Addressed to "Major North," William North, a Major and Inspector of the Army. Written from Fort McIntosh, located in present-day Beaver, Pennsylvania. Writes to discuss how best to equip surgeon's mates in the Fort McIntosh area. Argues that since most surgeon's mates are stationed "at such a distance from each other that assistance cannot be given in cases of immediate necessity," they should be equipped with pocket instruments and amputation kits so they may do their duty. Adds that the equipment they do have is in bad repair: "There is but one set of amputating & one set of pocket instruments in the department. There is neither phials, corks, link, [tow?] or bandages, some part of the medicines sent on is unsaleable stuff that has lay in shops for a number of years and is really good for nothing." Wishes that the Quartermaster might be empowered, on orders from Colonel [Josiah] Harmar, to furnish these stores when necessary. Copy, written in the hand of War Department secretary Robert Pemberton and signed by him for McDowell.