*Articles of Agreement,* Made on the [undecipherable] day of [undecipherable] Anno Domini, one thousand eight hundred [and one] between [strikethrough: Samuel Dexter] Henry Dearborn, Secretary for the Department of War of the United States of America, of the one part, and Daniel Vertner of Mason County, in the State of Kentucky of the other part. THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH, That the said [strikethrough: Samuel Dexter] Henry Dearborn, for and on behalf of the said United States of America, and the said Daniel Vertner for himself, his heirs, executors and administrators, have mutually covenanted and agreed, and by these presents do mutually covenant and agree to and with each other, as follows, viz. First. That the said Daniel Vertner his executors or administrators, shall deposit, supply, and issue all the rations herein specified, and which shall be hereafter required of him or them for the use of the United States, from the first day of October, one thousand eight hundred and [two] to the thirtieth day of September, eighteen hundred and two at the respective places and prices following: viz. For every complete ration issued at Fort Washington Ten cents, five mills: For every complete ration issued at Fort Vincennes: Twelve cents: For every complete ration issued at Fort Massac, or at any place or places within the State of Kentucky: Eleven Cents. For every complete ration issued [undecipherable] near the mouth of the Ohio, Eleven Cents and Five mills. For every complete ration issued at any post or place on the east side of the Mississippi River, between the mouth of the Ohio & Illinois Rivers, Sixteen Cents and five mills. Should any rations be required at any places, or within any other districts not specified in this contract, the price of the same shall be hereafter agreed on betwixt the public and the contractor, but it is to be understood, that it is in the option of the public to require the delivery of the rations at any of the enumerated places or posts, though designed to be consumed at other places or posts, paying the stipulated prices at the places of delivery; provided, that if the contractor shall have been required to deposit provisions at one place or post, and shall afterwards be required to remove them, to be delivered at another place or post, at which the price of the ration is lower than at the first mentioned place or post, the price to be allowed for such provisions so removed, shall be that which is stipulated to be paid at the said first mentioned place or post, together with the expences of transportation to such other place or post. Second. That the ration to be furnished and delivered by virtue of this contract, shall consist of the following articles, viz. Eighteen ounces of bread or flour, or when neither can be obtained, of one quart of rice, or one and an half pound of sifted or bolted Indian meal, one pound and a quarter of fresh beef, or one pound of salted beef, or three quarters of a pound of salted pork, and when fresh meat is issued, salt at the rate of two quarts for every hundred rations; soap at the rate of four pounds, and candles at the rate of a pound and an half for every hundred rations; and whenever the commander in chief of the army, or the commanding officer of any separate detachment, or garrison thereof shall to require, half a gill of rum or whiskey, or other ardent spirits; and whenever troops thereof shall be on hand, wine at the rate of two quarts for every hundred rations. It is understood and agreed, that when the proper officer shall make no requisition for ardent spirits, there shall be no issue of the same; and a reduction in the price of each ration of which ardent spirits make no component part, be made conformably to a scale hereinafter agreed upon. It is understood, that it shall be at the discretion of the general, or officer commanding an army or a great military district, if all cases not otherwise provided for by this contract, to direct when, and how often fresh or salted meat shall be issued by general orders, to be promulged a reasonable time before the issue is to commence; that in all cases where salted provisions are issued, the article of salt shall not be required; that the contractor shall always issue flour two days in every week, and the option of bread or flour for the remainder of the week be with the contractor; that in the delivery of bread, flour or meat, one per cent. shall be deducted from the gross weight of every parcel weighed, for draft and wastage; but each parcel weighed, shall include no greater number of rations than are sufficient for a regiment, nor shall there be any allowance where it comprises less than one hundred rations; in lieu of this allowance, the commanding officers of corps and detachments may require deliveries by companies. That when the price of the ration shall be Ten Cents and five mills, that of each of the component parts shall be as follows, viz: Bread or Flour, Four Cents; Meat, Four cents two mills; Liquor One Cent, five mills; Small parts, eight mills Where the price of the ration shall be Eleven Cents; Bread or Flour, four cents; Meat, four cents three