[No. 43. from Major General Knox. Secy of War. 149] War department March 5^th 1793 Sir, Your Express with Collins's dispatches has been detained for some days partly by an influx of business and partly that he might be in readiness to return with any occurrences proper to be communicated to you — A Conference will be held with the Hostiles in about the first day of June next, at the lower Sandusky by the persons as Commissioners mentioned in my last — they will assemble in this City about the first of April, and depart about the first of May — their route will be by New York, Albany, Fort Schuyler, Oswego, Niagara — One hundred thousand dollars has been appropriated by the Legislature to this object — While the desire of the great proportion of the people of the United States for a permanent peace with the Indians are well ascertained, it must be acknowledged that under present circumstances the measure will be a work of complicated difficulty, requiring the highest wisdom & knowledge of the human character. I flatter myself however, that every honorable expedient will be devised and executed to attain an object so much the ardent desire of the public — If after every effort shall be made, it shall be found that peace is unattainable, but by the sacrifice of national character & honor, it is to be hoped that the public will have but one mind as to the vigor with which the War shall be pursued. In order therefore that the troops shall be prepared for a conflict with the savages in the ensuing resort, it is the hope, expectation & pleasure of the President of the United States that no relaxation be made in the disciplining of the troops and most especially on making them [underline: perfect marksmen] — the ammunition which shall be expended upon this important object, will be well expended and under [strikethrough: this] circumstances the public will be amply repaid the expence — I have ordered on the powder & lead requested, & all the flints you have requested shall be prepared & forwarded with all dispatch. You will please to order an immediate inspection of the tents, and a return of any which may be wanting. You will also please to notify me as soon as possible of any other demands, so as to render the troops as complete as possible in all respects. I have ordered Captain Preston, whose Rendezvous is at Charlotte Courthouse in Virginia to march as soon as possible to point Pleasant, at the mouth of the Great Kenhawa, at which place, I have informed him, he will receive further orders from you which you will give accordingly — I suppose he will march about Sixty recruits intended for Riflemen, but who have been armed for their safety while on their march with muskets, their Rifles having been previously forwarded —