1. On 21 Jan. the House resolved “that the President of the United States be requested to direct the proper officer to lay before the House, a statement of the number of troops that will be necessary to maintain such a line of military posts, as it will be expedient to establish, effectually to protect the frontiers of the United States” (LB, DLC:GW).

On 27 Jan., Pickering wrote Dandridge: “Before the inclosed report be copied to send to the House, the Secretary of War desires to submit it to the Presidents perusal for his correction or approbation. If approved, it will be sent in this morning. Mr Dandridge will be so good as to present it to the President” (DLC:GW).

The report was submitted to the House on that date, although Pickering’s cover letter to the Speaker was dated 26 January. Pickering offered no specific number of troops. Rather, while acknowledging that there was “at this time … no definite object to which military operations shall be pointed,” he stated that “while negotiations with the foreign nations who possess adjoining territories are depending; while a restoration of peace with the Western Indians is uncertain; and while an extension of open war with other and more powerful tribes is impending; it would seem highly inexpedient and unsafe to depend on a permanent force, short of our present military establishment” (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, 1:547; Journal of the House description begins The Journal of the House of Representatives: George Washington Administration 1789–1797. Edited by Martin P. Claussen. 9 vols. Wilmington, Del., 1977. description ends , 7:187).