[Page 1 of this file is marked: "Illegible Text — Some or all of the pages of this file are wholly or in part illegible. We have not been able either to locate a better copy of the document, or to enhance its legibility electronically."] Pittsburgh 10^th Oct 1796 S. I arrived here two days ago from Detroit, which from I left the district. I had for some considerable time, previous to my coming away completed the general arrangement of the department for the coming winter, & had made over the clothing which was to be required by the army into the custody of [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] where [undecipherable] — [undecipherable]. I made application to Gen'l [undecipherable] to return to Pittsburgh and that as soon as [undecipherable] [undecipherable] accordingly would proceed to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] my accounts & relinquish the appointment with [undecipherable]. For which purpose I obtained his [undecipherable]. I have found considerable embarrassment — the department which I have the direction of from [undecipherable] location of the present contract for the issuing provisions for the army — I understood as I have not [undecipherable] made it [undecipherable] a copy of the contract, but the [undecipherable] was to deposit at the different posts whatever rations should be required in the [undecipherable] — there were not [undecipherable] at many of the posts — The [undecipherable] means of [undecipherable], consequently have been [undecipherable] with [undecipherable] from many of the posts — there has been a great deal of this incurred done both before & since I took charge of the department — The [undecipherable] quantities have suffered greatly, as the places where the supplies were to be furnished being [undecipherable] & not [undecipherable] on as [undecipherable] where transport would be wanted, no forage have been laid in — When I arrived at Detroit I found Captt. [undecipherable] having having charge of the [undecipherable] department, who had purchased one [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of which [undecipherable] taken into another [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. has been [undecipherable] they employed in transporting Provisions. Captt. [undecipherable] also sent in his report of the contractor as [undecipherable] — with these circumstances made it necessary for me to see for some mechanism of accounts on [undecipherable] raised against the contractor & in what manner [undecipherable] justice may be done to the United States — The transport of the Provisions for the supply of [undecipherable]. however has altogether been done by the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — I did myself the honor, some time ago to forward to you the estimate for the present quarter, commencing [undecipherable] of this month — I suppose there will not be much additional to it, unless it should arise from the Indian department, which increases the calculation I have hitherto made — I find with your direction whether I shall direct my vouchers to be brought up to the 1^st of next January, or if I shall continue having charge of the department until the 1^st of [undecipherable] if a [undecipherable] is appointed, if I shall give directions to my assistants to bring up all their vouchers and accounts to the 1^st of January, and then proceed to [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] my accounts — But as there is a new arrangement to take place [undecipherable] as soon as I have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to make [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — I [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. On both these points I shall [undecipherable] instructions — I [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] time at the [undecipherable] probably will be [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] expensive [undecipherable] [undecipherable] however [undecipherable], as also the few [undecipherable] here that [undecipherable] remain — I think it would be much the best way to dispose of all the [undecipherable], as those are not any longer necessary — I have to request your instructions on this point [undecipherable] The hon'ble James McHenry [signed by] [undecipherable] Sec'y of war [undecipherable]