mills; Liquor, One Cent seven mills; Small parts, One Cent Where the price of the Ration shall be Eleven Cents and five mills: Bread or Flour, four cents two mills; Meat, four cents, five mills; Liquor, [undecipherable] Cent eight mills; Small parts, one cent Where the price of the Ration shall be Twelve Cents: Bread or Flour, four Cents five mills; Meat, four cents, five mills; Liquor, Two Cents; Small parts, One Cent. Where the price of the ration shall be Sixteen Cents & five mills: Bread or Flour, Six cents, five mills; Meat, Six cents, five mills; Liquor Two Cents; Small parts, one cent five mills. Third. That the said Daniel Vertner, shall furnish such quantities of like provisions at the posts and places herein before mentioned, and provided for in this contract, if required as shall be sufficient for the consumption of the troops for the space of at least three months in advance. Fourth. That no whiskey, or ardent spirits, but such as has paid the excise, shall be purchased by the said Daniel Vertner or his Agent for the purposes stipulated in this contract. Fifth. That whenever or as often as the provisions stipulated to be furnished under this contract, shall, in the opinion of the commanding officer of the post, be unsound, or unfit for use, a survey shall be held thereon, by two disinterested persons, one to be chosen by the commanding officer of the post, and the other by the said Daniel Vertner or his agent, and in case of disagreement, a third person to be chosen by mutual consent, who shall have power to condemn such part of the provisions as to them may appear unfit for use. But if the said Daniel Vertner or his agent, shall fail, or neglect, to appoint a person to inspect the said provisions, within five days after notice being given by the commanding officer of the post, which notice shall be in writing; then, and in that case, it shall be lawful for the said commanding officer to appoint such persons as he may think proper, to inspect the provisions, under oath, with power to condemn as aforesaid. Sixth. That the commanding general, or person appointed by him, at each post, in case of absolute failure, or deficiency, in the quantity of provisions contracted to be delivered and kept up, shall have power to supply the deficiency by purchase, at the risque and on account of the said Daniel Vertner. Seventh. That whenever any articles confiscating the whole, or any part of the ration, shall not be in store, and withheld from the officers and soldiers, due bills shall be given therefor, payable within two months by the delivery of the articles withheld. If, at the expiration of the said two months, the contractor, or his agent, shall not deliver the articles expressed in the said due bills, within ten days after demand being made therefor, payment for the articles so withheld shall be made in money, by the contractor, or his agent, at the contract price. Eighth. That the said Daniel Vertner, or his agents, shall, at each post, or place, where supplies shall be required, under this contract, render a monthly abstract to the commanding officer thereof, specifying the quantity and species of the supplies on hand. Ninth. That all losses sustained by the depredations of an enemy, or by means of the troops of the United States, in articles intended to compose rations, to be issued under this contract, being the property of the contractor, as well as in other property necessarily used in transporting the same, shall be paid for at the contract price of the rations, or the component parts, and at an appraised value of the other articles, on the deposition of one or more creditable characters, and the certificate of a commissioned officer, when the same can be obtained, ascertaining the circumstances of the loss, and the amount of the articles for which compensation is claimed. Tenth. That escorts and guards for the safety of the provisions, and for the protecting of the cattle against an enemy, shall be furnished, whenever, in the opinion of the commanding general of the army, or of any post, to whom application may be made, the same can be done without prejudice to the service, and that the said Daniel Vertner shall not be answerable for any deficiency of supplies, at any of the [undecipherable] places, if it shall be satisfactory proof, that such deficiency was occasioned by the want of proper escorts and guards. [undecipherable] That at the stationary posts, proper store-houses shall be provided on behalf of the public, for the reception and keeping of the provisions deposited from time to time, at such posts respectively; and the contractor shall suffer no [undecipherable] of such stores. [undecipherable] That the said Daniel Vertner, his executors, or administrators, shall render [undecipherable] to the proper officer for settlement, at least once in every fix months, agreeably to such form as by the Comptroller of the Treasury may be established and made known to him. Thirteenth. That whenever the Secretary of War shall, in pursuance of this contract, and on account thereof make advances or payments to the said Daniel Vertner, the said Daniel Vertner shall receive as cash, if requested