Instructions for Visit to Philadelphia and Report to Secretary of War
Document 1792Refers to Indian affairs and raid on Indian chiefs. Speaks of Salander's arrival in Philadelphia and instructions to visit the Secretary of War to report the supply of horses, saddles, and bridles. Promises compensation for his time. Requests that he be very particular in keeping accounts and expenditures with the proper vouchers.
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Now I have all pages. Let me produce the transcription from the legible handwritten content across pages 2–4 (the main letter) and pages 6–7 (the enclosure). Pages 1 and 5 are archival placeholder cards, not document text.
Pittsburgh Decem 14th 1792.
The Honble
the Secy of War Sir.
We [undecipherable] absent on review [undecipherable] days had [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] this pleasure of acknowledging the receipt [undecipherable] of the 9th [undecipherable]
[undecipherable]
Desire to avail of my sincere thanks for your [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] to my [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] for Money. I am [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] advanced to my Agent at [undecipherable] rate was [undecipherable] and [undecipherable]
having to transmitted [undecipherable] since [undecipherable] advised that [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] having Occasional Supplies to [undecipherable] a large [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
at one time, and [undecipherable] to dispose with [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
[undecipherable]
[undecipherable] I [undecipherable] and received from my Department [undecipherable] of
[undecipherable] to One hundred and seven [undecipherable] Dollars. I am
informed [undecipherable] this and Seven thousand more dollars, but [undecipherable] they
[undecipherable] to be [undecipherable] for in the proper place.
[undecipherable] of [undecipherable] on my Return. I [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] on all that [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] letter of [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] in [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] and now engaged [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] to [undecipherable] to Col Hamilton and [undecipherable] very [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] expect to have in my [undecipherable] to give you more satisfaction
on the subject on the [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] Serving [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] for [undecipherable] New Troops at [undecipherable]. I know [undecipherable] any doubt
of their [undecipherable] well in that but they [undecipherable] too high in this [undecipherable]
to [undecipherable] more than the number necessary for [undecipherable].
A [undecipherable] abstract of Major [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] which you will be able to form any idea of the Charges incident
to the department exclusive of the necessary preparations.
Captain [undecipherable] with the [undecipherable] Indians 3 [undecipherable] and Three
Interpreters [undecipherable] on the 7th inst proceeded on their way to
Philadelphia. the 1st [undecipherable] all on Horseback. Enclosing a Statement of their
[undecipherable] at this place which you will [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] and [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] of the Interpreters [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] and all [undecipherable] will afford a very little satisfaction, especially
[undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to them. [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] very [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] them in all those [undecipherable]
[undecipherable]
[undecipherable] my instructions to [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] a [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] person to [undecipherable] the Indians on the [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] to [undecipherable] with [undecipherable] [undecipherable] where [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable]
[undecipherable]. The [undecipherable] advanced being [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] by Captain [undecipherable] I gave him the hundred Dollars
[undecipherable] to settle at the War Office. You will [undecipherable] a letter of [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] letter of the 16th of October from Fort Washington [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] this letter [undecipherable] by Major [undecipherable] the first [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] returned and [undecipherable] letter [undecipherable] as the 16th [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] before this reaches you, however I take the liberty of [undecipherable] a copy [undecipherable]
which states particularly the number of [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable]
[undecipherable].
The Commander in Chief has got his [undecipherable] very considerable [undecipherable]
and the progress of [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] is very favorable. [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] advantage of the present [undecipherable] to send off [undecipherable] boats loaded with [undecipherable]
to Fort Washington [undecipherable] on the quantity at [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] as urgent as [undecipherable] should [undecipherable]
as [undecipherable] Govern them which [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to be very
[undecipherable] and [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] ready to [undecipherable] for the [undecipherable] the Troops in [undecipherable] as
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable].
[undecipherable] have the honor to be
Your most [undecipherable] Humble & most
[undecipherable] James O'Hara
Q.M. General
---
Mr. [undecipherable] Pittsburgh [undecipherable] 10th 1791
You having agreed to Act as Commissary for the party of Indians
[undecipherable] in their way from the [undecipherable] to Phila [undecipherable] with [undecipherable] to
to prepare for their departure to [undecipherable] necessary [undecipherable] and
being ready on their [undecipherable] return to [undecipherable] City.
[undecipherable] on this Occasion will [undecipherable] provide the Medicines [undecipherable]
on their March and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] on the Road [undecipherable] Captain [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
the Indian Chiefs will point out the Route, and [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
most proper to lodge it as Circumstances will admit of.
You will be very particular in [undecipherable] sufficient [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] Provisions [undecipherable] them [undecipherable] as they may [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] of [undecipherable] and as much [undecipherable] as they [undecipherable] every [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] will keep them in good order, they are all [undecipherable] properly. [undecipherable]
There will [undecipherable] the ordinary Allowance of [undecipherable] for the Indians should the
Interpreters [undecipherable] extravagant in entertaining with them, the Charge
will not be admitted in your Accounts.
On your Arrival in Phila, you will [undecipherable] on [undecipherable] of
[undecipherable] and Report the Number of Horses, Saddles and [undecipherable] you
may there [undecipherable]; you will receive orders from him either
to remain with the Indians, keeping them there or return with
[undecipherable] immediately to this place.
You will receive Compensation for this Service One Dollar
for every day you will be necessarily employed, use of a Public
horse, and reasonable expenses paid. The Sum of Four
hundred [undecipherable] Dollars is herewith advanced you, which [undecipherable] will
be amply sufficient for carrying on this Object.
You will be very particular in Keeping fair Accounts
of all your Expenditures, taking proper Vouchers for all the
money you lay out, suffering no unnecessary [undecipherable] to be charged
to the Public.
I am Sir
Your Humble Servant
James O'Hara
[undecipherable] M. General
Type
Letterbook
Description
Refers to Indian affairs and raid on Indian chiefs. Speaks of Salander's arrival in Philadelphia and instructions to visit the Secretary of War to report the supply of horses, saddles, and bridles. Promises compensation for his time. Requests that he be very particular in keeping accounts and expenditures with the proper vouchers.
Date
12/10/1792
Author
Recipient
Collection
Document number
1792121090001
Page start
6
Note
Enclosed in O'Hara to Knox, 12/14/1792.
Cannot confirm recipient from image
Difficult to read
Notable persons
Salander
James O'Hara
Indians
Henry Knox
Secretary of War
Captain Pryor
interpreters
quartermaster general
commander in chief
troops
Indians
Notable locations
Philadelphia
Fort Washington
Fort St. Clair
Notable items
money
receipt
statement
boats
vouchers
expenditures
compensation
horses
saddles
bridles


