[No 24. To Gen'l Knox Sec'y of war] Pittsburgh 12^th Oct^r 1792 Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 5^th instant, together with the [strikethrough: enclosed] copies of letters of letters from the President of the U.S. Generals Wilkinson, Putnam & Chapin D.D. & G. Bille and Col Arthur Campbell I will examine the subject matter of the President's & your letter with due deliberation and give you my sentiments thereon, by next post: interim I have the honor to enclose you a copy of my letter of the 8^th instant to the Contractors on the subject of supplies of provision at the respective posts & garrisons which would not admit of longer delay — you please to observe that provision is ordered for only 3500 men until the 15^th of April — exclusive of 618,700 rations in advance, which will be far inadequate should the war progress — however it will afford provision for 6000 men for three months from after the 15^th of April i.e. until the 15^th of July — I must request you to be [underline: explicit] upon this subject, for I do not think we have any right to expect peace. I also enclose a copy of my letter of the 9^th instant to Gen'l Wilkinson, which was forwarded by express to Fort Washington, and now enclose you a copy of the disposition of W^m. May, who appears to be a very knowing intelligent fellow: he deserted by order from Fort Hamilton & was to have returned as soon as he should make discovery, whether Freeman and the other two persons bearing the first were killed or prisoners — but was taken by the Indians after [undecipherable] hours after he discovered the dead bodies, as stated in his testimony. Previously to his examination upon oath, I cautioned him to be very careful in relating nothing but the truth, with the promise of a liberal reward, should the facts prove to be such as he related them: he seems very positive as a very circumstance His man[ly] character is a little doubtful, however he is known to have been a waiter of Captain [undecipherable], & is very anxious to get to him — should he be acting a double part, he will be detected, as he shall be sent down the river, under the particular charge of Major Rudolph — at present I am rather inclined to believe that the intelligence contained in his disposition is but too true: as most of it has already been corroborated from different quarters — I have in this reward to make it his interest to be honest on this occasion — in fact, every intelligence breathes war — you have also enclosed extracts from Gen'l Orders, relative to the rank of Cornets, & promotions & appointments in the cavalry, until the further pleasure of the President is known, agreeably to your letter of the 28^th ultimo, except the promotion of Cap^t. [undecipherable] Campbell to the command of the troop late Staker, in place of Rogers. We have a favorable prospect of the river being up, from a heavy and constant fall of rain, all night, which still continues to increase: not one moment shall be lost in detaching Major Rudolph with the troops mentioned in my letter to General Wilkinson of the 9^th instant which will give him a superior force, to that which will remain here. — The objects I had in view by establishing a post at Capawago, or Meads mills, were to afford protection to a number of inhabitants, who had abandoned their plantations, on the winter, and to obtain a supply of boards there for the use of the army: the inhabitants have returned; the Saw mills [undecipherable], stocked, and garrisoned by a Sergeant, Corporal and fourteen privates with a weekly patrol from Fort Franklin, which with the patroles mentioned in my letter of the 18^th ultimo, between this place, Fort Franklin & Big Beaver, affords the best protection to the frontiers of Pennsylvania that I can