On military administration and policies
Document 1792Letter, discusses raising & recruiting army companies; advises re uniforms, arms & accoutrements; discusses regulations to standardize procedures; discusses peace negotiations with Indians.
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[Cover endorsement: 3d Aug 7/1792 / from / the Sec'y of War / No. 10//]
No. 10. War department
August 3. 1792
Sir,
I have received your favor of the 28 Ultimo dated at 9 Clock A M.— In this you refer for intelligence to a letter written the day before which I have not received— The letter you mention as inclosed for St Smith was not received.
I am glad to hear so good accounts as you give of Captains Chestons and Springers companies.
In order that there should be neither difficulty or delay in marching Gibsons, Prestons, Thomas Lewiss and Howell Lewiss Recruits, and the Recruits under the immediate direction of Captain Henry Bowyer of the Cavalry, I have sent Lieutenant Melcher from this City to muster inspect, accelerate and pay the men one Months pay and three Months pay for the officers of the said companies— They will rendezvous at Green Briar Court House and thence proceed to Point Pleasant the mouth of the great Kenhawa under the Escort of Gibsons company which I have season to believe is complete as to its numbers and which has had sent to it, Arms, Accoutrements Clothing tents &c.
Bowyers Recruits will also be completely clothed and furnished with tents and camp equipage.
An Invoice of Clothing for Prestons, Thomas Lewis's and Howell Lewis's companies is enclosed, and the clothing will probably be at Pittsburg in ten days after you receive this letter— but besides the Rifles and equipments thereto belonging and tents for the said three companies, which Major Craig must forward, he must also send three hundred Canteens three hundred Knapsacks and three hundred pairs of Shoes.
That part of Prestons company under Lockwood and Trigg must be deducted by Major Craig from the quantity for Prestons company.
I have also enclosed an invoice of Six hundred and Sixty suits of clothing for the first Regiment, but blankets and shoes are wanting to complete them— these articles will be immediately forwarded— The contractors have been puzzled exceedingly to find suitable blankets— and the shoes have been manufactured at New Ark in Jersey and with the blankets have been detained by contrary winds.
I have also enclosed an Invoice of two hundred and sixteen suits of Rifle Clothing Shoes and blankets excepted which are also on the road— these are together with the two hundred suits before forwarded to Pittsburg for clothing the companies raised in the upper parts of this State and in Ohio County; two hundred suits more will soon be in motion
The clothing for the late Second Regiment on the Ohio is mostly packed and will soon be on its way to Pittsburg
All the saddles and cavalry equipments of every sort which have been or shall be forwarded to Pittsburg for Rodgers, Bowyers and Winstons troops which are to be mounted at Fort Washington will either be delivered to such parts of the said troops as may arrive at Pittsburg or they will be forwarded altogether to Fort Washington under the escort of Rodgers's troop as you shall judge proper— Perhaps they should be all put in the possession of Major Rudulph who will be responsible for the proper delivery of them.
I transmit you a copy of the instructions and regulations from the Comptroller to the Paymaster with the Army— the original was forwarded by the last post to the Paymaster. I submit to you the idea whether it may not be proper for you to direct immediately the troops &c on the upper parts of the Ohio to do those things required in the instructions and forms.
The directory parts of the instructions designed to produce an uniformity in the returns and forms prescribed should be as soon as possible promulgated among the Officers and perhaps through the medium of general orders. But care should be taken to distinguish between directions to the Paymaster and directions and forms for the Officers and not to publish the same
It is to be regretted that the PayMaster is not with you as it would be his duty to point out what should be published and what should be restrained.
I also transmit you certain regulations prescribed for the orderly receiving distributing and accounting for all public property designed for the army— I pray for your attentive consideration thereof and after any alterations or additions you judge necessary for the public interests, you will please to publish the same in orders and from time to time enforce the observance thereof.
If experience should point out any difficulties or changes I shall be obliged by a communication thereof—
And I also enclose certain regulations relatively to forage, paper, wood &. The observance of a proper economy of [strikethrough: undecipherable] is an important principle of discipline— every partitle of public property should be accounted for by some person.
I flatter myself that your command will be distinguished by the highest degree of discipline in all parts of the troops and in the highest attention to the public property.
In the first instance irregularities will be practised and waste ensue by the carelessness of raw recruits— But I hope the regularity of payments, clothing and other public promises will be such as will afford you the best possible plea for enforcing a perfection of duty from among the troops.
It is with deep regret I transmit you the enclosed paper marked A, the purport of which I received from Mr Robert Morris on the 31 Ultimo.
The number of persons with Major Trueman— the time— and the other circumstances would seem to render the account but too credible.
But on the other hand there has been a gentleman in this Town within a day or two past, but whom I did not see, who says he left Fort Washington— after the return of General Wilkinson, which must have been after the 20 of June; and about the first of July who says the accounts from the Indian Country were favorable by the return of some of the messengers via the Wabash— I hope in God the information of Trueman be not true— I have not divulged this report here and I request you would keep it to yourself for the present.
Since writing the foregoing I have received your favour of the 27 instant I am persuaded that your arrangements of Scouts is formed on just principles.
I am glad to learn that Captain Hendricks has proceeded Westward; I sincerely hope the others will also go. But they are so slow and dilatory as to exhaust all patience. I believe Captain [undecipherable] will be at the Council at Au Glaize by the 20 of the present Month at furthest.
