[N° 43.— To Major Gen.^l Knox, Sec.^y of war.—] Legion Ville 8 February 1793. Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26^th ultimo, (and have the pleasure to inform you that the two months pay for the Legion by Doctor Strong arrived safe at Pittsburgh on the 1^st instant, and as a very favorable opportunity has offered, its more than probable that the pay up to the 1^st of January last will come forward in charge of Cap.^t Mills or Doctor Carmichael, who are to return to this place on or before the 15^th instant. Every possible precaution has been taken for the preservation of the ammunition &c. under a most pointed & standing General order, which makes the officers accountable for that delivered to their respective Corps; and further directs "that stoppages shall be made from the Pay of the delinquent of one eighth of a dollar for each & every Cartridge lost, sold, bartered or, damaged" I have now the honor in pursuance of your orders of the 20^th ultimo to state the following Estimate of ammunition expended by the troops at Pittsburgh from the 20^th of July 1792. until the 28^th of November i.e. for one hundred and thirty one days. by the Guards mounted at that place averagingThe quantity above mentioned is something more than has been actually expended; particularly the Lead, as a quantity of that article has been reclaimed by cutting it out of the trees after each days practice. In fact, there has but very little expenditure of ammunition as yet taken place except a little lead, and the powder expended by the Riflemen, practising at marks whilst at Pittsburgh at the rate of two rounds p^r diem, in the proportion of eighty rounds of powder and forty rounds of lead to a pound. — That extended by the Guards was the load with which they mounted; and in place of drawing and thereby wasting the powder & papers it has been oeconomically used in practising the troops to place their balls in a deadly direction; and in inuring them to the noise, recoil & use of their own Arms: which is gaining a great point. As to the Powder burnt on field days, it was not fit for any other purpose, unless it was melted down or, analyzed in order to reclaim the nitre. Having thus given you a minute account of the quantity of ammunition expended and the manner in & purpose for, which it was used; I must beg leave to refer you to the General Returns from the respective Departments that will either accompany or follow this for all the issues that have been made of Military or other stores since I had the honor to assume the command at Pittsburgh. — It is now my duty to mention that it will be indispensibly necessary to expend a far greater proportion of ammunition than heretofore, as soon as the season will permit in practising the troops in those manoeuvres, evolutions & firings which the nature of the service requires: particularly by a light operating Corps, which I mean to form, for the purpose of rousing the savages from their coverts; & keeping up a running & deadly fire from the improved musket, charged with the fine grained powder & heavy buck-shot, without ball. and also, for our flying Howitzers; previously to intro ducing the Dragoons —— independent of that which must necessarily be expended by the daily Guards and occasional field days— thro' woods & over Creeks & mountains within our view.— In this way it will be expended to the best possible advantage; except in the dernier resort, when I hope to expend very little. — Major Burbeck's last Return or estimate of stores wanted was very deficient: and Gen.^l Wilkinson writes me that the Powder at Fort Jefferson is not to be depended upon for service.— I have therefore directed him to make an additional Return for a variety of articles, and particularly Cartouch boxes: those we have are not fit for service— the pipes will scarcely contain a cartridge made of a single ball & a very small load of powder— a cartridge that I never did nor, never will use in action.— the general cartridge for actual service will be composed of one ball and three heavy buck-shot with a proper proportion of powder and which upon trial the Cartridge boxes will not receive or cover by nearly two inches.— in fact, they are that much shallower than those of the late war; nor will they answer our purpose. — Major Burbeck will give the proper dimensions for those now requested— i.e. for a ball & three buckshot. those that are to receive the Cartridges made with fine Powder & all buckshot we will endeavour to make ourselves upon a different construction.— I pray you therefore to give this a serious consideration; and if it quadrates with your opinion— be so good as to give the necessary orders for procuring & forwarding those essential articles and supplies with all possible dispatch. — I have the honor to be, with very sincere respect & esteem your most obed.^t & very hum.^d Servant Wayne [the Hon.^ble Maj. Gen. Knox Sec.^y of war. —]