[N°/8 To Major Gen'l Knox Secy War] Pitts burgh 2⁷ July 1792 Dear Sir, I have the honor to enclose you copies of letters from the Leutenants of the Counties of Ohio, Washington & Westmoreland, and one from Capt Brady, giving I an account of his tour into the Indian Country &c with my answer, that to Col'd 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 disagreeable state of anxious Suspense is much more intolerable than actual [strikethrough: actual] fighting for their people do really persue 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 Cap'tn [undecipherable: probable reading Cabt Phlerps] with the enclosed copies from a M'r Israel Chapins & a certain Rosecrants, 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 have the confidence of the Cornplanter, who I have Directed Cap'tn [undecipherable] 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 militia force, I had an Idea of enlisting the Six months men under Major M'Cully, and applied to him for permission, and to to afford some of his 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 [undecipherable] 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 cooperate 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 partisan & a Veteran Officer; and his men are good & hardy woodsmen — the business can be done, provided I am authorised — any orders of Gov't Mifflin to the contrary, notwithstanding.— I returned last evening from Washington, 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 perpendicularly; 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 extraordinary, but I have not an Officer at Pittsburgh, except Major Ashton or Lieut't Morris who is sick, [undecipherable] of that [undecipherable], which I think necessary for this business — they will improve by time — this morning Lieut't [undecipherable] arrived with detachment belonging to Cap'tn Carberry & Lewis; he would answer the purpose of an Embassy to the Chickasaws, but is the only Officer with the detachment amounting to [undecipherable] Six Men! — the Cavalry begin to improve; the hand mills fully answer my expectations 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