[Gen^t A Pickens from Knox Sec^y of War] War department August 13^th 1792 Sir Your favor of the 15^th May was received on the 28^th of June, and submitted to the President of the United States. Your ideas of the difficulty of establishing a peace with the hostile Indians without [strikethrough: further] conflict it is to be apprehended are too well founded. But it is an object of too high importance to make every reasonable effort for that purpose, in order to convince a considerable proportion of the Citizens of the United States that the thing is impracticable. The cordial zeal with which you have left your private affairs in order to endeavour to benefit the public, is highly satisfactory and gratifying to the President of the United States. It is probable that the service of the Indians may not be required this year, owing to the long protracted Council of the Northern Indians, who are to repair to the assembled hostile Indians in order to endeavour to make a peace. As the time that the result of these peace overtures shall [strikethrough: be] be known, it will probably be too late to undertake any offensive operations of importance, and more particularly to engage any Indians for the purpose of their rendering it the — But if one practicable, the war will probably be pushed with great vigor early in the Spring, when our troops will be completed and disciplined for the nature of the service. In this event, auxiliary Indians may be required and I am persuaded that taking a considerable command of them and other light troops would be particularly acceptable to the President of the United States. Will you have the goodness to impart to me your dispositions on the case herein stated in order to be submitted to the President. I have the honor to be with great respect Your humble Servant Brig Gen^l Pickens H Knox Sec^y of War