A new government under the United States Constitution created the Department of War in 1789 and named Henry Knox as the first secretary. While Knox worked to organize the new department, he ordered the First American Regiment commander, LTC Josiah Harmar, to lead an offensive against "banditti" Native Americans in the Northwest Territory. Harmar's force consisted of about 300 federal regulars and 1,000 militia, and suffered from a lack of equipment and provisions. The Harmar Campaign departed Fort Washington in September 1790 and marched to Kekionga, where they were defeated with heavy losses.