[No 6] [From Gen'l Knox, Sec'y of War] War department . July 13^th 1792 — Sir, I have had the honor this morning to receive your favor of the 6^th instant. The season of the year seems very improper to make any general inoculation of the troops — the precautions which you therefore have taken upon this subject are judicious — that is to obtain a return of the persons who have not had the Disorder, and post them in a situation where they will not probably take it. Hereafter, when in winter quarters, you could order, if then the measure should appear expedient, all persons who have not had it to receive it by inoculation You will please to take effective measures to arm, equip & clothe the companies of rifle men stated to you in my letter of the 15^th ultimo — the rifles accoutrements and clothing have been forwarded to Pittsburgh I shall immediately direct Thomas Lewis, Howell Lewis and W^m Preston, or such proportion of them as are raised, to repair to the mouth of the great Kenhawa in order to be armed, equipped & clothed. you will please to order these articles from Fort Pitt under such effectual protection, as shall leave nothing to chance. Captain Guion has arrived at Brunswick with a full company of ninety five — Cap^t Rodgers of the Cavalry is expected there hourly — they will both march from that place probably by the 18^th at furthest. Lieutenant Davidson, who belongs to Rodgers, will join him at Bedford, with his recruits now at Hagerstown — this troop will be full and you will as soon as they shall arrive at Pittsburgh order them on to Fort Washington in order to be mounted. — The detachments of Carberry's and W^m Lewis's companies, amounting to one hundred men marched from Hagers-town on the eighth instant. — A detachment of fifty recruits from Jersey under Ensign Hunter, will march from Carlisle on, or about the seventeenth. I have ordered a detachment of Cap^t Cooke's company of Riflemen, amounting to forty two, who are at Carlile, under Ensign Lee, to either join Hunter's detachment or to march by itself, as Major Thomas Butler shall direct. Captain Ballard Smith has been exceedingly tardy in moving with his recruits from Richmond. He was sometime detained on account of the non arrival of his tents & camp equipage. but after he had received all these articles, he writes me word he shall still stay at Richmond, until he receives my Orders, whether M^r — Balfour a Surgeons mate is to march with him — I have ordered this measure, I presume he is on his way, but the detention is very improper on his part. Lieut. His Campbell of Stakes troop has complained of the Saddles as being defective. If I am to pay credit — first to the workmen who made the Saddles — Secondly — To a Sadler who had no agency in the contract and who was the sworn inspector of them — thirdly to the report of Major Rudulph — the Saddles are perfect — It is true the stuffings may not have been fitted to the horses — but this was the business of the Officer, who ought to have attended to this matter. I hope the troop has arrived, or will arrive before you receive this letter. The Detachments of Captains Hannah, Brock & Stevenson will be accelerated by Major Rudulph who has gone forward for that purpose. I will examine into the arrangements you mention, relative to the Quarter Masters department; and if there are any regulations requisite they shall be forwarded — I do not conceive, how there can be any clashing, between the old and new Quarter Masters — the former has nothing to do with the service but to settle his accounts. — You have placed the request of Cap^t Case in its proper point of view. I enclose you the arrangement of the officers to the four Sub Legions — the principles of which were approved by the President of the United States. You will therefore, plans to direct this to be carried into execution, and as the troops arrive they will fall into their respective corps. The President of the United States has directed Major Gaither to repair to Georgia, to take the command of the troops there — Major Call will be ordered to join you. Major Burbeck, the commanding officer of the artillery, has been sick in this city — he is on the recovery, and will as soon as he is able repair to Head Quarters. I have ordered Dunlap's daily paper to be forwarded to you, from the first instant — it will be seen there the Disorders which subsist in the troops on the frontiers of France. The clothing for the old troops, will be in motion for Pittsburgh in the course of ten days. Our recruits by returns amount to about Sixteen hundred, to which probably may be added by estimate about one hundred and fifty — the success is by no means equal to my expectation & almost precludes the hope of an active campaign this year, even if the conduct of the Indians will require it. — I have the honor to enclose you the copy of a letter to the Governor of Kentucky. It will be necessary that you should send an Express to Nashville to prevent the Chickasaws from joining at Fort Washington: to have them repair to that post & to keep them in idleness would be a monstrous evil. It will however be necessary that some discretion should be vested in this messenger, who therefore ought to be an Officer of Judgment — his conduct to be regulated by circumstances — for if the Indians should refuse our offers and fall upon the frontiers, then you would require the assistance of the Chickasaws, but certainly they would be an embarrassment to you if the negotiations should continue much longer. If the hostile Indians can be brought to understand us, it is difficult to conceive of the impediments to a peace — but if they will not listen it will be unfortunate for them. I have not written to General