Fort Washington Nov 18^th 1794 N^o 33 A^d The enclosed copy of a present which I have this day forwarded to the Commander in Chief, will I hope give satisfaction to my superiors; and in order that you may fully and clearly comprehend the purport of my letter to that Gentleman, and from thence form a just estimate of my exact circumstances & Situation, I have taken the liberty to transmit, you Copies of his last communications to me— From M— I have received the most satisfactory information of the of the Indian Settlements on the Omee, with the Strength & position of each Town and Village, and the precise Situation of M^rMc. Ellicott, the Girlty, and other Agents, Emissaries and Traders of the British; the agency of the latter in the disposing way, is now known to a Certainty, and is open and avow'd — M— as master of a Vessel, has received Goods from the British Magazine at Detroit, and under the orders of M^cKee, has put the same Goods, to the Savages, at the Rapids of the Omee— The success of the two last Campaigns, co-operating with the policy of the British, have been detected twelve or fifteen hundred Warriors, their Women and Children, on the Banks of the Omee, from its Confluence with the River Ghyge, to its effusion into the Lake — Yet they have Discretionary power, to call forth 1500 mounted Kentuchecians, and to employ the regular Cavalry, and as many of the Infantry, as might be conveniently spared from The Garrisons under my Command, I feel most Confident, that I could [should the Winter favour my purposes] sweep these Settlements to the Lakes, with-out Communit hazard, and at last make them cold food for the present Occupants — I could Surprise them by a rapid movement of my horse from Fort Jefferson, and having carried Consternation and havock to the extremities of their Settlements I would feed on Their Magazines, while my Infantry, by go after which, my movements would be governed by expediency & Convenience — It is evident to me Sir, that the sooner this hut is destroyed the better — for you may receive as matter of fact, that the Confederacy of which this is the Head Quarters, daily gains Strength— It is with infinite pleasure, I can now bear testimony, to the excellent quality of the Clothing for generally which has come to Hand; But such iThe confusion in the Invoices and packages, such the disproportion of the Articles, that our shoes are attended by much difficulty, and it is impossible for me to say at this time, who has we have received an ample Supply nor as can this be ascertained, until we have broken open every package, and asorted the Articles— You will observe from my Letter to the Commander in Chief, the difficulties in which the pay Department is involved, the necessities of many of the Officers for their pay are acute, and of consequence much discontent prevails, unfortunately in this Instance on good grounds — In this place, I will again call your attention, to my Engagements to Col. Hardin, who Drick, as I believe, now put, beyond all doubt, I have paid to his widow the Balance of $00 Dollars promised him, in case he should be murdered and I now conceive it my indispensable Duty, to respect to you my assurance to that unfortunate Gentleman, that I would recommend His widow and Children to the National Executive for a pension if not of then two hundred Dollars — To you Sir, and to the great and good personage, to whom this letter may be submitted, it is I am persuaded unnecessary, but perhaps it is my Station, it would be misprofer for me, to urge a Duty, it which can be duly Discharged, the feelings of the Christian and the Patriot — I have this moment rec'd letters from Fort Hamilton of which the enclosed are Copies, Capt Shay-les with his own and Lieut^t Rofts Compy had marched for Fort St Clair, but the demonstrations of the Enemy in front of Fort Hamilton have been such, as determined him very prudently to halt for further Orders — as the Horses for the Dragons will not be here until the End of the Month, I shall To morrow morning at 6 O'Clk send on Major Rudolph, with an additional Compy of Ploythe men, and will direct Major Adair, with his own Hussars to take Major Rudolph's orders and I after myself this Reinforcement will suffice to ppr.S.Shayler— in his advance to St Clair; particularly as Rudolph will command & Adair will be of the party. From the present aspect of Things, I think it is presumeable that our Courts will meet with some interruption [undecipherable] and when I contemplate the extent of the Frontier, relatively to the magazines of provisions and Forage, I do feel that all our parties may not escape harmless, indeed the Enemy capturing in possesion of the Country, may always Enterprise us to ad vantage— The Enclosed Copy from the marching orders of Capt Shayler is demonstration of my general principles of offense, and will I hope merit your approbation— with perfect consideration Respect and respect — I have the Honor to be Sir, Your most obed.^t & N. B. Have the Honor to [undecipherable] enclose a Copy of his monthly Ja. Wilkinson letter to the Commander in Chief — Page 3 [The Honble Majr Genl Knox]