To Brigadier General James Wilkinson Sir, Such of the Posts on the line from Fort Washington to Fort Maumee, as shall appear to you unnecessary to the security of the communication between those two, you are hereby authorized and directed to evacuate, and to apply their Garrisons, or an equal number of troops from any other, to complete the detachment ordered to the State of Tennessee. As to the new cordon of Posts suggested in your letter of the 4^th of February ultimo and reiterated in that of the 10^th instant, it cannot now take place, without imposing the necessity of a recall of the Orders of the 21^st of February ultimo and nothing thereby, interests more valuable to the Union, than any apparent advantages attached to the immediate execution of the Scheme. It shall however receive further consideration as soon as it is perceived, that the peace of the southern frontier can be preserved by a less force than that which seems to be at present indispensable. On the 10^th of September last the late Major General was directed to take measures to renew the Posts within our Territory, stipulated by our Treaty with Spain to be delivered up to the United States. Unless you have a copy of his instructions to the Officer detached for that purpose. You will be pleased to enquire into the force ordered on that occasion and often small, to render it by an addition competent to garrisoning the Posts at the Natchez and Walnut Hills; it not being contemplated at this moment to occupy any other. It being desireable that no important Post should be without some part of the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers, you will be pleased forthwith to detach one company from those serving on the northwestern frontier with two pieces of Artillery to Knoxville in the State of Tennessee, by the least expensive Route, and to distribute, what remains, among the Posts in a Ratio proportioned to their importance. There are now on the the North Western frontiers about four hundred Officers and Privates of the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers. The Company of Dragoons being wanted for the southern frontier service, is to be mounted and equipped as soon as possible. You will therefore give instructions to the Quarter Master General to purchase, where they can be got cheapest and most conveniently, the line of March to Knoxville in Tennessee; the necessary number and kind of horses; and offer to him such ideas as may prevent any from being bought, whose age or defects would in a little time render them useless. The men in the mean while may fall down to Fort Washington. It is thought that the works of Michilimackinac are too large to be defended by its present Garrison, or by any addition of troops which can with propriety be spared from the other Posts. Under these circumstances it may be expedient to contract them into a kind of Citadel, which shall comprehend, all the buildings necessary to the accommodation of Officers, Men, Ammunition, and public Stores. But if this, should you visit that Post, you will judge, or determine upon the best information you can procure, and cause an Estimate and Plan to be transmitted to the department of War; as in no case will any expense for new buildings or new works (when the necessity and urgency does not preclude such Statement) be allowed which has not been previously so submitted and approved. Rules and regulations relative to the Troops and Posts on the frontiers of the United States are making, and will be forwarded to you when finished. It is in view to divide the frontier into districts, and to station in each district as far as practicable entire Regiments and Battalions. You will therefore respect this principle, in such transpositions of Men or Officers from one Post to another on the North Western frontier, as may bring the dispersed parts of Regiments and Battalions contiguous to each other. Should you find on a more perfect acquaintance with the Returns and distribution of the Troops (that which you have presented being very imperfect and defective) and the mode of making out Muster Rolls at each Post, and the principle that governs in paying them, that the public have been unintentionally defrauded by false Returns or Muster Rolls, to the advantage of Individuals; you are to consider it to be your duty to stop the evil; to report facts and the delinquents in this case, as well as in all those which may affect the United States, and to take the usual steps for their Punishment. You will issue orders calculated to enforce the strictest attention to the safe-keeping and preservation of the spare Arms, Ammunition and public property in each Garrison. It is further also that every possible effort should be made for the repair of Arms by those means which the Garrisons can furnish: but it is not deemed to be expedient to incur by new installations any expense not actually provided for by law. It has been always heretofore presumed that whenever water could be advantageously used for the Transportation of public or military Stores or the removal of troops from one place to another, that it would be invariably preferred to a more expensive or land transportation; and it is expected that you will observe this rule whenever it can be practiced with safety and economy. The supplies of Provisions stipulated to be kept up by the Contractor at each Post must be particularly attended to by their respective commanding Officers, and early