[No 9] [From Gen'l Knox Sec't of war.] Sir, War department. 27 July 1792.— I have the honor to enclose duplicates of my letters to you of the 20^th & 25 instant, and to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20^th instant. The spirit of desertion manifested in Asheton's detachment is an unpleasant event— the cause I know not excepting it being a depravity of mind disgraceful to human nature. I shall hope for the descriptive list you have mentioned— Asheton ought to have sent it on to this office weekly while on [underline: his long march]. It is a matter of serious consideration how this infamous conduct is to be checked— it is concluded by all men who have examined the question, that severity is not so efficacious as certainty of punishment for crimes— How far hard labour generally adopted instead of death, which the laws allow, and direct, would effect a reformation is to be determined. An unfavorable position for desertion would be a desireable circumstance, and it is to be hoped your Cavalry will be able to apprehend generally all deserters, which with such other regulations you should adopt may terminate this propensity. Major Ridoulph will put in motion from Baltimore, Alexandria, Winchester & Shepherds town and Hagerstown about two hundred and fifty recruits, so they may arrive somewhere about the twentieth of next month. The rifle clothing to complete the companies at the great Kenhawa and the Companies to be clothed at Pittsburgh will be sent off instantly. Six hundred suits of clothing for the old first regiment is on the way to Pittsburgh— as soon as it arrives you will be pleased to forward it to Fort Washington as all the troops for which it is designed are at & below that Post. The clothing for the 2d second regiment will be on the road in a few days— some of those troops are on the upper parts of the Ohio, the clothing will be directed as nearly as possible for each company according to the arrangement of the twentieth instant transmitted to you. Medicines will also be forwarded to Pittsburgh for the use of the troops there— there is an abundance at Fort Washington excepting some particular articles which are provided— I have applied to the Governor of this State for permission for the rifle officers to recruit out of M'Culley's corps— but he declines it— It may be hoped that about the expiration of the times of the said companies, that you ride the officers of the rifle companies to be at the head of the said companies when they are discharged that they may have an opportunity of enlisting in Continental troops if they think proper. Cap't Butler, Cummons and Springer of the rifle companies of this State are greatly deficient. The Season is so far advanced that it is not probable any very serious offensive operations can be undertaken before the cold weather sets in. If this should be the case it will not be proper to endeavor to obtain a body of the Chickasaws to join our army, should they be brought to Fort Washington with the expectation of seeing a large Army ready for serious operations and find it otherwise despair would ensue. But perhaps they would like to make a stroke the negotiations should be at an end and it shall be Discovered that it was much regret. The Saddles were all inspected by a sworn inspector who had nothing to do with the contract also with major Ridoulph upon their excellency, but it can easily be conceived that the stuffing would not suit every horse. The recruits enlisted at all the rendezvous marched & a march may be estimated at about one thousand eight hundred, but from the number, he must be deducted the deserters on the march— I will have an estimate transmitted you from the returns. Captain Eaton of the fourth Sub Legion recruiting in Vermont will be nearly completed. I have ordered them forward. The regulations for the payment of the troops & the distribution of the Stores, will I hope be ready to be forwarded by the next post. You will see by the enclosed letter from M'r Halle to M'r O'Hara the prospect of open shores in Kentucky. Brigadier General Wilkinson will have a large quantity of hay cut for forage in the vicinity of Fort Hamilton. By a letter from Gen'l Wilkinson received two days ago & dated the 5 and 31 may & 8^th June it appears that M'r Harmar and Major Prueman left Fort Washington on the 25^th of May— the former to repair to Sandusky, and the latter to the Glaise on the Maumee river of Lake Erie— It is high time to hear of their fate— it may be momentarily expected— if they shall be received kindly— I think peace will probably be the consequence. In the dispersed manner in which the troops have been moved, it was impracticable until the troops should be assembled to give the respective Sub Legions distinctive marks. It is conceived the following will be sufficient. The First Sub Legion— White binding on the hats & white plumes. The Second Sub Legion— Red binding to the hats & red plumes. The Third Sub Legion— Yellow binding & yellow plumes. The Fourth Sub Legion— No binding— black plumes. The Officers plain hats with the plumes of their respective Sub Legions. But when the troops take the field it is conceived that any plumes would not only be unnecessary but improper. I will order the binding for the men's hats to be forwarded. By one of your enclosures dated at Clarks Station crooked creek on the 14 instant I regard John Princy Col. I show he estimates the desire of a volunteer expedition against the Indians— it would be difficult for him to find an object within the reach of Volunteers— If Brant's information is to be credited the Wyandots & Delawares have removed from Sandusky to the west side of the Maumee river of Lake Erie— Three hundred or seven hundred volunteers would be utterly inadequate in the present state of things to cross the said Miami— any Volunteer without object would be fruitless to the public & therefore ought not to be undertaken, but while the negotiations are pending, it would be very highly disgraceful & ruinous. As persons may be wounded or disabled, it is necessary the evidences requisite to entitle them to receive the pensions should be regulated— the following is therefore prescribed, the substance of which was contained in my letter to Brigadier General Wilkinson of the 17^th instant a copy of which has been transmitted to you. All Officers and Soldiers entitled by their wounds or other casualty to be placed on the pension list of the United States, must be examined by the principal Surgeon, and the two next seniors present in the medical department, these must certify the nature and degree of the disability— whether it will incapacitate the invalid entirely from labor, or, in what proportion, and whether the disability is probably temporary or permanent. The officer commanding the Corps to which the invalid belonged, or the post which he is at, must also certify the time and place at which the invalid was disabled, & the circumstances thereof, whether by wounds or other casualties. These certificates are to be transmitted to the war office through the Commander in chief together with the state in which the invalid chuses to draw his pension. If the certificates are satisfactory, the invalid will be placed upon the list & he will receive a pension in half yearly payments in proportion to his disability according to law. All the officers, making the certificates aforesaid will be responsible for the entire truth & propriety thereof. I