General Israel Chapin is the Deputy Agent to the five Nations— I believe that no attempts ought to be made to retain the Indians contrary to his request.— The bon planters judgment ought to be conclusive on this head— the sincerity of whose attachment cannot be doubted— but he has been too open in our favour to be well received at the Council of the hostile Indians indeed the attempt would be dangerous to him.
The letters communicated by you in confidence relative to the State troops shall be retained— the opinion of the person you mention is indeed— extraordinary.
I should be glad were it practicable to receive Major M'Culley and his Corps on the establishment— I have an high opinion of his worth and regretted at the time the arrangements were making that he could not be appointed— the State having Major Clarke and Major Butler who were of the levies the last year and whose services merited a reappointment.
I wrote you last post relative to the Chickasaws. I am inclined to the opinion they ought not to be retained— the season will be too far advanced to have an active campaign.
I am charmed at the idea of the commencement of discipline— The proofs of the powder shall be sent you, it cannot be better— and I hope you will find the grain sufficiently fine— I am unwilling to put the public to the expence of other powder not better in its quality than that which is on hand, at the same time I am desirous of complying with your wishes— when you judge of the sample sent by the last post I will take the necessary measures on receiving your communications.
I have complained to the Post Master General of the Cypher & requested him to provide another
We have no essential information about Recruits since my last; I have written to all the recruiting Officers urging them in the highest degree to complete their complements.
Two of Ashetons deserters have been taken this day— indeed there are five apprehended and in Goal— I will give the list you have sent to the Constables— who for the sake of the reward like to hunt deserters— By the time of Eatons company arriving from Vermont, I expect at least twenty deserters will be apprehended— Major Butler has secured several at Carlile.
The Sixteen legionary howitzers were forwarded on the 17. Ultimo— there has been a defect in the Contractor for the Shells which will soon be remedied Three pound Balls will suit them.
Three Chests of medicines have also been forwarded for the troops on the upper part of the Ohio— the Invoices will be transmitted the next post—
I have the honor to be
with great esteem
your most obed. Servant
H Knox
Secy of War
[Maj: Genl Wayne.]
Type
Letterbook Copy
Description
Letter, discusses raising & recruiting army companies; advises re uniforms, arms & accoutrements; discusses regulations to standardize procedures; discusses peace negotiations with Indians.
Date
08/03/1792
Author
Recipient
Repository
Collection
Document number
1792080340101
Note
This document was inserted during contents database conversion on January 24, 2007.
Notable persons
Eaton
Asheton
Major Clarke
Major Butler
Major McCulley
Cornplanter
General Israel Chapin
Captain Brant
Captain Hendricks
General Wilkinson
Robert Morrison
Major Trueman
Major Rudulph
Rodger
Winston
Lockwood
Trigg
Major Craig
Lieutenant Melcher
Captain Henry Bowyer
Gibson
Preston
Thomas Lewis
Howell Leur
Captain Cheston
Captain Springer
Lt. Smith
Notable locations
Carlisle
[Carlisle]
Vermont
Au Glaize
Fort Washington
Ohio County
Newark, New Jersey
Pittsburg
Green Briar Court House
Point Pleasant
Henhawa
Notable items
Carlisle
legionary howitzers
defect in the contractors for the shells
three pound balls
invoices
apprehended
constables
for the sake of the reward like to hunt deserters
Chickasaws
season will be too far advanced to have an active campaign
charmed at the idea of the commencement of discipline
proofs of the powder
find the grain sufficiently fine
put the public to the expence of other powder
complained to the post master general of the rider
essential information about recruits
Ashetons deserters have been taken this day
high opinion of his worth
levies
services merited a reappointment
letters communicated by you in confidence relative to the state troops
opinion
too open in our favour to be well received at the council of the hostile Indian
dangerous to him
no attempts ought to be made to retain the indians
deputy agent of the five nations
they are so slow and dilatory as to exhaust all patience
Council at Au Glaize
accounts from the Indian Country were favorable by the return of some of the messengers via the Wabash
divulged this report
arrangements of scouts is formed on just principles
gentleman in this town
public interests
point out any difficulties or changes
forage
paper wood
observance of a proper economy of public propriety
command will be distinguished by the highest degree of discipline in all parts of the troops
highest attention to the public property
irregularities will be practiced
waste ensue by the carelessness of raw recruits
regularity of payments, clothing and other public promises
best possible plea for enforcing a perfection of duty among the troops
responsible for the proper delivery
transmit you a copy of the instructions and regulations from the comptroller to the paymaster with the army
idea
do those things required in the instructions and forms
designed to produce an uniformity in the returns and forms
officers
medium of general orders
distinguish between directions to the paymaster and directions and forms for the officers
duty to point out what should be published and what should be restrained
regulations prescribed for the orderly receiving, distributing and accounting for all public property designed for the army
pray for your attentive consideration
possession of Major Rudulph
troops
mounted at Fort Washington
late second regiment
saddles and cavalry equipment
companies raised in the upper part of this state
blankets have been detained by contrary winds
suits of rifle clothing
suits of clothing for the first regiment
blankets
shoes have been manufactured
canteens
knapsacks
shoes
rifles
escort of Gibsons company
arms
accoutrements
clothing
tents
camp equipage
pay for the officers of the said companies
muster, inspect, accelerate and pay for the officers of the said companies
recruits under the immediate direction of Captain Henry Bowyer of the cavalry
order that there should be neither difficulty or delay in marching
glad to hear so good accounts as you give of Captains Chestons and Springers companies
received your favor
refer for intelligence to a letter written the day before which I have not received

