N^o 171 To Gen^l Knox, Sec^y of War Pittsburgh 7 Sept. [undecipherable] Sir I have the honor to enclose you an Extract from Gen^l orders containing the ar engagements of the officers of the four Sub Legions and the principles upon which rank is to be determined, agreeably to your instructions tome — also for the mustering — and making out the necessary muster & pay rolls for the respective companies & detachments until the 31^st ultimo. which I hope will meet your approbation — but there will be a difficulty with respect to the greatest part of Major Asheton's detachment, as neither the enlistments or muster rolls are in the possession of the officer having been left at your office — whilst I am upon this Subject, it may not be improper to suggest the expediency of Sub Legionary & Battalion Paymasters I am of opinion that they are really necessary; Pay however is much wanted, as have the goodness to give immediate Treasury orders for that purpose — let as pay of [undecipherable] well — we then have a right to expect due subordination apres, we have experienced some little uneasiness with respect to the quality of the provision, lately offered to the troops. I am sorry that there has been so much occasion — Mr Williams appears to be a Gentleman who would wish to give satisfaction — but there has been a little negligence — and some of the provision not fit for use — therefore could not be accepted, but I hope it will not be the case in future. Enclosed is a correspondence between the Contractor himself on the subject of rations wanted at this post — Mr Williams pretends that he was not timely notified — in that he is certainly wrong; perhaps he felt that some excuse was necessary, now are fed, but from hand to mouth — its true that the rivers are not navigable, which is the only possible excuse that can with propriety be made; and which has prevented me from forwarding the dismounted Dragons & Clothing already arrived for Fort Washington no boat can [undecipherable] pass at present down the Ohio — I has wrote this far — far before the arrival of the post, and am this moment honored with yours of the 1^st September — The Paymaster General has not been ordered to this place, because there was no means of coming it by water & I am of opinion that it would be very improper for him to attempt it by land — the Ohio has never been known so low, nor is there any prospect of its rising before the Equinox — and perhaps not there, as it will depend upon every heavy fall, [undecipherable] — but Lieut. [undecipherable] on the spot, who I have trusted to instruct the officers as to the form & correctness of the muster & Pay rolls — Query, might it not be expedient to appoint him deputy Paymaster for the — I have not yet appointed a temporary Brigade Major, because I think [undecipherable] Legion arriving — as well as Battalion Ajutants are indispensably necessary; and because it requires an officer of experience & rank to fill that office. I hope however that an assistant General has been appointed & that he will immediately join the army. In fact I never experienced so great a want of officers — we have some under that character, at this place, who I am confident, you never saw or conversed with, however I enclose you example of one or two of their returns by which you will judge of their abilities — to make out muster rolls, pay rolls or even the most common report of a [undecipherable] guard; nor, they the worst on the ground. We have two or three fine young Fellows that