[Knops Letter 3d. Nov. 1792. Relative to anticipated war with Southern Indians X X X] War Department, 3^d November 1792 Sir, The President of the United States has directed me to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's Letter to him, of the 27^th ultimo, and of my Reports of the House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia, relatively to the temporary defence of the frontiers thereof, and the copy of a Letter from Colonel Arthur Campbell, dated the 18^th of October — The Letters which have been written at various times, will enable you to take such steps with the Militia for the temporary defensive protection of Virginia, as you shall judge proper. But any thing further, or more permanent, must result from such measures as Congress may please to direct — The necessity of a defensive protection against Indians, must be well understood by your Excellency. If they, contrary to the desires of, and from causes which the General Government cannot controul, are determined to act and decided forces; they must be made to feel the effects of our superiority before tranquility can be permanently established — If the present threatening aspect of affairs confirms a course of hostilities against the Indians, humanity may be pained, but the justice of the United States cannot be impeached even by the most malignant. For it has been the incessant endeavours of the President of the United States, to satisfy every equitable demand of the Indians without the further effusion of blood — The last information from Governor Blount was dated on the 10^th ultimo — the purport of which was, as I mentioned in mine of the 1^st instant, contained in the printed paper you transmitted. It is therefore to be expected, that the information of Colonel Campbell may be premature — I have the honor Sir, to be with great regard Your Excellency's Most Obed^t Serv^t Knox His Excellency The Governor of Virginia