[Copy] Copy of a Letter from the Hon^ble the Secretary of War to his Excellency the Commander in Chief dated War Department April 13^th 1793 — N^o 56 Sir I receiv'd yours of the 5^th Inst — I transmitted by the Post of the 8^th Inst to the President of the United States, who is at Mount Vernon your propositions relatively to Scouts and Garrisons, for the Posts on the upper parts of the Ohio, but to which I have not receiv'd, and could not yet receive an Answer. — But as it is essential that these Garrisons should be immediately establish'd you will please to carry your own propositions as to the Strength of the Garrisons into immediate execution. Your idea of placing as parts of the said Garrisons the men least capable of Active Service is a good one, and which you will also please to execute accordingly — Perhaps it may be considered as expedient in case of active operations to relieve the said Garrisons and transport them down the Ohio there to serve as Garrisons to your Posts, so that your efficient force may be as great as possible. The Scouts I hope you have already order'd out. I conceive in case of all vacancies the Officers clearly intitled to those Vacancies are to fill them as soon as they occur, but it ought to be well Settled that the Successors are clearly intitled. — I have receiv'd letters from Brigadier Gen^l Wilkinson dated the 6^th ulto, by which it appears that Armstrong has resign'd. — It must be explicitly understood by you that the Camp you shall form for the mass of your Troops if you conceive it essential to discipline to remove from Fort Washington, shall be at a position where the price of the Ration shall not be greater than at Fort Washington — such positions may be found in abundance on the Margin of the river Ohio either above or below Fort Washington — the excessive encrease of the price of the Ration at a distance from the Ohio renders an adherence to this injunction a point of considerable importance to the Public, and to prevent all questions on this Subject it will be proper that the Arrangement be perfectly understood between you & the Contractors. All the Stores which have been written for are prepar'd and will be forwarded with all expedition. — All the Recruits which shall be recruited by the middle of May shall be march'd to the Frontiers. — Major Rudulph has had permission from B. C^o Wilkinson to repair to his Family who were in some distress. — The Major is here but will return as soon as he shall arrange his private affairs which I hope will be in two or at most three weeks. — —— The Commissioners will set out from this place about the 1^st May. They will probably be at Niagara about the 20^th of the same Month, and at lower Sandusky the place of Treaty about the 1^st of June. — They will be instructed most pointedly to inform you the earliest moment of the result of the Treaty whatever it may be. — As the Commissioners will be unprotected by troops their lives will depend upon an absolute restraining of all hostile or Offensive Operations during the Treaty, for most indisputably if any incursions into the Indian Country should be made while the Treaty is progressing the Commissioners would be Sacrificed. It may therefore be highly proper that you should issue a proclamation informing of the Treaty and forbidding all persons whatsoever from making any Incursions into the Indian Country until the event of the Treaty is known. and permission given for that purpose The same principles will dictate peculiar caution in any demonstrations of Stores or Magazines which you may deposit at the head of your line, and particularly it will preclude any considerable accumulation of Troops at your advanced Posts. Every preparation will be made on your part if the result of the Treaty should be unfavorable, to act with the highest Vigor. Among these preparations the discipline of the Troops will doubtless not be the least — the Success of our Arms, the honor of the Army, and your own reputation, will so materially depend upon this circumstance that the President rests with the fullest confidence upon your exertions upon this point, the progress of which hitherto has given him great Satisfaction. M^r Belle the D. Q. M. is here with his Accts. I have understood him that his repairing here was in consequence of some directions relatively to his Accounts given to Brigadier Gen^l Wilkinson either by you or some communications from the L. M^r General. As you will have to change some of your Garrisons it is probable that I will have the pleasure of writing you before your descent the Ohio, and that the Communications will be more full as the [undecipherable: probable reading "President"] will then Probably be here. [undecipherable] Henry Knox [undecipherable] have mention'd that your draft for a thousand dollars in favor of William Irwin has been presented & paid. Will thank you to forward the enclos'd letter to its destination by the first safe Conveyance I am Sir Your most Ob^t Servant S^a Hodgdon