Pittsburg 11. August 1797. Sir Captain Edward D. Turner the Commanding Officer at Fort Fincle has required of me triplicate Monthly returns of all the United States' Property in my charge; and he says that his requisition is a consequence of an order from the War Office. These returns in addition to those made Quarterly to the Commander in chief, the Q Mly. the Superintendent of application of army supplies, and to the Secretary of War must greatly encrease the burthen of the 2.^d Department at this post where a principal part of the Ordnance, Quarter Master & Hospital Stores & Cloathing together with Indian Goods are received and forwarded. I have therefore suggested to Captain Turner that it was probable the order for the additional returns might not be intended to extend to this Post and of which he has expressed a doubt, and has therefore agreed, to have that burthen suspended until the necessary information respecting it is obtained from the War Office — which, Sir, you will be pleased to communicate. Agreeable to the directions of Samuel Hodgson esq^r I shall immediately send one ton of Gun Powder to Fort Washington. That quantity is nearly all that is on hand at this post. The boats for transportation of Ordnance you will be in complete readiness by the time they reaches this post. Sam. Sir. Your obed. Serv. Hon. James McHenry Sec^y of War Philadelphia