Philadelphia, 20 August 1794 Sir, [I herewith transmit for] your inspection and deci[sion the] payment thereon eighteen pay Rolls, with an abst[ract of] the amount of each, making the whole from two thou[san]d eighty three dollars Nineteen Cents, said to be due the Militia of the Southwestern Territory; they were for services before my appointm[ent] and they w[e]re put into my hands at so late a period from my coming off from that Country, that I had not time to examine and get the information that may be proper to pass them. But I will avail myself of all the[se] respecting them & report to your office at an early[,] at time as is possible. [Three?] of these Bundles have [been] [undecipherable] to me respecting them. The others Major [undecipherable] Captains Henry & Sedford, Sergeants Gibbons, Lomey [and] Lowry shall as before promised be enquired into I am respectfully for Your Hum[ble] Serv[an]t David Henley Joseph [Nourse?] esquire Accountant of the War department --- [Cover docket:] Governors observations on the Rolls of Capt. Beard " Ewing " Mannifee " [undecipherable]Ranniken " McGauhey " Tedford " Cosby Mss. No. 72 --- Knoxville March 22^nd 1794 Sir, Herewith you will receive Seven Mu[ster] Rolls for Services performed in September 1792 under my order of the 11^th of that month. — It may appear strange that they are delayed to this Time. — The reason for that order was that the Chiefs of the upper Cherokees had given me Information that a large party of the lower Chero-kees had determined to invade the frontiers. — A few days after the Chiefs of the lower Towns on the 13^th of that month informed me that they had desisted from the intended Invasion, which induced me to order the Militia on duty under my order of the 11^th to be discharged — Both these facts are reported in my official letters to the Secretary of War. — The Service performed was of so short a duration and the[re?] it appeared immediately in defence of themselves and families against the expected Invaders that I dis-couraged the demanding or expecting pay, and the officers generally acquiesced and I understood the noncommissioned and privates too — But latterly the noncommissioned and privates since they have seen other Militia Service paid for, have pushed their Captains to return Muster Rolls with the hope that they also will be paid. — It is still my opinion that it is unworthy the Militia of Knox to demand pay for [so] trivial Service and that in their own immedi-ate defence. — I am Sir, Your Obedient Servant W. Blount Colonel David Henley Agent of the War Department --- [Cover docket:] Governors observations on the Rolls — of Captⁿ [Tedford?] " [Tedford?] " M^cGauhey " [Ewings?] --- Knoxville March 22^nd 1794 Sir, Herewith you will receive four Muster Rolls namely one of Captain Ewing's, one of Captain M^cGa-hies, and one of Captain Tedford's for Services perfo[rmed] authorised under my order of the 28^th January 1793 and the fourth for Services performed by Captain Tedford in August 1792 by the Militia of Knox County. — The same reasons as given respecting the Muster Rolls for Services performed in September 1792 have operated for the delay of these Muster Rolls towit that the Service was too trivial to demand or expect pay for, and the same reasons operate for their being now handed to you that is, that the People urge the Officers so to do. — It is also my opinion in this case that it is unworthy any Militia to de-mand or expect pay for such Services. I am Your Obedient Servant W. Blount Colonel David Henley Agent of the War Department --- [Cover docket:] The Governors observations on Capt. Beard's Rolls Mss. No. 72 --- Knoxville March 22^nd 1794 Sir, The facts respecting the Service as reported by the inclosed Muster Rolls are that upon Captain Beard being informed of the attack upon the Bull Run Blockhouse on the first of January by Indians when Leonard was wounded he raised a part of his company and gave immediate pursuit to the Indians. — It was unauthorised by my order but in my opinion it was meritorious having for its object the punishing the offenders and serving to deter other marauding parties from invading the frontiers. — Captain Beard assures me and I now believe the reason he did not report his Service to me prior to his application to you to muster his Company out of Service was his want of knowledge that it was necessa-ry, and not from any disrespect to Government. — I have thought it proper to give you this information that those who have a right to judge whether this Company are entituled to pay may have all the facts under their consideration. — I am Your Obedient Servant Colonel David Henley Agent of the War Department W. Blount