North, William (1755-1836) to Henry Knox

[draft]
Pittsburgh July 25. 1786
Sir,
On my arrival here, I found Captain Fergusson's company of artillery under marching orders for fort McIntosh excepting a lieutenant and 18 matrosses who were to remain at this post. I mustered the company before the march commenced and went to McIntosh to finish the inspection and to take an account of the stores deposited there; the latter was easily compleated but the inspection of a company at present is attended with more trouble than then regiments gave formerly. The rolls of the company were not finished when I set out for this place, had they been ready I should have sent them by this opportunity but they were not and I thought it of more consequence to inform you as soon as might be of the situation of this department than to wait for them
The return of stores at this post was finished only this morning and indeed it is not entirely complete now, as the powder must all be aired before the good can be separated from the bad though from an experiment made when I was here last the worst powder with the common charge thru [sic] a six pound ball upwards of a mile it cannot be much damaged
My sole business here was to examine the stores and to report their situation, that if anything should be found wanting time sufficient might be given for supplies being sent before the roads become bad. Returns have been frequently sent to the war office, but I believe in a very imperfect state. From every information I can procure the public property here has been [sported] with. A Mr. Marbury commanded at this post without control. Mr. Lucket succeeded [2] succeeded him. Lt. Asheton took his place and remained here until the time for which the troops were raised expired. The direction was then placed in the hands of Lt Armstrong who held it 'till the arrival of Captain Fergusson - On his going to Fort Mc Intosh the stores came again under the care of Lt Asheton. Where public property is so continually changing its directors, it certainly must suffer more especially when those directors are at so great a distance from inspection
Most of the gentlemen who have commanded here have considered themselves in the indian stile, as Great Captains and have acted accordingly. The stores at fort McIntosh have 'till now been under the care of a Mr Cowdry; in conversation with him I asked how much powder had been received at his post since he had acted as commissary of military stores? he answered that about 600 pounds had been received from first to last I demanded what had become of two hundred weight, as there were only 404 at present? It had been expended in saluting commanding officers last winter as they came to, or left the fort and in celebrating the last 4th of July adding that 7 rounds pr. man had been ordered to the troops on that day by Colonel Fish which they fired by platoons with great exactness. The Troops ought certainly to be exercised with powder and even ball but in a manner suitable to the service in which it is probable they will be employed. I mention this conversation with Mr. Cowdry only to shew the meaning of the title Great Captain & the necessity [3] necessity of pointing out the quantity of ammunition which each company should be allowed and the mode in which it should be expended. There were military stores carried from this post by Major Craig in 1781 to the falls a return of which has been sent to the war office besides which I am told there are stores there which were procured from a continental commissary in Virginia & sent by Governor Jefferson
It is with diffidence that I submit to your consideration whether it would not be advantageous to the United States that Muskingham should be not only the grand deposit of all the stores but also the rendervous [sic] of all the companies except (those order'd to the falls) for the approaching winter
Fort Pitt is in a ruinous situation as is fort Mc Intosh. there is not a barrack at either place which is tenantable nor a place fit to receive the public stores, they are calculated for a greater number of men than at present occupy them and are neither of them on the federal territory
* The town of Pittsburg is inhabited by people who can never be an advantage to troops, on the contrary their villanies would find advocates rather than detectors. This is a post to which the indians come to sell their peltry for which they receive clothing whisky &ca - for meat bread and whisky they apply to the commanding officer who let his rank be what it may never fails to supply them, and indeed without positive orders to the contrary he cannot avoid it; at present there are near 300 indians of the Seneca Delaware Wyandot Mingoe Cayuga & Chipway [4] Chipway nations in the vicinity of this place. In searching the provision returns at the contractors I yesterday saw one signed by Lt. Asheton for 134 rations to be delivered to the Senecas and this day I have been obliged to give an order in favor of twenty four Delawares & Chipways. - The Delawares represented by the interpreter that they were starving. The Chipways had come from about the lake of the woods to speak to their brothers the Americans. Wherever a post is the indians who come to it must be supplied with provisions or the chain of friendship will begin to rust - therefore if expense is an object the posts should be as few as possible and those commanded by officers of rank *.
