[N^o 30] Fort Washington Nov 4^th 88. — A.M. Sir I had the Honor to write you on the 1^st Inst. also last writing the Doctor Hammill, after whom I send this Letter express to advise you — That I have a few minutes since rec^d Information from L^t Harthorn who I have been obliged to leave in [command] — [undecipherable] that the Enemy about [undecipherable] Hours before our [undecipherable] yesterday, had made three men prisoners from a covering Party within 400 yards of the Garrison — That He immediately detached a reconnoitering Party of thirty men under Lieut Gaines, who soon made such discoveries of the Enemies force, as obliged him to decline a pursuit, and that a few minutes after [undecipherable], the Enemy discharged twenty one Rifle shots in different directions around the Garrison for [undecipherable] miles [undecipherable] — Why I have been obliged to leave Fort Hamilton under the Command of [a subaltern], my letters to the Commandant in Chief of which I transmit you a Copy on the 1^st Inst. will fully explain — I will however resume this Command in person To morrow, and in the mean time, as I calculate that my major [adjutant] with the Kentucky volunteers, and the Army of pack Horses, will be on the march from Fort Jefferson — [undecipherable] — I have dispatched [undecipherable] directed to the memorandum of [undecipherable] which the enclosed is a Copy [undecipherable] Wardhorn [upon] Day light — McGaines will be directed to meet me on the path which I made in my Route to [undecipherable] Angeles [undecipherable] — as any Event [with] [undecipherable] of the men only if I am not in [undecipherable] proceed upon the main head — At this moment I feel the difficulty of my situation very sensibly & have and [have] this Honor to be with the utmost respect [H. Estine] Sir! Your most Obed^t Hble Serv^t Ja. Wilkinson Brig. Gl. — [Major Gen^l Knox]