[p 113.] Detroit 7 Augt 1799 Sir Your favor under date of the 15. February I have the honor of acknowledging came to hand some short time since, and I shall proceed to pay due respect to the several requisitions therein contained so far as may be entirely consistent with my actual knowledge, and the importance of the trust committed to my Care. The concomitant Returns will best express "the quantities and kinds of Artillery Arms and Stores, the number of Troops and their situation, their equipment and supply" the quantity of clothing on hand. I shall not fail to pay especial attention to the discipline of the Troops in which they are tolerably proficient; and am fully persuaded with you how essential it is to the responsibility of service, and the honor, interest and individual importance of every Officer of the Army, and [undecipherable] exertions shall be applied to the attainment of this desirable object — I [undecipherable] much satisfaction in the aid I shall derive from you. — From the Return of the Regiment I have the honor to Command I readily perceive its dispersed and dissevered situation, and while I lament the necessity of this separation, I could wish it was made consistent with the trusts of service, that it could be more complete as to its entire [undecipherable] and more concentrated which would also [undecipherable] facilitate and produce an uniformity of discipline and Police throughout — which is now rendered utterly impracticable from its scattered situation. I have conceived it proper to enclose also a return of the Troops stationed at this Post which will shew the number of Artillery; the posts of Mitchilimackinac and Fort Wayne by order of General Wilkinson constitute a part of my command, but notwithstanding, they were ordered to report respectively to the General himself; for which reason I am unable to give you any information of those, and more particularly Fort Wayne, as I conceive myself entirely excused [undecipherable] Fort Lernoult situated about One hundred & fifty Toises from the Town is in a defensible state, and contains Barracks sufficient to accommodate twelve Officers, One hundred and fifty Non Commissioned Officers and privates, and Stores large enough for the [undecipherable] of One years provision for the above number with all [undecipherable] buildings, all of which are bomb proof — from the pickets of the citadel of Fort Lernoult, a line is continued along the N.E. sides of the Town until it Strikes the Straight or [undecipherable] Detroit — from thence it continues along the Straight to the lower or S.W. end of the Town and from thence continues, it joins the Pickets of Fort Lernoult, forming an entire blockade round Detroit. The Citadel in the Town contains three [undecipherable] — Barracks two Stories high with a capacious Brick Store House — the necessary buildings supposed to be sufficient to accommodate Five hundred men with a proportionable number of Officers, and one years provision, all in tolerable good order tho' old. — General Wilkinson has ordered that the Troops of the different posts be Mustered every month, which causes an endless multiplicity of Rolls, and encumbers the Pay Master with their transport — and as no Casualties can occur that could not be as well embraced in a quarterly as a monthly Muster, I beg, with deference to you, an alteration of this kind. — I wish Sir to be informed whether you require communications from this Post every month or longer, as the circuitous route Via Cincinnati that must make there many obstacles in the way which perhaps might be obviated by less frequent correspondence, and by way Niagara &c. — The slender state of the Ammunition at this Post exhibited in the accompanying Return claims attention, and I submit to your judgment how far an augmentation may be deemed expedient — Cartridge boxes and Swords for non-Commissioned Officers are also in request. — The imperfect assortment of Medicine and Hospital Stores which has ever been the case here, loudly calls for remedy, and has obliged me to purchase such as could be had at too enormous price — there is no doubt but liberal provision is made for a supply of the articles of the Hospital Department, but to whence they are distributed, I am at a loss to conjecture, for none has ever been furnished for either of these three Posts, since my Command here almost now two Years. — I cannot suppress my astonishment when I reflect on the peculiarity of my situation, not having received any official advice to my many Communications of a Public nature to the Secretary of War, nor ever having been informed of any of the late Appointments in the Army or any of the Acts of Congress relating thereto. I think it my duty to inform you that from recent accounts of respectable authority that there is [undecipherable] of Discontent prevailing among the Indian Tribes and it is said they are now collecting in a body and meditate some hostile operations against our Government; and in all probability against that of Great Britain to which they are almost equally inimical — from these circumstances I am induced to suggest with deference the propriety of ordering a detachment of about Sixty Men under the command of Captain Miller and as part of the Second Regiment as will appear from the Return from Fort Washington to join this Post — as tho' but a small number they would in a great measure, tend to convince the Savages that we are not altogether unappriseed of their intentions and [undecipherable] excursions — It is with much concern that I perceive from an Extract of a Letter from the Hon. the Secretary of War suggesting of there having been issued a larger number of Rations at the different Posts than the number of Troops. — [marginal note: Extract / of that paragraph / to be made / [and?] to be / [copy?] of War / for [Lieut?] / [nature?]] To vindicate myself, should any thing appear from the [undecipherable] of this Post — I beg leave to observe that owing to the small number of men here I solicited a large fatigue party from the Canadian Militia to assist in planting the pickets of the [undecipherable] of Fort Lernoult which were entirely in a State of decadence — And drew provisions as a compensation for their labor which in all probability may be Misconceived — [undecipherable] — did any abuse or the kind exist I should certainly Check it, and it is of the utmost importance whether we View it on the Principal of Morality and the regularity necessary in an Army, or that oeconomy which is calculated to preserve Character, and extend the abilities of the Country to meet its utmost emergencies. — [Docket/endorsement page — address panel, text rotated:] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] & The Sec. of War informs me that he has ordered a [undecipherable] load of Powder to Detroit. I hope that other objects of Supply will speedily be attended to — The paragraph of your letter respecting the Subsisted & [undecipherable] issues of provisions have been communicated to the Sec. of War. As he has made no observation or reply, I presume he is Satisfied. — I cannot persuade myself that there exists at this time any serious depredation of [the?] Indians — Hence I am induced merely [with?] recommending the information in your letter to Col. [undecipherable] & leaving to his discretion to act when &c — My letter of the 22 of [May?] matters also [to?] discuss a reinforce ment from the [undecipherable] — [communicate the?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Right column — docket:] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Reed Acknowledge Reed. There are several points in his letter which will be attended to in the conference which will speedily be had with General Wilkinson who at [this?] moment [undecipherable] — I [undecipherable] of Government men [undecipherable] and in conjunction with [undecipherable] when the [undecipherable] of the Western Army will [undecipherable] The [undecipherable] commencing the autumn transportation of returns [undecipherable] Routes at middle [undecipherable] to be monthly [undecipherable] further [undecipherable] will be indifferent and whether the route by by Cincinnati [undecipherable] or Niagara. [undecipherable] as opportunity [undecipherable] the other [undecipherable]