[Rec^d 2^d] Greeneville 19 May 1796 Sir enclosed is a Quarterly Return of Com^y Stores for Jan Feb & March 1796, when I was Sent into Kentucky by gen^l Wilkinson the 5^th of April to purchase beef the Returns from the different Posts had not come in. A Return of rati =ons fed at Fort Washington in March is also inclosed. I wrote you a Short Note by way of advice for Bills drawn by me while at Geo Town Kentucky. the 3^d Trip since the 1^st March, to procure beef. Since My letter from George Town I have drew on the 1^st May one Bill for 1000 Dollars on the 8^th one for 1000 Dollars & purchased while in Kentucky beef Cattle and Sheep to the am^o of 50 or 55000 rations. I went as far as Louisville purchased and Sent on to Fort Knox beef Cattle to the am^o of 9,000 rations Since my return I have not ascertained the the quantity of Beef purchased in April & may in the Vicinity of Forts Washington & Hamilton for these Garrisons. & a Large [undecipherable] the Gen^l & I was compelled to make to this place from Greeneville in March when Meal run very low at this Place— We have been left entirely in the dark and rather embarrased not knowing how the Army was to be Supplied Subsequent to the 1^st April 1796. in Nov^r Ch^s Wilkins Agent for Scott and Ernest Contractors for 1795. wrote to me that Scott &co had taken the Contract for April May & June 1796 & requested me to make the necessary Requisitions in time. which was made on the 1^st Dec^r M^r John Blue soon after came forward. Says he is concerned. has formed a Contract for that time or for a price to [undecipherable] say 550,000 rations which quantity neither he or [undecipherable] is [undecipherable] to [undecipherable], this is all our information & so [undecipherable] that we have [undecipherable] at a loss how to act. I wrote to the Sec^r of war this [undecipherable] [undecipherable] also wrote to [undecipherable] [undecipherable: Barrack] an Officer & to [undecipherable] on the same [undecipherable] [undecipherable] by how the Num =ber of Barrels made use of in Salting up of meat at the out Posts to be paid, or by the Contractors [undecipherable] to be [undecipherable] whether by Reports from the different Posts or by charging them [undecipherable] the number necessary to contain the whole of the meat Salted at these Posts provided that dose not exceed one third of the whole [undecipherable] under their Contract: the for =mer mode would exclude every Vessel or Cask not known by the appellation Barrel. Viz Tierces. Hogsheads or [undecipherable] Fierces. Kegs which was sometimes made use of for the con =venience of Packing. tis my opinion that the Contracts contemplates their paying for all Vessels or Casks made use of for that purpose at the rate of 5/ for the contents of a Barrel otherwise I can not see where the line can be drawn. it may be said that none of our casks or Barrels that dose not contain a cer =tain number of Gallons known to be a bar =rel tis time that this should be ascertained I would have done it long since but I wanted you or the Sec of wars answer to my letter of Octo^r [undecipherable] I wrote the Sec of war early last fall that I would spend the Recess come on to Phil^a settle myself & quit this business as soon as I had seen the winters provision laid in, that time never arri =ved when I [undecipherable] say [undecipherable] provision laid [undecipherable] for one month, made Gen^l Wayne would not con =sent to my leaving the Army last fall. this Spring I have found greater difficulties in getting off the Com & [undecipherable] has kept me constantly out purchasing [undecipherable] for the Army. I now want to hear some arrangements made in our department before I can with propriety come on to Phil^a I wish to hear from you on the subject of the Returns of Issues made to the Army. I made some observations on that subject in answer to your [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] Jan^y 1796— I am Sir with Esteem y^r Obed^t Serv^t J. Kirkpatrick Com^y Gen^l Sam^l Hodgdon Esq^r