[Received from State Dep't. Nov. 24. 1894. R.P.O.401810.] [196] Pittsburg 14^th August 1795 Sir, I returned from Presqu'isle on the 9^th and had the pleasure of receiving your letters of the 24^th 30^th & 31^st Ultimo & this day your favour of the 8^th Instant. The irregularity of the entries of the Articles alluded to in your letter of the 30^th was Occasioned by the confused State in which they were delivered by Quarter Masters of the Militia Army, in their hurry to return home in November last, An Attempt was at [strikethrough: Notations made to Ascertaining] the Contents of the several Packages but found impracticable without opening every Package, as several of the Ammunition Boxes 3 & 6 pounders &c had been opened the Cartridges taken off (I suppose for Saluting &c) & the 3 & 6 pound Shot thrown into the Boxes promiscuously, I intended to have had the Contents of all those Packages together with some others ascertained but have not had time as yet to attend to this. Your neglecting to remit me the Money I applied to you for has Occasioned a very great embarrassment, the reason you assign for not sending it was certainly not a good one, as your own experience must have dictated to you that the business of the Department was necessarily to be pushed forward at this Post in my Absence & particularly with respect to transportation of Provisions & Stores to Presqu'isle which must all be done as early in the Summer and Autumn as possible, this business has Opened a large field of Expenditures, An Estimate of the principal Objects that I expect will Occur from that Quarter is this day transmitted to the Secretary of War, & a Copy is herewith enclosed the amount is fourteen thousand & Eighty two Dollars, the principle part of which is immediately wanted — & you will be pleased to observe that, that Sum is in addition to the usual Expenditures in the Department at this Post & its dependencies — the Merchants of this place collect Money but very slowly, I have therefore but small hopes of taking up Cash on Drafts. The Quarter Master General by his letter of the 14^th July 1795 at Fort Washington informs me that he was then setting off for Head Quarters it being only the 5^th day after his leaving Pittsburg, he directs me to provide ten Keel Boats in Addition to those formerly ordered for the Miami — & he informs me that he apprehends some very material Mistake has taken place respecting the Hospital Department there being no Account of either Medicine or Stores yet coming forward, It is certain that neither Medicine nor Hospital Stores have this season arrived at this Post. My Draft of this date in favour of Abner Barker for Six hundred Dollars at Eight days sight will be presented to you which be pleased to pay; this small sum gives me but little relief. I am therefore anxiously looking forward to you for a remittance; At least one half of the Amount of the Estimate is immediately wanted. I am with much esteem Sir your very Ob^t H^ble Serv^t Isaac Craig Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r Philadelphia