[cover notation: 7^th August 1792 / from / Gen^l Henry Knox / Sec^y of War / N^o 11] N^o 11. [undecipherable] the Secretary of War [undecipherable] [undecipherable] August [undecipherable] 1792 [undecipherable] received by the way of Kentucky the dispatches therein alluded from Fort Washington, and en[undecipherable] that the [lowness?] of the Waters in the Ohio mentioned in yours of the 28^th [undecipherable] may have prevented you from receiving similar intelligence; I have thought proper to forward copies for your information and consideration. Perhaps Confiding the information now transmitted with that from [Newton?] contained in my last, but little doubt can remain that from [Sherman's?] [undecipherable], whose Colonel Brandon may have escaped. [undecipherable] dispatches of Brandon, [undecipherable] perhaps [he?] [undecipherable] have [undecipherable] aided, the hostile Indians may [be possessed?] of the defeat of the [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] dependent [undecipherable] for peace [undecipherable] and will be [undecipherable] and the [Indians?] under the [British?] auspices may have concealed these. [If Brandon should also be murdered our remaining hope?] [undecipherable] and also to hostile tribes to be acquainted with our [dispositions?] must rest upon [undecipherable] Colonel [Lewis?] and Captain [Brant?] [undecipherable] this day for that purpose [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I estimate that some of the above Indians are at Au [Glaize?] at present and perhaps most of them will be there in a few days — I should hope that considerable dependence may be placed on Captain Brant — He is well acquainted with the subject and if his [faithfulness?] to the cause he has undertaken be equal to his intelligence he will [probably?] effect a treaty. [undecipherable lines] Time will shortly disclose whether the murder of our messengers has been the premeditated act of the council of the hostile tribes — the act of the Shawanese and other opposers of a peace or the effect of the blood thirsty dispositions of individuals. I have enclosed your Brigadier General [Johnson?]'s plan for carrying on the [War?] — I feel exceedingly obliged to him as any other person for any plans ideas or even hints which they may think [proper?] to [offer?] But every idea which he has brought forward has long [since?] been matu[red?] by the President of the United States [previous?] to the present arrangement. The whole [shows?] that the [Wabash?] and the [Miami?] River of Lake [Erie?] should be the boundary in case of [any?] hostilities [undecipherable] — If the proposition made by General [Johnson?] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] relin[quished?] for the present [undecipherable] reasons for a [permanence?] there in — [undecipherable lines] and [undecipherable] the positions, [undecipherable lines] First. Reasons of national policy will restrain [during?] this [present?] nego[tiation?] — [undecipherable] the lakes — [undecipherable] and is not therefore to be [undertaken?]. Secondly. That in [case?] of [undecipherable] offensive operations a division of the [available?] [undecipherable] the success problematical. Thirdly. The immediate object could be [obtained?] by the occupation of the [said?] force moving by the way of Cayahoga [undecipherable] the [Maumee?] or [Glaize?]. [undecipherable] given by Captain Brant could [easily?] be [relied?] upon and that [undecipherable] [Fourthly?]. That even if the foregoing reasons did not exist so strongly, the advance season would prevent the measure this year [unless?] the motives were as powerful as to be a reason for the troops encountering all the hardships that [always?] [undecipherable] [and] Fifthly. A Post or Posts established [below?] [undecipherable] to make [undecipherable lines] [undecipherable lines] to [undecipherable] the [Indians?] [undecipherable] The above Objections together with others arising from the necessity and [policy?] of continuing our [communication?] to [undecipherable] to the Miami Village and [undecipherable] on Brigadier General Putnam's [P]ropositions for your consideration and remarks. The reason of the [year?] is too far advanced, the number of the recruits too few and the undisciplined state of the army — [undecipherable] to [pre]clude all forward and important movements this season. If the war is to [happen?] the number of recruits authorized by Law must be completed, during the autumn and winter and every preparation by discipline and otherwise must be made for the most [forward?] and active operations as early in the ensuing spring as the water and the [stage?] will allow. [undecipherable] to be avoided by all means [undecipherable] D. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the proposition of Brigadier General [Putnam?] — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Putnam [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you. You will judge from [your?] [undecipherable] [proper?] [undecipherable] with a [complete?] detachment of four or five hundred troops — The men designed for the Cavalry will of course be [undecipherable] there — but [I pray?] you to give the [undecipherable] [More?] officers from Kentucky would be too expensive — In order that you may have all the information I [possess?] on the subject of the navigation of the Big Beaver Creek and the [undecipherable] could thence over to Cayahoga [undecipherable] the Lake [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in consequence of [undecipherable] from me in the Year 1790. [undecipherable] The letter of Brigadier General Putnam of the 5^th of July relative to the establishment of a post on the Muskingum is [referred?] to your judgment [undecipherable] the troops are to be [distinguished?] from a post at the place [where Fort Harmar stood?] — [undecipherable] — in the Year [undecipherable], would appear to have a good effect to [undecipherable] Ohio and Washington Counties [undecipherable] Grant [# inquired] [undecipherable] all, whether the division of force [undecipherable] the [efficiency?] [undecipherable] Send me copies of the letters written to the respective General Putnam and [Patterson?]. It would be a great [undecipherable] to concede that Brigadier General [undecipherable] has [undecipherable] in the great satisfaction by his conduct which has evinced the most indefatigable [undecipherable] and zeal to promote the good of this service. I have this moment received the enclosed letter from [undecipherable] — [Chapin?] the Agent to the two nations. I transmit it to you as a new light upon the pacific postures and the expectations which we may [undecipherable] of the agency of the Indians independent of [Captain Brant?] who, I think will be at the [undecipherable] of Lake [Erie?] rather [previous?] to the [undecipherable] I am still of opinion and the more confirmed in it from Chapins letter that the [Captain?] [undecipherable] Captain [undecipherable] party ought not to be [undecipherable]ded to stay in service — their continuance may have bad effects [undecipherable lines] [undecipherable] the subject [undecipherable] com- mand, in order that you may be enabled to take a comprehensive view of the subject and decide accordingly as the public interests shall direct. The President of the United States in a letter received from him this day mentions "Reiterate in your letters to General Wayne the "necessity of employing the present calm in disciplining and training "the troops under his command for the peculiar service for which they "are destined — He is not to be sparing of Powder and lead in proper and "reasonable quantities to make the Soldiers marksmen." "So long as the vice of drunkeness exists in the army; so long "I hope ejections of those officers who are found guilty of it will conti-"nue; for that and gaming will debilitate and render unfit for ac-"tive service any army whatever." I have the honor to be with great respect Your most obed^t ser^t H Knox P.S. The dispatches for Fort Washington, you will please to forward by the first conveyance — Major Gen^l Wayne.