be done — M^r. [Hodg]don perhaps may have made those cal- culations in the three months he has been at Pitts- burg[h], and I hope he has, that we [undecipherable] meet with [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] bringing [undecipherable] [to?] Pittsburgh was an unfortunate idea, as he [the?] [season?] was so far advanced before they were [assem?]bled — they have suffered at least as much by standing so long [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [loaded?] together [undecipherable] boats as they would have done in [undecipherable] them [undecipherable] have to perform — and [one?] night have horses, and therefore ordered [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Artillen?] to be procured in Kentucky [undecipherable] [undecipherable] arrive there will be from thirty or forty wanting — those I have ordered to be procured immediately, and there will be no difficulty in getting them. 29^th Aug^t — The horses ordered to be purchased for [the?] [undecipherable] Quarter master's department will arrive in the course of this day and to morrow — [Sep]tember [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Captain?] [Routin?] [undecipherable] [Hodgson?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] it seems to me [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] formed [undecipherable] for it of any kind. The day [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I had been obliged to appoint a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [assistant?] — Quarter master, and to dismiss [undecipherable] who has not been one hour sober since his arrival. This is the first, for I have taken no interest in the business of that depart- ment, except during the purchase of horses, and making [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [preparations?] for [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and it was [undecipherable] become necessary at the time — when the [houses?] to be [delivered?] was come — I fear it is not the last step I shall have to take in it — M^r. [Hodg]don did not think proper to obey my [order?] for his com- ing forward to [Head?]quarters [undecipherable] — and I hope his [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] heap, if not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and every horse could have [carried?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] corn on [undecipherable] back to the Rendezvous, which was to be purchased for less than one half the price it bears at Pittsburgh, be- sides the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in the price of the boats. 6^th [October?] — Since the Quarter master has been here, [and?] [he?] got into his gears, which it took him a little time to do, I am very well [satisfied?] with him and [I?] believe [that?] he will answer [your?] [undecipherable] [expec?]tions [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [him?] [undecipherable] it seems [all?] [undecipherable] are [now?] arranged — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I may not [be?] [undecipherable] too [undecipherable] [undecipherable] opinion on M^r. [Hodgdon?] [undecipherable] [I?] [am?] to have more of him before I say any th[ing?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] again, but last night after having [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] every thing necessary in his department, it [was?] found, there was one frow and one cross cut saw only with the Army. [undecipherable] — [October?] — [So?] [the?] [40^th?] the army moved about 9 [o']Clock and with much difficulty made Seven miles [undecipherable] [having?] left a considerable part of the tents [undecipherable] the [undecipherable], the provision made [by?] the [undecipherable] Quarter Master for the [undecipherable] horses was not ade[quate?] [undecipherable] forage [you?] [if?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to aid the horses [that?] carried [undecipherable] [Pris?]ure [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] The foregoing are true extracts from the original letters of major general St. [Clair?], on file in the War Office of the United States. Dec^r [1^st?] 1792. [signed] [undecipherable: probable reading Stagg] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]