representations made in every instance of failure or delinquency; and measures taken consistent with the Contract to keep up the stipulated supply. Each Post of course ought to be provided with a Copy of the Contract for the current Year and such Orders as may be required to enforce its due performance and execution. On the score of discipline it is scarce necessary to observe that the commanding Officer in each Garrison should be instructed to keep his works in such a state, by constant repairs, as to be always able to resist Attacks, and to use by day and night the same precautions against surprise, as if the United were actually at War; to fix regular hours for exercise; to pay the strictest attention to the Arms, accoutrements and Clothing of the Men; to form regulations conducive to their health and Cleanliness; and in a word omit nothing which may tend to establish discipline, make good soldiers, and guard them from Idleness, licentiousness and desertion. Under this head he may be enjoined, 1. To oblige another Officer to make four Roll Calls every day viz: the first at day-rise; the second at the hour of dinner; the third at that of Supper; and the fourth an hour after retreat. That these Officers carry light with them when the Roll call takes place during the Night, and make it in the Barracks or Soldiers' Rooms. That the name of every Soldier who shall be absent at any Roll Call be reported to the Commandant of the Post in writing. 2. To oblige a Subaltern Officer once every day to visit the Hospital and Soldiers' quarters, to examine into their situation; see that there is nothing out of Order; that their provisions are wholesome and well cooked; that no quarrels exist among them; that they do not game, get drunk, or commit Debaucheries; and after each visit, render an account to the Commandant. 3. To examine in conjunction with such Officers as he may select once every month, the state of the works, Barracks, Magazines, public buildings and Stores, and all Articles the property of the United States, and to make a written report to the Brigadier General, and a duplicate to be transmitted to the Secretary for the department of War. You will issue orders to prevent the Officers from employing the soldiery as Servants, except in such cases as you may authorize by a general rule, and as shall be thought indispensable and consonant to the good of the service. By the regulations established for the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers one Woman is allowed to seventeen Men. It will be proper that the same rule should be observed in the the Army under your immediate Command, and that you should cause it to be duly enforced. It is incumbent on the Quarter Master General to make regular quarterly Estimates to the Secretary of War of the probable expense for the ensuing quarter, and to be at all times in a situation promptly to execute his duties. This position, will of course, depend on circumstances and be under your controul. You will consequently advise him of all movements and Buildings dependent upon his aid, as well to enable him to prepare for them, as to form his Estimates without which he can neither have money sent to him or be permitted to draw for it. The law prescribes the quantity of Clothing to which the Soldiers are annually entitled. The delivery of it to them, should if possible be at fixed periods, and the yearly mass sent on from this place divided at some convenient Station into parcels, to correspond with the numbers in each Garrison. If from any cause, Cloathing should be delivered to a Soldier beyond the legal yearly quantity, the price of it is to be deducted out of his pay and so stated in the Pay Roll. It is not deemed necessary to detail regulations for the delivery of Hospital Stores to the Surgeons or Surgeons' Mates of the respective Garrisons; the formation of new ones or alterations in those which may have been prescribed being left to your discretion and judgement. You will cause the Stipends to the Indians Nations for the preceding year, if they have not been distributed before your Arrival at the Army, as well as all subsequent Stipends, to be disposed of agreeably to Treaty, and in a manner most likely to give satisfaction to the Indians. The Chickasaw Stipend has been sent to Fort Washington. Should no Orders have arrived to the Officer commanding at that Post respecting it, previous to the evacuation of the Chickasaw Bluff, you will on that event consign it to the care of an Officer with instructions to carry it to the Bluff and there make a just and satisfactory distribution among the Nation. I herewith transmit you a Copy of the Instructions and regulations which were given in the Year 1792 by the Comptroller of the Treasury to the Pay Master General, and Copies of the Contracts for the supply of Rations. As to your Head Quarters, you will choose such a Post for it on the northern frontier as will best enable you to observe the movements of the Indians, attend to the wants of discipline of the Garrisons, and communicate quickly with the department of War. With respect to the southern frontier as soon as your presence can be more useful in that quarter than on the northern you shall be duly informed, and instructed accordingly. Given at the War Office, by Command of the President of the United States, this twenty second day of March 1797, and in the Twenty first Year of the Independence of said States. — signed, James McHenry