[Instructions to General M^c Pherson] War Department, 21^st March 1799. Sir, In pursuance of the Presidents proclamation bearing date the 12^th day of this month, it has become indispensable to determine upon and put in motion the military force proper to be employed for suppressing the insurrection in the Counties of Northampton, Montgomery and Bucks in this State. You will therefore be pleased to form a detachment, from the volunteers, who have asociated in the State of Pennsylvania and been accepted by the President, as a part of the provisional army, to consist of the two volunteer companies of Cavalry of the City of Philadelphia, to which you will add, two or more of the Troops of Militia Cavalry of the same City now under orders; to hold themselves in readiness to march, so as to compose a body of 240 Horse including Non-commissioned officers, and proceed with the detachment without delay, to the theater of Insurrection. You will forthwith make returns of such articles, as may yet be wanted for this detachment, that the necessary orders may be given for their delivery. A paymaster for the volunteers and militia that may be employed ought to be appointed. You will please to name one, who will be advanced a sum, on account, equal to one months pay, for the companies, now called into service. You will cause correct muster and pay-rolls, for the Volunteers and Militia called into actual service, in the usual forms, to be made out, with the view of rendering the settlement of the accounts, for their services prompt and easy. The Quarter Master of the detachment, who will be appointed by the Quar^r Master General, will receive in advance from the Quarter Master General, a sum on account, which may be conceived adequate to the expenditure, that may be incurred in this particular Department. Rations will be furnished by the Contractor for supplying the same to the military within the State of Pennsylvania. It is presumed he will employ a proper Agent or Agents, and execute your orders with precision respecting provisions. Doctor Josephthing will attend the expedition, in quality Surgeon, furnished with a competent supply of medicines and Instruments. As one object of the expedition is to assist the Marshal of the District to make prisoners of and hold amenable to justice, persons who have either resisted the service of legal process, or been concerned in rescuing from him, those who were in his lawful custody, or for whom he may have process on other charges, & to conduct the prisoners to Philadelphia; You will perceive the propriety of applying your Cavalry, in the manner best calculated, consistently with the safety of the detachment, to secure as many of the Offenders, at the same moment, as possible. You will inform the Quarter Master General and the Contractor of the precise time, you design to put the detachment in motion, and make them acquainted with whatever it may be necessary for them to know previously, in order to insure as much as possible, no failure in your operations, from the want of means, in either of their departments. [189] [25 w] The Marshal of the District of Pennsylvania will move with, and give you the names of the offenders, their descriptions, and respective places of abode, who are to be made prisoners under criminal process. You will be particularly careful, that the most criminal or the ringleaders, be attended to, and in preference secured; and to prevent by the most pointed orders, any insults to the Inhabitants or unnecessary rigour toward the prisoners taken. It is left intirely to your discretion, to determine upon your place or places of rendezvous, which should be such, as are best calculated, to enable the troops that may be stationary, to defend themselves, in case of attacks, and also to aid as effectually as possible your parties of Horse, in their transit to and from their points of departure. You will have observed that it is designed to give to the volunteers and militia cavalry selected by you, a principal Agency in suppressing the existing combinations, against the laws, and of quelling an insurrection and rebellion against the government and rightful authority of their Country, at a time when its sovereignty and liberties are threatened, by a powerful, implacable and insidious Nation, who have been accustomed to divide and conquer other Nations. It is not doubted therefore, but that they will exhibit an useful example upon this service, of military promptitude, spirit, vigilance, discipline and obedience of orders. To be prepared for adverse contingencies, it will be proper that you continue the orders for holding themselves in readiness to march, at the shortest notice, to the volunteer companies, and militia, not immediately called into actual service. To cover the active operations of the volunteer & militia cavalry, a company of Infantry under Captain Shoemaker and a company of artillerists under Captain Irvine, from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, have been ordered to march and rendezvous at Reading, and a company of artillerists at Fort Mifflin, intended to rendezvous at the same place is under orders to march at the shortest notice. Two companies of artillerists, from New York, and a party of Infantry recruits, under Lieutenant Boots, supposed about 30, from Brunswick, New Jersey, have been ordered to march to Newtown Pennsylvania; these latter troops are on the establishment of the United States; expected to arrive at their first places of rendezvous on or about the 23^d instant, and subjected to your orders, to be stationed, where their presence can produce the best effects, and employed in case circumstances should require their actual cooperations with the volunteers and militia. If rebellion should acquire strength, demanding further force, you are, using a sound discretion, & keeping economy in view, fully authorized by the President, to call into actual service, the whole, or any part of the volunteers and militia companies, that have been ordered to be held in readiness, in the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is expected that the detachment of Volunteers and militia, will be pushed forward, as rapidly as the season and roads will permit, to the point or points you may think proper to occupy with the Regular troops, and to which your capturing parties may be instructed to conduct their prisoners. You are earnestly requested to employ every moment of your time in accomplishing the objects of your command, conformably to these orders, and to keep constantly in mind, that if the offenders against the laws, can be suddenly and unexpectedly secured, before they have time to prepare general resistance, it may extinguish the insurrection without further expense to the United States, or call upon the patriotism or fortitude of our fellow Citizens. That you may have sufficient assistance in your own family to meet the constant business, the service may impose upon you, it is permitted to you to appoint a volunteer Aid de Camp (should you conceive one to be necessary) in addition to the Aid allowed you by law, and to draw for him, and his servant, rations and forage. You will be able to judge accurately upon the spot, when opposition to the laws, and the spirit of revolt and insurrection is so far suppressed in the disaffected Counties, as to admit the whole or part of the volunteers and Militia, to return to their Homes and civil occupations. This will be ascertained when the Inhabitants shall quietly permit the Commissioners and Assessors of the tax on Land and Houses to perform their respective duties according to law. Until this shall be the State of those Counties, it will be proper to continue the Military force there in convenient positions to produce a perfect submission to the authority of the United States. I have the honor to be with great respect, Sir, Your most obedient Humble Servant James M^cHenry. W^m Macpherson Esquire Brigadier General.