Pittsburg 6^th October 1797. Sir I have received your letter of the 29^th ultimo accompanied by a Packet directed to Captain Isaac Guion which shall be immediately sent sent forward in charge of a confidential messenger. With respect to the canoes sent forward in charge of John Robinson on the 5^th of September last they were particularly addressed to the Commanding officer of Fort Massac to whom I wrote directing him to take charge of the boats and canoes and dismiss Mr. Robertson and his Boatmen unless he (the Commandant) should have had previous instructions from the War Office to forward these stores immediately on their arrival and that if the strength of his Garrison did not admit of detaching a party sufficient to navigate the Boats, that in that case Mr. Robertson and his Boatmen were to be retained. But in order that the Commandant of Fort Massac might have all the information respecting the final destination of these stores that I was possessed of I transmitted him, enclosed with the Invoice &my letter, by Mr. Robinson a copy of your letter of the 28^th July last, and therefore conclude that these stores certainly wait your orders at Massac. I am Sir Your obed^t serv^t [signature] Hon. James M^cHenry Sec^y of War Near Downingstown