Letter to the Governor of Pennsylvania, regarding the detachment of militia assembling and marching to combat the insurrection in western Pennsylvania, later known as the Whiskey Rebellion.
Secretary Hamilton instructs Governor Thomas Sim Lee of Maryland to assemble and speedily march the militia to Williamsport, Maryland. The Whiskey Rebellion of western Pennsylvania still has supporters and violently resists the unpopular excise tax, but Hamilton states that support for the rebellion is waning. Given the approach of winter in a few months, its desirable to put the militia in motion as soon as possible.
Secretary Hamilton writes the Supervisor of Military Stores, requesting that he immediately forward to Winchester, Virginia 75 pairs of horsemen's pistols, 150 swords with belts, 200 valices; and then to forward to Baltimore 50 pairs of horsemen's pistols, 100 swords with belts, 100 valices, together with knapsacks, canteens, and camp kettles sufficient for 1000 men.
[Partly illegible] O'Hara discusses a recent battle with the northwestern Indians and observes that the Indians, with all the force that they could possibly collect , were defeated so decisively that he hopes they will be impelled to come forward with overtures for peace.
On the settlement of the accounts of the late First Regiment of Pennsylvania, it appears that Simon Hifferman was mistakenly considered a deserter so a re-settlement of the account has taken place.
Pennock writes Knox to discuss the safety and arrangement of sheds. A Mr. Young, who holds the property of Mr. Morris, feels that adding chimneys to sheds would be dangerous. However, putting the shed houses (?) on the public lot would provide a considerable saving in brick work, and a decision on this has been requested of Knox.
Secretary Hamilton requests that the Commissary of Stores, Samuel Hodgdon, furnish a return of what equipment and arms for the cavalry are in the public stores.
The Marshall for the Pennsylvania District writes Secretary Hamilton on his personal experiences with Whiskey rebels in western Pennsylvania; at one point, he was even fired at.
Biddle requests from Hodgdon, Commissary of Military Stores, that the artillery have brass-mounted muskets in lieu of some other item which is illegible.
General Robertson informs Major Ore that he is to defend the district of Mero against a large party of Creeks and Cherokees of the Lower towns. Ordered to "destroy the Lower Cherokee towns... taking care to spare women and children, and to treat all prisoners, who may fall into your hands, with humanity, and thereby teach those savages to spare the citizens of the United States, under similar circumstances."
