1. Gen. Anthony Wayne’s letter to McHenry dated 27 June, written at Pittsburgh and given an official number, reports information that Wayne—responding to a private letter from McHenry on 25 May—had collected about Victor Collot’s mission. Wayne wrote that Collot had “freely” expressed French resentment over “the Treaty with Great Britain” and claimed that orders were issued “to Capture every American Vessel bound to or from a British port” if the United States did not uphold “the Guarantee of the French Island in the West Indies … agreeably to a former treaty with France.” Collot claimed that the treaty with Spain was achieved through the influence of the French Directory, who would stall it and disrupt Missisippi River navigation. Furthermore, “a secret Article in the treaty of peace between the French Republic & Spain” restored Louisiana to France, and “it was the true Interest of the American Citizens west of the Allegany Mountains to seperate from the Union & become free & independent—under the protection of & in alliance with France.” Collot planned to meet Gen. James Wilkinson, explore the country, and proceed down the river to New Orleans. Wayne reported Collot as “busy in Electioneering for Mr. J–n,” presumably Thomas Jefferson, “& advises a proper choice of Electors for that purpose.” Wayne also identified Benjamin Sebastian and Thomas Power as “incendiaries” whom he would watch, confident that he would make “the necessary discoveries in due season & without Alarm” (Knopf, Wayne, description begins Richard C. Knopf, ed. Anthony Wayne, a Name in Arms: Soldier, Diplomat, Defender of Expansion Westward of a Nation; The Wayne-Knox-Pickering-McHenry Correspondence. Pittsburgh, 1960. description ends 489–92; see also McHenry to GW, 2 July, n.4).

Wayne wrote McHenry from Pittsburgh on 28 June regarding arrangements related to ordnance and supplies. He also requested that some officers be ordered to join the army (Knopf, Wayne, description begins Richard C. Knopf, ed. Anthony Wayne, a Name in Arms: Soldier, Diplomat, Defender of Expansion Westward of a Nation; The Wayne-Knox-Pickering-McHenry Correspondence. Pittsburgh, 1960. description ends 492–93).

2. McHenry had written Wayne on 25 June with directions to appoint qualified subaltern officers “at each post to receive the rations and issue them to the Troops.” The letter also covered accounting procedures (DLC:GW).

McHenry also wrote Wayne on 8 July to acknowledge his letters of 27 and 28 June and approve his arrangements with the exception that the barracks be built separately from the storehouse at Fort Le Boeuf, Pa., to reduce fire or water damage risks (DLC:GW).

3. McHenry had written John Wilkins, Jr., from Philadelphia on 8 July: “I have received your letter of the 10th ultimo signifying your acceptance of the Commission of Quarter Master General.

“It may be proper for the present that you should appoint an Agent in this City to accept your Bills and receive the money from the Treasury which you may be authorized to draw for.

“I shall expect to be furnished with a quarterly Estimate of the sum of Money and the Items for which it may be wanted, in your department, that I may take measures with the Treasury to meet your demands.” The letter concluded with instructions on how to proceed “should any pressing occasion arise” before regular procedures could be implemented (DLC:GW).

4. George Clymer, Benjamin Hawkins, and Andrew Pickens served as commissioners to the Creek Indians. McHenry’s specific enclosures in this letter to GW have not been identified, but they likely included a letter from the commissioners to McHenry written at Colerain, Ga., on 16 June that reported the start of negotiations with 22 kings, 75 principal chiefs, and 152 warriors in attendance. “The chiefs appear to be well disposed, and to have a well grounded confidence in the justice of our Government” (ASP description begins Walter Lowrie et al., eds. American State Papers. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. 38 vols. Washington, D.C., Gales and Seaton, 1832–61. description ends , Indian Affairs, 1:597).

5. Secretary of the Treasury Oliver Wolcott, Jr., had written McHenry on 8 July “that the measures proposed by the Commissioners of the sinking fund for the sale of Stock, from the proceeds of which new loans in aid of the revenue were expected, have failed of success—As no substitute has yet been devised, that can be relied upon, I cannot promise that the sum appropriated for the Indian trade can be furnished this year” (DLC:GW).

6. See Timothy Pickering to GW, 12 July, found at Pickering to GW, 8 July, n.1.

7. See McHenry to GW, 12 July.