[No 27 From Major Gen Knox [undecipherable] [undecipherable]] War departm^t Sir, November 24. 1792 Your letters of the 14^th & 16^th instant have been received & submitted to the President of the United States. He regrets that your opinion of the winter position of the troops was not delivered at an earlier period, and more especially that it should have been suspended upon a vague report of Mr. [undecipherable] — a declaration of the Posts of Detroit & Niagara being relinquished to us in the spring — If the report was as stated, it is not corroborated by his official declarations. — As the case is now circumstanced, your fortified camp near the big Beaver is to be regarded as a position for two, or at most three months: and because it would be highly improper to construct buildings or any thing not indispensably necessary to render the position secure and the troops comfortable against the weather — It will be proper therefore that the troops consider themselves under orders to move on a short notice during the winter or early in the Spring according to events & circumstances. — Your observations on the supply of provisions has been considered, and the result appears thus. Elliot and Williams have engaged with the public to furnish [underline: all the rations] which shall be required of them in the year 1793 on due notice. It is their object therefore and for which they are responsible with heavy penalties that the supplies shall be regularly furnished at such places as shall be ordered — It will be incumbent on them to provide such numbers of Beeves that the Army shall not be in want of that article after the 15^th of April, and such quantities of flour in proper seasons so as to serve as well [underline: after] the 15^th of June as before that time of it be not then to be purchased. — It will however be necessary for you to give them information to the following purport in addition to the orders already given for the Magazines in consequence of my letter of the 3^d instant to the Secretary of the Treasury. To wit That the troops will probably remain in the positions already ordered, for the winter and until the first of March next. — That at that period it is probable Head Quarters will be removed to Fort Washington and a great portion of the troops assembled at that Post. That it will be incumbent on those to have rations at that time in such a situation as to furnish the troops probably amounting to Four thousand at or near the said Fort Washington and to have the provision in readiness to be transported forwards so as to supply the current demand of [the?] Army in the line of direction which shall hereafter be ordered. — Upon this notification to them they will find themselves constrained to take such measures as shall ensure all [undecipherable] [undecipherable] as to a full supply. In addition however to this modification, it will be proper for you to know from time to time how they progress in compliance with your orders. I enclose you the copy of a return given me by Col. [undecipherable] of the Quantity of Provision on hand at the lower advanced posts. — It is an unfortunate circumstance indeed that the Paymaster is not at Head Quarters in order to carry into due attention the plan of the Controller transmitted to you on the third day of August last for the more orderly payment of your troops. Pray urge him on as often as possible. The system pointed out is considered by the Treasury as an indispensable mean to a just & punctual arrangement of the pay. — I have communicated with the Secretary of the Treasury when the subject of the pay upon request and although he is exceedingly desirous that the troops should be punctually paid and is ready to furnish the money for that purpose, yet he considers the present train of the business singular & irregular. A supply of money will however be furnished as soon as possible in some mode which shall be devised. I hope the Comptroller may have [Page 126 DTC01]