Pittsburg 16^th August 1795 Sir, I Returned from Presqu'isle on the 9^th & have now to Acknowledge the Receipt of your letter of the 16^th Instant. I shall pay particular Attention to your Instructions respecting the Clothing for the Troops. On my arrival at Lebœuf I was greatly disappointed in the Quantity of Provisions expected I agreed upon to be delivered to me by General Wilkins instead of Eight thousand Rations not more than two & one half Barrels of Pork could be got that was fit for use & all the Beef on hand in a State of Putrifaction and but a few Barrels of Flour — never was this disappointment So become necessary to purchase Both Flour & Pork of the owner of a Keaving Boat that fortunately arrived from Tortière the day after we reached Presqu'isle — This temporary supply relieved us from the Embarrassment occasioned by the disappointment of the Provision expected of the State Contractor falling short at Lebœuf, however the arrival of a number of Bateaux & Packhorses with Flour Whisky &c has given that Post a plentiful supply, another large drove of Cattle will be sent off in a few days, Fifty Packhorses are now employed to Carry Flour Whisky &c from Fort Franklin to Lebœuf from thence a Waggon Road is opened & as Sleans employed to transport the Provision & Stores to Presqu'isle — the Alleghany although not Navigable for deep loaded Boats yet is still much better than transportation by land. At Fort Franklin I found no safe place of deposit for Stores of any kind indeed the Fort if it may be so called is almost in ruins, the Block House I am of Opinion cannot stand another Year — In this State of things it is Col^o Butlers opinion as well as mine that a Store House should be immediately built at the Mouth of French Creek where the old Fort Stood. I presume Col^o Butler has wrote you on the subject. I have herewithin enclosed an estimate of Articles of Expenditures that are occasioned by the establishment at Presqu'isle a principle part of the amount is immediately wanted. I am Sir Your Obedient [undecipherable] Servant Isaac Craig Hon^ble Timothy Pickering Sec^y of War Philadelphia