protect the frontiers, and to secure the posts and army during the Winter or until I am honored with your further orders. True Extract John Stagg Jun^r Chf. Clk. W.D. Extract of a Letter from General Wayne to the Secretary of War, dated Camp S. W. Branch of Miami six miles advanced of Fort Jefferson 23^d October 1793. "I have the honor to inform you that the Legion took up its line of March from Hobson's Choice on the 7^th instant, and arrived at this place in perfect order without a single accident, at 10 O'clock in the Morning of the 13^th where I found myself arrested for want of provision. Notwithstanding this defect, I do not despair of supporting the troops in our present position, or rather at a place called [underline: Still Water] at an intermediate distance between the field of battle and Fort Jefferson, and for which I shall make the necessary arrangements, in obedience to the instructions contained in your orders of the 25^th of May 1793. The safety of the Western frontiers, the reputation of the Legion, the dignity and interests of the nation all forbid a retrograde manœuvre, or giving up one inch of ground we now possess, until the Enemy are compelled to sue for peace. The great difficulty which at present, presents is that of furnishing a sufficient Escort to secure our convoys of provisions and other supplies from insult and disaster and at the same time to retain a sufficient force in camp to sustain and repel the attacks of the Enemy who appear to be desperate and determined. We have recently experienced a little check to one of our convoys which may probably be exaggerated into something serious by the tongue of fame before this reaches you, the following is however the fact, Viz Lieutenant Lowry of the 2^d Sub legion, and Ensign Boyd of the 4^th with a command consisting of ninety non commissioned Officers and privates, having in charge twenty Waggons belonging to the Quarter Master General's department, loaded with grain and one of the contractors loaded with stores were attacked early in the morning of the 17^th instant about seven miles advanced of Fort St. Clair by a party of Indians, those two gallant young Gentlemen, (who promised at a future day to be ornaments to their profession,) together with thirteen Non commissioned Officers and privates, bravely fell after an obstinate resistance against superior numbers, being abandoned by the greater part of the Escort upon the first discharge. The Savages killed or carried off about [underline: seventy] horses, leaving the Waggons and stores standing in the road, which have been all brought to this camp without any other loss or damage except some trifling articles. One Company of Light Infantry, and one troop of Dragoons have been detached this morning to reinforce four other Companies of Infantry commanded by Colonel Hamtramck as an escort to the Quarter Master Generals and Contractors Waggons and packhorses. I have this moment received the return of the mounted volunteers under General Scott recently arrived and encamped in the vicinity of Fort Jefferson, I shall immediately order a strong detachment of those Volunteers as further reinforcement to [strikethrough: Colonel Hamtramck]. I fear that the season is too far advanced to derive the [undecipherable] service, which otherwise might be expected from them, whether they can act with effect or not is yet eventual. It is supposed that the Indians at Au Glaize have sent their Women and Children into some secret recefs or recefses from their towns, and that the whole of the Warriors are collected or collecting in force. The Savages however cannot continue long embodied for want of provisions, on the contrary we have by great exertions secured in this camp seventy thousand rations, I expect 120,000 in addition by the return of the present convoy unless they meet with a disaster, a thing that can scarcely happen, should my orders be duly executed which I have no cause to doubt from the character, vigilance and experience of the commanding Officer. A great number of men as well as Officers have been left sick and debilitated at the respective Garrisons from a Malady called the Influenza – among others General Wilkinson has been dangerously ill, he is now at Fort Jefferson, and on the recovery, I hope he will soon be sufficiently restored to take his command in the legion. I anxiously wait the safe return of the escort and convoy when we shall endeavour to take new ground, which will probably be disputed be that as it may, the Legion will not be too far committed." Extract from the original, on file in the War Office. War Department December 4^th 1793. John Stagg, Jun^r Chief Clerk.