N^o 31. to Maj. Gen. H. Knox. Secretary of War Pittsburgh 23 November 1792. Sir, I have the honor to enclose you a copy of a letter from Cap^t Hughes which came by express the evening before last. the terms upon which Peace is to be granted to the United States you will undoubtedly have received by this period / it is however well timed on the part of the B—k— / they have not been officially mentioned by the messengers, but report says they are such as to exclude us from the waters of the Lakes; and in other respects, if literally agreed to, it must be at the expence of National Character as well as Interest: however I only give you this as a common report for as I have already mentioned we have nothing official, but expect every moment to hear from Rosecrantz.— I now do myself the honor to enclose you a copy of the correspondence between the Contractors and myself upon the subject of the several deposits of rations agreeably to your ideas & instructions in your letter of the 3. instant to the Secretary of the Treasury & of the 9^th. to me; also a copy of my letter of the 18^th. instant to General Wilkinson.— I have at last the pleasure & satisfaction to inform you that the Alleghany & Monongahela began to rise on the 18^th.; and have continued to increase with great rapidity ever since; and from the present appearance of the weather, which is very wet it is the general opinion that we shall not want water as long as the river keeps clear of ice: all the mills are at work. therefore I will embark the troops the first clear day and descend the river to Legionville / the name of our new encampment / where I hope to be completely under cover in the course of two weeks after we arrive.— I am apprehensive, that from your multiplicity of business— the articles for repairing the Soldiers Uniform have been forgot as well as the clothing for the deserters or Reclaimed Soldiers, who are many and in an actual state of nakedness.— Permit me also to observe that a very great proportion of the troops upon this Ground were recruited in the months of March & April & that not only those, but all the late detachments will be in want of clothing by the month of May they had generally abused their uniforms very much before they arrived at this place, from being too much indulged in acting as they pleased at their respective Rendezvous; and of consequence were as careless of their clothing and appearance as they were devoid of discipline:— therefore by the time the Campaign opens, we shall feel the necessity of a fresh supply, except the old troops who have about this period received their uniforms. there are about 300 hunting Shirts in Store which I intend to give to the men [undecipherable: probable reading "by issue"] during the time of Drilling & Fatigueing. I wish there had been sufficient for all the Infantry. there ever ought to be in all armies a kind of fatigue dress.— the Riflemen in this instance have the advantage of the Infantry— their clothing has been more recently issued with the addition of the Shirt. 5 o'clock P.M.— the Post has this moment arrived, & I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17^th.: due attention shall be paid to the protection and accommodation of the Wabash Chiefs