Certification that $365.03 is due a detachment of the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers at Mud Island Fort, being the pay of Major Lewis Tousard, Lieutenants Henry Muhlenberg and George Ross, Surgeon's Mate John R. Lynch, and the non-commissioned officers and privates for October 1797.
Letters to Quartermaster General and Dr. Brown received and will be forwarded. Col. Forrest to attend to land purchase for Craig, Craig specified how Forrest should attend to the legal contracts and money for land purchase. Requests clarification type of cannon carriage wanted.
Discusses recent bills drawn, the cheapest and best mode transportation of supplies to Tennessee and the Mississippi region, and the settlement of bills drawn on Wilkins' account.
Along with sundry accounting matters, Wilkins notes that he has had offers from Mississippi to supply pig lead that might be wanted by the troops in Tennessee. The cheapest places for delivery would be Caskarkias and Massac and at Natchez for about eight dollars per hundred.
Describes state of progress on frigate United States, including carpentry and blacksmithing remaining to be completed, the state of ballast & water casks, masts, cables, anchors, rigging, yards, etc. Discusses finding a safe place to harbor the frigate for the winter. Comments on state of provisions, powder, and cannon (the least being apparently in a poor state). Stresses need to obtain adequate armament: thirty 24-pounders.
Request to send anchor to Baltimore for frigate Constellation. Use ports of Boston or New York. Constellation will be somewhere in Chesapeake Bay or Patapsco.
