The result was that Butler conceived an intense dislike for St. Clair. The latter has placed it on record that, upon Butler's arrival at Fort Washington, "he was soured and disgusted, and I suppose it was occasioned by the fault that had been found with the detention of the Troops up the river;"[108] Knox's rebuke, previously quoted, would make plain the reason of any disinterest on the part of General Butler. St. Clair's reproof here and now seemed to increase it; "from that moment," St. Clair said, "his coolness and distance increased, and he seldom came near me. I was concerned at it, but as I had given no cause, I could apply no cure."[109] As the half mutinous, because half fed, army blundered on, it might seem that lack of provisions was its most serious menace; yet it becomes pretty clear that the estrangement of Butler and St. Clair was even more serious. On the ninth of October, the army pushed on nine miles, and the horses being tied up at night an eight o'clock start was achieved on the morning of the tenth, but only eight miles were traversed. At two o'clock on the afternoon of the eleventh the army drew out into the low prairie land which lies six miles south of Fort Jefferson, Darke County, Ohio, and halted for the night to search for a safe path through it. On the day after, a party led by General Butler found a "deep-beaten" Indian trail which skirted the lower levels "avoiding the wet land," and this was followed for five and a half miles. There is no record that St. Clair followed an Indian trail until near the center of Darke County. The course heretofore had been run by the compass.[110] From this night's encampment St. Clair rode forward a short mile and chose the site for the next fort on the line from the Ohio River to the Maumee. The spot chosen was near the present site of Fort Jefferson, Ohio--latitude 50° 4['] 22[''] N. The work of erecting the new post was undertaken with alacrity by many of the soldiers and officers--the latter working in the mud with the men. Major Ferguson found the lack of axes a serious handicap, there being but one ax to three workmen.[111] Yet these discouragements were not as disheartening as the continual dearth of provisions. This undermined discipline, perseverance, loyalty, and honor. Desertions became more alarmingly frequent, but men who were not fed could not work and would not march. As half-rations, and those exceedingly poor, became the necessary order of the day, the army slowly melted from under the discouraged St. Clair. Every night found the army smaller and yet more discouraged.[112] In vain St. Clair beseeched Hodgdon to hurry on provisions.[113] But the contractor's horses were lacking and those to be had were unfit for the heavy loads bound to them.