[N° 21. From Gen'l Knox Sec'y of War] War Department October 5^th 1792 Sir I have the honor to inclose you a duplicate of mine to you dated the 28^th instant, and also to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the same date. There can be no doubt, that your mode of protecting the frontiers by roving Patroles is vastly superior to posting small parties of troops at any particular point. the ferocity of the Indians would soon discover the strength of the Garrison of any small post, and soon [undecipherable] the talents of the Commanding officer and act accordingly. But Patroles, at once disciplines the troops employed in them to an habitual vigilance, stimulates the latent talents of Officers, affords greater security to the frontiers and in an abundantly greater degree than small Garrisons are better able to chastise any predatory party of Indians. The President of the United States has expressed his opinion with great force upon the propriety of Patroles and upon the futility of small posts. But at the same time, policy dictates that some regard should be paid to the the prevalent opinion of the people themselves, as to the efficacy of their defence, and prevent their calling forth their militia for the purpose you mention at the [underline: expence] of the union. for all expences of this kind however incurred in the first instance, will ultimately, all upon the general Government, and it is just that the United States should afford adequate protection to all the frontiers. I inclose you a letter from the President of the United States of the 28^th ultimo, relative to the deprivation of the troops in the winter. You will be pleased to give it a mature consideration and transmit your opinion thereon. I also inclose you the following copies of letters to wit, one transmitted by Colonel Arthur Campbell of Washington County Virginia to the Governor of that State — as it relates to Hardin I wish it to be true, but of it was, I think M^r Belli on his letter from Lexington of the 31^st January or Generall Atkinson in his letter of the 24^th of August would have mentioned it. From Brigadier Generall Atkinson to wit — of the 8^th — 16^th of August — I have also received one of the 24^th being the same in substance as yours of the 19^th of August. From Brigadier General Putnam dated at the Rapids of the Ohio the 28^th of August 1792 From John Belli P.S. [undecipherable] dated at Lexington the [3]1^st of August 1792. From Israel Chapin agent to the six nations, dated at Canandaigua the 24^th ultimo. This is an important piece of information, upon which I am inclined to place considerable dependence. Captain John Cummings writes me that he has enrolled forty two men are they with you. I have ordered the recruits from Mary land and the lower parts of Virginia to march to Pittsburg they will amount to about one hundred and fifty — I shall soon order on all from the Eastward of this amounting to about twenty. Captain Pierce marched from Lancaster the 30^th ultimo in good order. I presume Lieutenant McAfee has joined him, which will make his detachment some where about two hundred & forty recruits. Judging from present appearances, if you receive two thousand, five hundred recruits by the first of January, the companies to [undecipherable] at the great Kanhawa included, they will be all that may be expected. I should hope that during the winter the Establishment would be com[undecipherable] he remains