N^o/81 To Major Gen^t Knox Sec^y War Pittsburgh 25^th July 1792 Dear Sir, I have the honor to inclose you copies of letters from the Lieutenants of the Counties of Ohio, Washington & Westmoreland, and one from Capt Brady, giving & an account of his tour into the Indian Country &c. with my answers, that to Col. Baird authorising him to add four more scouts to those already in the Service of the County of Washington, was an addition that I could not well avoid, under present circumstances — This disagreable state of anxious Suspense is much more intolerable, than actual actual War, for their people do really pester me with their apprehensions of Danger, which I endeavour to quiet by reasoning, & assurances of effectual Support. — The day before yesterday, I received a letter from Capt.a Cafs. & Express with the enclosed copies from a Mr. Israel Chapins & a certain Ronecrante, who I expect will accompany the Legation of the Five-Nations to the grand council of the hostile Indians — he speaks the Seneca, Delaware, and Shawnese languages, & has been promised a liberal, reward for bringing the earliest & most authentic account of the result of their councils, and the real views & intentions of the Indians: he appears to be in the confidence of the Cornplanter, who I have Directed Capt. Cafs— to try to prevail on to go to that Council, for the purpose of using his influence with the hostile Indians to listen to peace: or if for war, to give us timely information. Agreeably to your request that I would adopt some means of promoting the recruiting Service, I had an Idea, of enlisting the Six months's men under Major M'Cally, and applied to him for permission, and to assist some of our officers in the business, which he very politely agreed to do; but upon the arrival of last post, he called at head Quarters, & shewed me copies of your letters to Governor Mifflin & his answer, and in Confidence a letter, which in confidence I impart to you, from M^r Sec^y Dallas of the 13^th inst. — forbidding him in the strongest terms, to admit of any enlistments from his corps into the Service of the U:S: — with words to this effect — "[underline: as we do not know, nor understand, what the views of the Federal Executive are; however you will cordially Co-operate with the Federal troops for the Defence of our frontiers, this I write by order of the Governor, & in confidence]". — I wish that it was practicable to take M'Cully with his corps into the Service of the U.S. — for he is an active partizan & a Veteran Officer; and his men are good & hardy woodsmen — the business can be Done, provided I am authorised — any orders of Gov. Mifflin to the contrary, notwithstanding. — I returned last evening from Washington=ton, where I went in order to quiet the minds of the people, respecting the Indians, and to endeavour to reconcile the inhabitants of that County and Ohio to remain upon their farms. — The river has been so low for these ten days past, that a boat of the smallest draft of water could not pass without grounding — last evening and this morning it has rose three feet perpendicular; I shall therefore take advantage of this favorable rise to throw some troops, into big Beaver Station, and to dispatch an express to Gen^l Wilkinson, to send a proper officer to Nashville, to detain the Chickasaws at that place until further Orders. — it may seem extra=ordinary, but I have not an officer at Pittsburgh, except Major Asheton or Lieut^t Morris who is sick, possesed of that address, which I think necessary for this business — they will improve by time. — this morning Lieut^t Price arrived with a Detachment belonging to Capt^ns Carbury & Lewis — he would answer the purpose of an Embassy to the Chickasaws, but is the only officer with this detachment, amounting to [strikethrough: thirty] Sixty Men. — the Cavalry begin to improve; the hand mills fully answer my expectation, five of them will grind twenty four bushels of Corn in two Hours with ease, which in this way will be of double service to the horses, than if given them in the whole grain — Discipline begins to make its appearance, nor are the troops permitted to be Idle, their time is pretty well taken up between manoeuvring & fatigue: I have thrown up two small redoubts, which will afford additional Security to the place. — I have [strikethrough: commanded] also caused very good temporary stabling to be erected for the Cavalry under cover of one of the redoubts. — permit me now to reiterate my request for a quantity of the finest grained powder, of the same quality with the sample I had the honor of sending you on the 13^th inst., to be reserved for real action — the few rifle men that are yet arrived, have been practising at Marks — by firing into trees, so as to reclaim the lead — the Infantry have been practising quick firing with wooden snappers — on Monday I mean to give them some powder — in order to inure the Cavalry to noise & firing in their front; as well as to practise the Musketry to load & fire in full trot: the powder that will be expended in manoeuvring is fit for no other purpose; so that it will be used to the best possible Advantage; and will answer in place of better. — the proportion of strength, between that which I mean to expend in this way & some lately arrived — is as 16 to 32 — and the difference — between it and the sample sent you is as 16 to 40, and the quickness in burning is still greater. — Pray what is become of our sixteen little howitzers — we have plenty of round pebbles, that will answer in the place of shot for practising; and our artillery men have every thing yet to learn. — Inclosed are lists of deserters — on their march to this place; but the descriptions are few and imperfect; owing to the officers who marched the detachments, not being acquainted with the men, or [places of] their former abode — as they were generally enlisted by officers yet remaining at the respective rendezvous & who are also possesed of the inlistments: however these returns will give a general Idea of the persons &c. of the deserters — I have the honor to be with much esteem your most obed^t and very hum^t Serv^t Anty Wayne It is now 8 oclock in the evening & this days post not yet arrived — in fact he is a worthless fellow, and ought to be dismissed — the other generally arrives between the hours of 8 and ten in the morning. Maj^r Gen^l Knox. —