War Department, December 4^th 1791 Sir I have received your Letter of the 8^th instant. I am sorry for the ice being in the river — The public service requires that the troops and the money should descend to Fort Washington immediately — If the ice shall render their descent impracticable from Fort Pitt, they must march to Wheeling, where you must provide Boats for their transportation, and also the transportation of the Woolen Overalls — I depend upon your making every exertion for this object, as well for the march of the troops to Wheeling, as their descent afterwards — I am persuaded no local influence will prevent your exerting yourself in obedience to this order — Nothing but the clearest evidence of its utter impracticability will excuse a failure — I have now ordered, if the troops should not have left Fort Pitt, two Substitutes, two/