by the said Secretary, drafts from the Secretary of the Treasury in his favour, on the collectors of the revenue or other persons holding public monies in the vicinity of any of the above mentioned posts. Fourteenth. That all such advances of money as may be made to the said Daniel Vertner towards the supplies to be furnished, pursuant to this contract, and all such sums of money as the commander in chief may be obliged to disburse, in order to procure supplies, in consequence of any failure on the part of the said Daniel Vertner in complying with the stipulations herein contained, shall be duly accounted for by him, by way of set off, against the amount of such supplies, and the surplus, if any, repaid to the United States immediately after the expiration of the term of this contract, together with an interest at the rate of six per centum per annum, from the time of such expiration, until the same shall be actually paid. And that if any balance shall, on any settlement of the accounts of the said Daniel Vertner, his executors and administrators, be found to be due to him or them, for or by reason of the rations which shall be supplied, pursuant to this agreement, the same shall immediately be paid. And that no unnecessary or unreasonable delay, on the part of the officers of the United States, shall be given to the settlement of the accounts of the said Daniel Vertner, his executors or administrators. AND WHEREAS, by a certain agreement made on the fourth day of September, 1800, between [strikethrough: James McHenry] Samuel Dexter, then Secretary of War, and Edward Thomson of the State of Pennsylvania, it was stipulated, that the party of the second part should [undecipherable] furnish [undecipherable] months supply of rations at certain of the posts hereinbefore mentioned, between the first of October, 1800, and the 30^th of September, 1801, and whereas on the commencement of this contract, supplies furnished under the said agreement may remain to be [undecipherable] at the said posts. it is agreed between the said Henry Dearborn and the said Daniel Vertner: First. That an inventory shall be taken as soon as possible, which shall comprise all such supplies as shall have been delivered on or before the last day of September next, by virtue of the said agreement, and shall on that day remain unexpended. Second. That the inventory shall be taken in the presence of the commanding officer of the post, and the party of the second part or his agent, and duplicate receipts given therefor by the said party of the second part or his agent expressing the quantity and quality of each article. Third. That the party of the second part shall account to the United States for all the supplies which shall be receipted for, as in the preceding article, he being allowed however a deduction of twelve and an half per cent. as a full allowance for wastage, leakage, and damage of whatever nature, excepting only such losses as may be occasioned by fire, water, an enemy, or by the troops of the United States. Fourth. That the party of the second part shall [undecipherable] all the supplies as aforesaid to the troops at the several posts, rations to consist as follows: Eighteen ounces of bread [undecipherable] One pound and a quarter of [undecipherable] the pound of salted beef, or three [undecipherable] Half a gill of rum, brandy, or whiskey [undecipherable] [undecipherable] vinegar, four pounds of soap, and one pound and half of candles for every hundred rations And at the rate of two quarts for [every hundred] rations Fifth. That the said party of the first part shall [undecipherable] to the said [undecipherable] the prices before mentioned for every ration which he shall issue as before receipted [undecipherable] IN WITNESS whereof, the said Secretary of War, on behalf of the United States, has hereunto subscribed his name, and affixed [his seal], at the War Office of the United States; and the said Daniel Vertner has hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written. [large ink blots obscuring text] Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of [undecipherable] [undecipherable signatures] [large ink blots obscuring text] Schedule of the prices at which the component [undecipherable] parts of the ration [undecipherable] Where the price [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Two quarts of Salt [undecipherable] eight [undecipherable] One and a half pound of Candles [undecipherable] twelve [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Where the price of the small parts is one cent: Four pounds of Soap at thirteen cents [undecipherable] 52 Two quarts of Salt at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] One and a half pound [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 100 Where the price of the small parts is One Cent & five mills: Four pounds of Soap at Sixteen Cents — 64 Two quarts of Salt — Twenty one — 42 One and a half pound of Candles, Twenty eight ... 42 Two quarts of Vinegar " one — 2 150 H. Dearborn [undecipherable] Hy. Rogers D. [undecipherable] [marginalia, sideways: Contract Oct. [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] Oct. Dep. 13c.]