[N.55] War D. June 12. 1792 Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the re-ceipt of your favor of the 4^th instant. I have not received the [undecipherable] given to me by [undecipherable] from Brigadier General Wilkinson. I am rejoiced to hear of [undecipherable: Wilkinson's] arrival, as now there will be no further impediment to the completion of the pay for the troops up to the first day of the present month, and in future it will be [undecipherable], held as far as the [undecipherable] will [undecipherable] admit. The motion for the reduction of the troop having been for some time past agitated before the house, it would not have been proper to have complied the promotions among the troops. [The] motion having failed, twenty for and thirty five against it. The promotion will soon take place as far as it shall be possible to ascertain the rank by the established principles. I cannot discover, that there is a disposition to raise the pay of the troops. How the recruiting service will progress is to be ascertained. The detachment lately marching — this [undecipherable] will be encreased by the recruits at Lancaster and Carlisle to one hundred and sixty non com-missioned and privates. I pray in future that precise returns be [undecipherable] to me of all parties of recruits which may arrive in camp, accounting for any deficien-cies of the number of which the party originally consists. It is highly satisfactory to hear from you [of] the progressive discipline of the troops according to the nature of the warfare for which they are [undecipherable] — [undecipherable: this is the principal view] that will give the superiority to troops called regulars over militia. After the troops shall have learned their trade perfectly there will be as much difference between them and raw militia as between a master workman and his raw apprentice. Adhere therefore to the line in which you have set out, and the result must be honor and glory to you and your army. Five of the Wabash Indians have died of the small pox. Lafite and Grand Joseph are among the number. Three took it the natural way, and all the [undecipherable] died by drinking cold water, one had been inoculated, and the other the [undecipherable] could not mature. The rest will do well. I have the honor to be, Sir, with great respect, Your most obet. Ser. [signature] Major General Wayne.