[N^o10 From Gen^l Knox Sec^y of War] War department. August 3. 1792. Sir, I have received your favor of the 28^th ultimo dated at 9 o'clock A.M. — in this you refer for intelligence to a letter written the day before, which I have not received. I am glad to hear so good accounts as you give of Captⁿ Prestons and Springers Companies. In order that there Should be neither difficulty or delay in marching Gibsons, Prestons, Thomas Lewis's, and Howde Lewis's recruits, and the recruits under the immediate direction of Captain Henry Bowyer of the Cavalry, I have sent Lieu^t Melcher from this City to muster, inspect, accelerate and pay the men and one months pay & three months pay for the officers of the said companies— They will rendervous at Green briar Courthouse, and thence proceed to Point Pleasant the mouth of the great Kenhawa under the escort of Gibsons company, which I have reason to believe is complete as to its members, & which has had sent to it arms, accouterments, clothing, tents &c. Bowyers recruits will also be completely clothed and furnished with tents & camp equipage. An invoice [strikethrough: for] clothing for Prestons Thomas Lewis's and Howell Lewis's companies is enclosed, and the clothing will probably be at Pittsburgh on ten days after you receive this letter— But besides the rifles & equipments thereto belonging, and tents for the said three companies, which major Craig must forward, he must also send three hundred Canteens, three hundred Knapsacks and three hundred pairs of shoes. That part of Prestons company under Lockwood & Trigg must be deducted by major Craig from the quantity for Prestons company. I have also enclosed an invoice of six hundred & sixty suits of clothing for the first regiment, but blankets & shoes are wanting to complete them— these articles will be immediately forwarded— The contractors have been puzzled exceedingly to find suitable blankets— and the shoes have been manufactured at New Ark in Jersey & with the blankets have been detained by contrary winds. I have also enclosed an invoice of two hundred and sixteen suits of Rifle clothing (shoes & blankets excepted) which are also on the road— these are, together with the two hundred suits before forwarded to Pittsburgh for clothing the companies raised on the upper part of this state & in Ohio Country; two hundred suits more will soon be in motion The clothing for the late second regiment on the Ohio is mostly packed, & will soon be on its way to Pittsburgh. All the saddles and Cavalry equipments of every sort which have been or shall be forwarded to Pittsburgh for Rodgers', Bowyers & Winstons troops which are to be mounted at Fortwashington will either be delivered to such part of the said troops as may arrive at Pittsburgh or they will be forwarded altogether to Fortwashington under the escort of Rodgers troop as you shall judge proper. Perhaps they should be all put in the possession of Major Rudulph who will be responsible for the proper delivery of them. I transmit you a copy of the instructions and regulations from the Comptroller to the paymaster with the army— the original was forwarded by the last post to the paymaster. I submit to you the idea whether it may not be proper for you to direct immediately the troops be on the upper parts of the Ohio to do those things required in the instructions & forms. The directory parts of the instructions, designed to produce an uniformity in the returns & forms prescribed should be as soon as possible promulgated among the officers; and perhaps through the medium of General orders.— But care should be taken to distinguish between directions to the paymaster and directions & forms for the officers, & not to publish the former. It is to be regretted that the paymaster is not with you, as it would be his duty to point out what should be published and what should be restrained. I also transmit you certain regulations for the orderly [underline: receiving], [underline: distributing], and [underline: accounting for] all public property designed for the army— I pray for your attentive consideration thereof and after alterations or additions you judge necessary for the public interests, you will please to publish the same in orders, and from time to time enforce the observance thereof. And I also enclose certain regulations relatively to forage, paper, wood &c. The observance of a proper oeconomy is an important principle of discipline— every particle of public property should be accounted for by some person. I flatter myself that your command will be distinguished by the highest degree of discipline in all parts of [underline: the troops], & in the highest attention to the public property. In the first instance irregularities will be practised and waste ensue by the carelessness of raw recruits— But I hope the regularity of payments, clothing & other public promises will be such as will afford you the best possible plea for enforcing a perfection of duty among the troops. It is with regret I transmit you the enclosed paper marked A, the purport of which I received from M^r. Robert Morris on the 31^st ultimo. The number of persons with Major Trueman— the time— and the other circumstances would seem to render the account but too credible. But on the other hand, there has been a Gentleman in this Town within a day or two past, but whom I did not see who says he left Fort Washington after the return of Gen^l. Wilkinson; which must have been after the 20^th of June; and about the 1^st of July, who says the accounts from the Indian country were favorable by the return of some of the messengers, via the Wabash— I hope in God the information of Trueman be not true— I have not divulged this report here, and I request you would keep it to yourself for the present. Since writing the foregoing I have received your favor of the 27^th instant. I am persuaded that your arrangements of Scouts is formed on just principles. I am glad to learn that Captain Hendricks had proceeded westward; I sincerely hope the others will also go— but they are so slow & dilatory as to exhaust all patience. I believe Captain Brant will be at the Council at Au Glaize by the 20^th of the present month at farthest. General Israel Chapins is the deputy agent to the five nations— I believe that no attempts ought to be made to retain the Indians contrary to his request— The Cornplanters judgment ought to be conclusive on this head— the sincerity of whose attachment cannot be doubted— but he has been too open in our favor to be well received at the Council of the hostile Indians, indeed the attempt would be dangerous to him.— The letters communicated by you in confidence relative to the State troops shall be retained— the opinion of the person you mention is indeed extraordinary. I should be glad were it practicable to receive Major M^cCally and his corps on the establishment— I have an high opinion of his worth and regretted at the time the arrangements were making [strikethrough: and] that he could not be appointed— the State having Major Clark and major Butler who were of the Levies [underline: last year] and whose services merited reappointment. I wrote you last post relative to the Chickasaws— I am inclined to the opinion they ought not to be retained— the season will be too far advanced to have an active campaign. I am charmed at the idea of the commencement of discipline— the proofs of the powder shall be sent you it cannot be better and I hope you will find the grain sufficiently fine— I am unwilling to put the public to the expence of other powder, not better in its quality than that which is on hand, at the same time I am desirous of complying with your wishes— when you judge of the sample sent you by the last post I will take the necessary measures on receiving your communications. I have complained to the Postmaster General of the Rider & requested him to provide another. We have no essential information about recruits since my last; I have written to all the recruiting officers urging them in the highest degree to complete their Complements. Two of Ashtons deserters have been taken this day— indeed there are five apprehended & in goal— I will give the list you have sent to the Constables— who for the sake of the reward like to hunt Deserters— by the time of Eatons company arriving from Vermont, I expect at least twenty deserters will be apprehended— Major Butler has secured several at Carlile. The sixteen Legionary howitzes were forwarded on the 17^th ultimo— there has been a defect in the Contractor for the shells, which will soon be remedied— Three pound balls will suit them. Three chests of Medicine have also been forwarded for the troops on the upper parts of the Ohio— the invoices will be transmitted next post. I have the honor to be with great esteem Your most obed^t. Serv^t. Knox Sec^y of War Maj: Gen^l. Wayne.