[N° 234 To Gen.^l Knox Sec.^y of War.] Pittsburgh 5.^th Oct.^r 1792. Sir I have the honor to acknowledge yours of the 28^th. ultimo with the enclosures and will pay due attention to those matters you have recommended. That which respects the ascertaining the probable force of the Enemy we may eventually have to contend with, has in a great measure been anticipated in many weeks since, and expect every hour interesting intelligence upon that head. — I shall however continue to reiterate those enquiries by every means in my power; so as to reduce it to as great a certainty as circumstances will possibly admit of, from a conviction of the policy, as well as the necessity of the measure. Enclosed is the monthly return for Sept.^r of all the detachments belonging to the Legion & SubLegion now at this place, together with a copy of Capt. Porter's report of the defects of three of the Howitzi's, which appear to of a bad composition; but they will speak for themselves. I have directed them to be sent to Philadelphia by a return waggon. we have discovered some other defects, which have or, will be remedied here without much expence or difficulty. I hope we shall now be able to go on with the muster & inspection of the troops: but we will be under the necessity of discharging many of the men, who never were — nor never will be fit for service; they are at present a nuisance to the Legion, and a useless expence to the publick. — The following vacancies have taken place in the Legion viz — Lieut.^t W^m Davidson of the 1.^st Troop & 1^st SubLegion on the 18^th Sept.^r Lieut.^t Sam.^l Cochran of the 3.^d SubLegion of Infantry on the 25^th of the same month. Ensign John Paine of the 1.^st SubLegion on the 4^th instant — those Gentlemen could well be spared, without any possible injury to the service. But another resignation has this day taken place which I wished to prevent. v.e. Captain John Stake of 2^nd Troop of Dragoons, of the 2^nd SubLegion — enclosed are copies of his letter & my answer on the subject. — There are two other Gentlemen in arrest — who probably will be compelled to leave the service: one by Major Bedinger, — the other by Major Rudulph upon charges of a very criminal nature. Neither Davidson, Cochran or Paine have vouchers or means to settle their accounts — altho' ordered. — W. Jones & M^r. Dunn have undergone a satisfactory probation and will be mentioned as Cornets in General Orders, by permission of the President of the U.S. as there will be another vacancy in the Dragoons, Major Rudulph is very anxious for a Serjeant [strikethrough: by] Daniel Torry to fill it; he appears to be a very genteel, sober & active non Commissioned Officer; and said to be an exact disciplinarian suited to the Dragoon Service. there is also a M^r. M^cLane, acting as a volunteer & ready upon all occasions, who is an excellent clerk & strongly recommended to me by letters from a number of the most respectable characters in York County — he is a native of that place & has the appearance & manners of a Gentleman. — I will make the necessary enquiries concerning Serj^t. Richardson; and you may rest assured I will carefully guard against improper appointments or recommendations — we shall have some difficulty before we can purge the Legion of characters who never were fit for officers. I have the honor to be with true esteem your most obed.^t & very hum.^t Serv.^t Anty Wayne The Hon.^ble Major Gen.^l Knox Sec.^y of War.