[Docketing: [undecipherable: possibly "Slough"] to Col / [undecipherable] 20 Oct / 1794] Col. Samuel Hodgdon Philadelphia [30] [undecipherable] Dear Sir Lancaster 22. October 1794 Yesterday in the afternoon I was favoured with yours of the 20^th. Instant and have been Since that time in consequence of your request giving much of my Attention, to the manner in which the Stations for the Public horses which are to carry the Baggage together to and from the army may most advantageously be fixed; and from my own Knowledge and the information [undecipherable: possibly "gained"] from Gentlemen who are fortunately, acquainted with the road & the different Stations & [undecipherable: possibly "Distances"] I beg leave to Suggest to you the following which if thought worthy of adoption will I think answer every Purpose which you [undecipherable: possibly "wish"] to accomplish. And I therefore recommend the Stationing three good horses at the City of Phila^d: with the Same Number of Riders to fill out as Occasion may require; and come on to Lancaster, where the Same Number of horses and riders are to be Stationed; there [undecipherable] Shall [undecipherable: possibly "periodically"] go on to Carlisle; there a like Number of horses and riders Shall be Stationed who Shall proceed to Such [undecipherable: possibly a place name] [undecipherable]; there a like Number of horses & riders Shall be Stationed who Shall proceed to [undecipherable: possibly "Ryans"] Tavern at the foot of the [undecipherable: possibly "Allegheny"] Mountains; there a like Number of horses & riders Shall be Stationed who Shall proceed to [undecipherable: possibly "Heads"] Tavern at Nine miles [undecipherable: possibly "running"]; there then Shall be a like Number of horses & riders Stationed who Shall proceed to Such [undecipherable] by [undecipherable: possibly "Braddock's"] [undecipherable], and The same horses & riders Shall return to Nine miles [undecipherable: possibly "running"]; [undecipherable: possibly "when"] the horse he took from thence Shall remain at [undecipherable: possibly "Ryans"] Tavern. The horse Shall work from [undecipherable: possibly "Littleton"] to [undecipherable: possibly "Ryans"] Shall remain at [undecipherable: possibly "Littleton"], the horse Shall work from Carlisle to [undecipherable: possibly "Littleton"] Shall be brought back & left at Carlisle the horse Shall work from Lancaster to Carlisle Shall be brought back and left at Lancaster and the horses Shall come from Phila^d. Shall be brought back to Phila^d. Shall will at all times give an opportunity to the person who has the horses in charge to [undecipherable: possibly "forage"] shelter the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and some [undecipherable] to the horse; and those horses ought on no account [undecipherable: possibly "whatever"] to be taken from those Stations for any other use; By [undecipherable: possibly "such"] means a Sufficient Number of horses will always be ready; I inclose to you in haste [an] account of the Distances from one Station to the [undecipherable: possibly "other"]. [undecipherable] directed as nearly level as possible, having [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the ground and the best places for [undecipherable: possibly "Ranging"] the horse at with regard to care & [undecipherable: possibly "Provender"]. Some horses at each of the Stations would [undecipherable] better answer a [undecipherable] purpose as it would give more time [undecipherable] to return to these [undecipherable: possibly "respective"] posts. Should the foregoing plan in any other be adopted be pleased to acquaint me with it and it Shall diligently & carefully be attended to. Neither of the horses which you took here Sometime ago are now here the one was taken away by the [undecipherable: possibly "Express"] who came from Gen^l. Wayne the other by a M^r [undecipherable] from Phila^d. and I have done nothing of them since. It will not be Necessary to hire more than two horses here as I have been put to the Necessity of [undecipherable: possibly "purchasing"] two for the [undecipherable: possibly "Public"], not having it in my power to hire. [undecipherable: possibly "Express"] who has horses of their own in which I hope I Shall have some right, and if you [undecipherable] me [undecipherable] purchase two more who Shall be Stationed here. Pardon the length of this Letter & believe me Yours most Obedient Serv^t Matthias Slough Col. Samuel Hodgdon