The post of Mc Intosh it is true is on the Tuscarawa and Cushkushky path, but in time of peace it is only a place from which the indians may receive whisky on their way to fort Pitt, and in time of war they would take another road or if they attacked, would probably carry it, without leaving a retreat to the Garrison which would not be intercepted by the big Beaver. Trade brings the indians by McIntosh to fort Pitt Public business would bring them to lower posts
If the troops were together at Muskingham their discipline could be better attended to by Colonel Harmar, they would have fewer motives and less opportunity to desert. Provisions could be as easily forwarded to them, and they would be better able to take the field in the spring if necessary, added to this the artificers from the different companies could be collected and set [5]
set about repairing arms tents &ca. The fort at Muskinghum is calculated for five full companies. The 7 companies will not amount to more than three hundred and eighty. The force of the United States in this country if scattered is weak if collected strong
These are the reasons which have induced me to offer the idea of collecting the troops and stores at one spot
The contractors have not taken care to furnish the posts regularly. No vinegar has been issued, Whiskey is given instead of rum against the contract and the troops at Muskinghum have been without meat for five days. Those at the Miami have complained of being supplied with bad provisions in consequence of which and knowing it would be a Saving to the public I advised Lt. Colo Harmar to order the provision left there by the Commissioners to be made use of
Captain Mercer did not bring on the camp kettles which were entrusted to him, a part of them he left at Carlisle and apart at fort Lyttleton for which I shall report him to the commanding officer of the troops, his excuse is that they were so much bruised as to be rendered useless. The troops are really in great want of this article I have therefore requested an estimate from the contractors of the expence attending a supply and have the honor to enclose it & in the meantime have ordered three dozen to be furnished as soon as possible
| * Colonel Harmar is at Muskinghum which is garrisoned [6] garrisoned by Doughtys Hearts and Strongs companies. Hamtramck M. Curdy & Mercer are at the Mingoe bottom about 50 miles below fort McIntosh where captain Fergusson is with his company except a Lt. & 18 matrosses who are at Fort Pitt and Finney and Zeigler are at the Miami
Mr. Hutchins with his Surveyors is at the little Beaver waiting an answer to a message he sent to different indian nations desiring them to attend him on his survey. 26th The Chipwas or Chippewas were at Fort McIntosh while Colo Harmar was there on his way down the river and attempted to make a speech to him, but their errand could not be known for want of an interpreter. I found them here on my arrival and they had procured a person to interpret for them, they had come several hundred miles from beyond Niagara & appeared very solicitous to be heard. If I had desired them to go to Muskingham to Colo Harmar - there was no person who understood their language neither could their speech have been transmitted so soon to you supposing it to have been of consequence & to have been translated. These reasons induced me to appoint this day for hearing them, it was their desire that all the Chiefs of the Wyandots Senecas &c, &c should attend to hear what they had to say. At ten o' clock the council opened in an orchard near the town the Chipwas delivered the speech No. 1. to which I answered that I had heard what they had said and would give them an answer, which [7] which I shall leave with lieutenant Asheton as I must set off tomorrow morning for the Mingoe bottom. I also enclose a speech sent from the Delaware Chiefs living in the Shawanee country, by an indian trader and a letter from the Cornplanter and minutes of a speech delivered by his brother to lieutenant Asheton the day before my arrival. The Chief of the Munsees also made a speech begging for provisions. Guyasuta a chief of one of the six nations produced a large belt which he has received from the United States and begged we might hold it fast as a bond of friendship, it was handed from one tribe to another, they each took hold of it as a mark of union with each other and with us; he concluded his speech by asking for provisions; I informed him that there was but little provisions at this place but that he should have a part - and desired him to find and stop the young men supposed to belong to the Mingoe nation, who were killing our people down the river. That he might not forget this request I gave him a string. - This finished the Council.
The Belt & strings will be left in the care of lieutenant Asheton as the gentleman who bears this letter goes only about 150 miles down the country and there is no other opportunity of sending them*
Mr Brit has just informed me that no iron can be procured here fit for making campkettles which has obliged me to countermand my order. The business I have had to do yesterday and to day must be pleaded in excuse for every [8] every inaccuracy which I have been guilty of in this letter.
With the greatest Respect
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your most obt servt
Wm North Major
Inspector
The Honorable
The Secretary of the United States
for the Department of War