[from Gen^l Knox Sec^y at War] N^o 24 War department Nov^r 2^d 1792. Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo which has with its enclosures been submitted to the President of the United States. I was in hopes to have received by this Post your own opinion upon the subject of the ulterior disposition of the troops which you mentioned in yours of the 12th and 19th ultimo — but, as the advanced season will not admit of further delay in hutting the troops into winter Quarters, and in the uncertainty of the issue of the Pacific overtures which are probably concerting, but not known it appears to the President of the United States that it would be proper the troops under your immediate command take post as soon as may be at or near the place you suggest in yours of the 26th ultimo — That you should there Hut them in a compact manner and fortify your Encampment so as to guard against all surprize. That That you should keep out constant patroles as well for your own security as for the general security of the Country. That your Encampment should be provided with boats so as you may be able to descend the river with promptness and convenience. I will thank you for a general statement of the river during the three ensuing months — at what time it is commonly closed — and what time it opens, and whether, and for how long it is impracticable to use it. The subject of your requisition of the 8th October on the Contractors for 618,000 rations of salted provision in advance has been under the consideration of the President of the United States, the Secretary of the Treasury and myself — the Contractors have demanded an advance of upwards of Eighty thousand Dollars in order to enable them to comply with this requisition. The general idea which has been entertained on this subject has been that the Garrisons should have in advance three months rations — the meal not to be salted — but it has not been contemplated that the operating Army should be fed upon unsalted provisions, as such would at once greatly increase the expence of transportation and add to the incumbrance and of course to the retardment of the troops. In forward movements of Infantry generally beef Cattle will be able to travel as fast as the troops; and if such Cattle can be taught to carry the flour, agreeably to my instructions to the Quarter Master the transport of the ration would be perfect — I have not heard from him whether he ever made the experiment; but there cannot be any doubt of the success of the measure if Zeal and Perseverance should be united — I entreat your attention to this important object, and that you enjoin the experiments before directed. Besides the provisions necessary for the Garrisons in the advanced Posts it would be proper that a further quantity be stored therein for Contingences, and Supplies for desultory parties — If on Forts Jefferson and St Clair there were one hundred thousand rations — fifty thousand in each, it would seem sufficient for this purpose — great great quantities accumulated at these Posts would be subject to damage and dimunition from a variety of causes. If at Fort Washington there should be one hundred thousand rations in advance, and fifty thousand at your Encampment, would it not be sufficient? It is to be observed that the price of the ration advanced from Fort Washington towards and at Fort Jefferson is greatly advanced from what it is at [strikethrough: Fort Jefferson] Washington: at the latter it is six & nineteths Dration and on the route to Fort Jefferson fifteen & ⁹⁄₉₀ths Dration — unless therefore, any important object is to be accomplished by large Garrisons at the advanced Posts the measure ought not to be directed, besides when the troops are frittered up into small parties discipline is not only retarded, but most frequently lost — Perhaps if the Garrisons at the following Posts were as herein mentioned it might be sufficient to wit — Fort Jefferson . . . . . 120 effectives St Clair . . — . 120 Hamilton . — . 120 360