Sir Detroit 6. Sept^r 1796. I am ordered by Gen^l Wayne to purchase & equip ye Dragoons [undecipherable] in Kentucky, the estimates of which I have the Honor to inclose to you. [undecipherable] an estimate for expenditures which may remain there & the amount of Contingent money for forage & Subsistance [allotted to?] be furnished to the Commanding officer— Being now at [undecipherable] Distance from [undecipherable] I cannot appoint an Agent & the [undecipherable], I would observe, might be absent from the City, in which case I would be embarrassed and the public service [thereat] greatly injured. I have therefore pursued the mode I at first adopted & have drawn on you for the amount of the Estimates for 11,800 Dollars. The Bills are drawn at 15 days Sight in favor of Francis Jones all dated at Detroit the 5^th of Sept^r 1796. the amount as follows Viz. from N° 47. to N° 56. [undecipherable] bills of 500 Dol. each. 7000. — [undecipherable] 56 [undecipherable] [bills] of [undecipherable] D[ollars] — 4800. — Dol. 11800. The Bills are drawn I must [confess] of the great difficulty of procuring money in Kentucky; I consider it [as] the best, as [the] emergency for procuring money was great. I am, Sir, with great respects Your most obed^t Serv^t Jn^o Wilkins Jun^r Q^r M G The Hon^ble James McHenry Secretary of War --- [Copy] of the [undecipherable] mentioned in the foregoing letter. An estimate for recruiting & equipping ye Dragoons in Kentucky. [Sho?] Doll. 70. Horses a [undecipherable] Dol. [undecipherable] 50. Saddles [undecipherable] 12 - [undecipherable] 600 50. Bridles [undecipherable] 2 - [undecipherable] 100 70. Valices [undecipherable] 4 - [undecipherable] 280 70. [girths?] 1 [undecipherable] 7[undecipherable] 4 [Martins?] 2 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 70. [Nosebags?] 5[undecipherable] [undecipherable] 35[undecipherable] 70. [Horse?] [Brushes?] [undecipherable] 5[undecipherable] 35[undecipherable] 70. [Horse?] [Combs?] 20 [undecipherable] 14[undecipherable] 70. [Horse?] [Reels?] 18[undecipherable] 70. [Holsters?] - 2 [undecipherable] 9982 add for Contingency [about?] the average [undecipherable] 280 Dol. = 10[undecipherable]. An Estimate of Contingent money to be furnished to the Commanding officer of the Troop of Cavalry going to the Southern [undecipherable] expenses from & after they leave Lexington in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] forage for Seventy Cavalry horses to be [undecipherable] horses at 6 quarts per Day each, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 300 100. [Bushels?] corn . . 50 cents 5[undecipherable] [undecipherable] 60[undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] 6 [undecipherable] 50[undecipherable] Contingency [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Subsistence [undecipherable] 26[undecipherable] [undecipherable] Transportation [undecipherable] ( Dol. = 620[undecipherable]. To --- Estimates Continued An Estimate [of the] expenses of the Cavalry horses, while remaining in Kentucky for the purchase & equipping [pack?] horses to transport baggage &c. dol. cents 400. [Bushels?] corn a 50 cents — 200. — 6. Tons of hay a 6 dol. . . 36 — — Contingency for horse [Shoeing?] [undecipherable] N°. 150 — to [pack?] horses [undecipherable] equipped 2 [undecipherable] Dol. . 100 — 756. —