Updates on Construction at Fort Pitt
Document 1792Extract Letter, discusses works being built at Fort Pitt; mentions delays in sending troops.
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[undecipherable: probable reading "L. #350."]
[undecipherable: probable reading "Richard Shields &c"]
Extract of a letter from General Knox Secretary of the War Department to Isaac Craig dated 13th [undecipherable] 1791
Sir
"You are hereby appointed to take charge of all the public stores belonging to the United States which shall be deposited at Fort Pitt &c"
From same to same date 15th June 1792
"I am persuaded that your conduct since you have been in office, will bear the strictest examination. I have often had the pleasure to approve it, and hope the pleasure will be often repeated. I am convinced your compensation is made ample for your services, and I shall endeavour that it shall be satisfactory to you, as far as my power extends. I conceive your present will be as Deputy Quarter Master General."
From same to same date [undecipherable] 1792
"I confidence in your character has been the reason of my reposing confidence in you"
From same to same date [undecipherable] 1792
"I have had an established confidence as well in your integrity as in your zeal to promote to the public service; nor have I any reason to change it"
From same to same date 29th November 1792
"I am anxious to know whether you will accept of the office of being Commissary General, as no time can be lost in that business. In case you accept you must appoint a deputy for Fort Pitt and the Upper parts of the Ohio"
From same to same date 2nd Dec 179[undecipherable]
"I shall expect to hear from you on the subject of the Commissary post, by the return of the post on the 4th instant."
Letter from Henry Knox Secretary of the War Department date 6th December 1794 —
a Sir "
"I have heard nothing from you relatively to the idea suggested of the Commissary in Department
I am Sir your
Most Obt Servt
Henry Knox"
Extract of a letter Isaac Craig to Henry Knox date 8th Dec 1794
"Your very kind and liberal offer of principal Commissary claims my most grateful acknowledgments &c"
Then declines the appointment and proceeds as follows
"I must beg leave to mention Major Abraham Kirkpatrick, as one well qualified to execute the duties &c"
John Stagg to Isaac Craig date 18th Dec 1794
"The Secretary of War has directed me to advise you that he sincerely regrets that your domestic concerns prevents your acceptance of the appointment &c"
"The Secretary has directed me to inform you that he is fully sensible of Major Kirkpatrick's integrity and abilities, but that the Secretary of the Treasury, in case of your non-acceptance, had previously to the receipt of your letter fixed upon a gentleman whom he wished to fill said office"
A letter from General Knox to Isaac Craig date [undecipherable] December 1794 is lost, it contained the appointment or rather notice of the appointment of Major Kirkpatrick as appears by Isaac Craig's letter to General Knox dated 27th Dec 1794, which after acknowledging the receipt of a letter of the 20th Dec 1794, proceeds to say
"your attention to my recommendation of Major Kirkpatrick is very flattering to me indeed. Major Kirkpatrick will be prepared to proceed down the river, the moment your instructions [strikethrough: arrive] to hand"
Extract of a letter from Genl Knox to Isaac Craig dated 27th Dect 1794
"I hope nothing will prevent Major Kirkpatrick's executing the duties of Commissary, according to your intimation. His instructions will not be ready until next post, when he will, I hope, be fully prepared to descend the river instantly upon the receipt of them"
A letter from John Stagg to Isaac Craig date Jany 3d, 1795
"I have shown your letter of the letter of the 26th Dect to General Knox. He resigned his appointment &c at the close of the Year; Colonel Pickering succeeds him"
The foregoing are all true extracts from letters from Genl Knox to my deceased father Major Isaac Craig.
Jany 2nd, 1828 — Neville B Craig
Type
Extract of Letter
Description
Extract Letter, discusses works being built at Fort Pitt; mentions delays in sending troops.
Date
01/27/1792
Author
Recipient
Document number
1792012714066
Page start
2
Note
Cited in Craig to Knox, 02/17/1792. In 1828 Isaac Craig's son Neville B. Craig prepared a three-page list of extracts of his father's correspondence with the War Office. This document was one of those. Note the difference between the extract and the full copy of the document.
Notable persons
Isaac Craig
Henry Knox
Captain Cass
troops
Secretary of War
Major Craig
deputy quartermaster general
commissary general
Notable locations
Fort Pitt
War Department
Fort Pitt
Notable items
integrity
confidence
public service
post
received your letters
together with your plan of the works
did not expect that you would have made so extensive a work or did I order any such thing
do not understand why you did not send forward estimates
form a judgement of the expense
important
you must do it
a confidence in your character
reason
reposing to much confidence trust in you
flatter myself
you will not give me any cause to think it misplaced
But as you have proceeded so far you will now finish the block houses and barracks on the side no. 2
also the third block house and the patifactors round the whole
think a magazine of timber will be better than any other
shall direct the paymaster to send you
dollars by this post
but remember the estimates
detained upon the road by causes not explained
hope in ten days time to be able to forward another company
quarter master shall forward the articles you request.

