FEDERAL PERIOD FIRST ARMY A group of four documents and letters relative to the early United States Army, 1792-1845. Includes an A.L.S. of Quartermaster General JOHN WILKINS, 2pp. legal folio, Pittsburgh, Dec. 21, 1792 to Clement Biddle at Philadelphia reporting on payroll issues. In part: "...I have advertised in the Pittsburgh Gazette, that I would attend, at Washington the 4th, at Union Town 7th, & at Denniston's Mill the 17th January, to pay the officers & soldiers of the six months state militia, & have wrote to the captains of the different companies accordingly...". Noting that not all of his accounts have been received, but he was "afraid I might suffer in your opinion by the delay. I have not yet received the account of those men who were entitled to pay for using their own arms, & as I have paid off the men in full as they applied [sic] I have been obliged to take the word of those who have used their own arms...". Offered together with a manuscript D.S., 1p. folio, [Pittsburgh], 1846 being a log of an experimental casting of a cannon at the Fort Pitt Foundry; Also together with a printed letter, 1p. legal folio, Philadelphia, Dec. 9,1808, from the Purveyor's Office, a circular addressed to military contactors stressing that "The importance of good arms is manifest. They are indeed necessary. The lives of our fellow citizens...depend upon the excellence of their arms...their being delivered with punctuality and in due season, are also essential to prudence...It has been found easy to keep the workmen at the armories to the manufacturing of such arms I have received through the War Department from Harper's Ferry. Two stands have been retained as patterns, and the others have been delivered to the contractors, to aid them in keeping their workmen to uniformity and goodness of workmanship, as well in the fitting and joining of the parts...I have to inform you, that Mr. Charles Williams, formerly of the United States armories in Virginia, at New London and Harper's Ferry, is appointed by the Secretary of War to the important duties of proving and inspecting...". Also with a manuscript D.S. "Jno Powell Comr. U.S.N. & Assts. Insp[ecto]r of Ordnance" 2pp. legal folio, West Point, May 8, 1848, an inspection report for 89 cannon for the United States Navy. The cannon, all 32 pounders, weighed "...about 57 cwt each made by Gouvr. Kemble, under contract with the Bureau of Ordnance..."Powell confirms that "The said Cannon...[have] been executed in conformity with the contract". Four pieces in overall very good condition. $400-600