Pittsburg May 16 1787 Sir I was favoured last week with a Letter from Cap^t Joseph Hewitt in which is stated a Large Account against me, taken from the Publick Books, the Information Really Surprises me, as having no Idea of any such account existing. In Order to have it speedily Settled and Cleared I have taken the Liberty of writing under Cover to you an answer with such Information that will I hope enable him fully to Settle the same — [while] He thank you to deliver to him, and excuse the Freedom of Sir — Your &c John Pierre Butte — [signed] Step Bayard Pittsburg May 16 1787 Dear Sir I received your favour by Last Schuyler Dated New York Feb 17. 1787 the Contents of which Really Surprises me because I have no Idea that such a Large sum Could possibly Stand against me this time of day, I am happy however that I wrote to you, and that you have favoured me with the account as it now Stands, which may prevent a great deal of trouble in future. — When I was Ordered to the Westward I left my Canada and other papers, then in a deranged Situation but in March or April 1777 to the Best of my knowledge I Settled fully my [undecipherable] and other accounts with Col [undecipherable], who was at that time authorized to settle the same; which by he for [undecipherable] best known to himself would not pass [undecipherable] — on him — by applying to Congress General Schuyler and M^r [undecipherable] Davis then [undecipherable], [undecipherable], and [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] admitted the accounts, and Ordered a Small Ballance that was due thereon to be paid me — Cap^t [undecipherable] Craig & William Butler (afterwards Colonels) were the only Officers besides myself whose accounts were fully Settled at that time, but [who] did not give them the trouble he gave me. I have Stated the matter to Col Craig by this conveyance with a request to him to Write to you Specially on the Subject who I dare say will give himself the trouble of Informing you what he knows about it — The [Rules?] of Congress, [Board?] of War, or where those papers were then Lodged, will undoubtedly show the full settlement, with [undecipherable], and if he has Neglected to lodge them in the proper Office, the fault is not with me Neither Should I suffer on that Account — The next charge that Stands against me is in November 1783 by paid by John Pierre Butte [into] the hands of Lient Ross to pay off a Attachment of the 8^th Regiment for [undecipherable] March and April, [undecipherable] Dollars [undecipherable] this Money was paid paid by Lieut Ross to the Officers and Soldiers Agreeable to General Irvines Orders, who Commanded here at that time — a Copy of the Order [undecipherable] indeed for your better Information — M^r Ross no doubt at that time took Vouchers for the same; why I have not Credit on it and those [undecipherable] Lodged in the proper Office I am at a loss to know; General Irvine is now at New York I dare say he will Inform you particularly Respecting the same to him therefore I beg your [undecipherable] — the Charge also in June 1778 of 1863 [undecipherable] Dollars paid by [undecipherable] for deficiencies of Rations due the 8^th Regiment, must Certainly be an Error, as I was attached to and Joined the [undecipherable] in 1779 and Continued [undecipherable] therein afterwards. why I am Charged for Such deficiencies I cannot tell. I have mentioned this also to Col^o Craig, as he Commanded at that time the 8 Regiment, who no doubt will give you a Satisfactory account thereof — and at any [undecipherable] Tale if the Monies was given for that Purpose, to pay of a def[undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] it must have been appropriated accordingly or Murmur would have ensued, but none of this Seems has been the Case, — I am Confident from my Knowledge of you and your known Integrity that you will do what is Right and Just, and in Order to do this that you will give yourself the trouble of making the Necessary enquiries with [Respect] to the [final] Settlement of this account for which I Shall Consider myself Particularly Obliged, — If after all it Cannot be Settled without my attendance I will do it [undecipherable] with Considerable expense, your kind assistance will be wanted in that Case, what may be Necessary for me to bring and do; the [undecipherable] I thank you to [Intimate] as soon as may be, because Should Death ever take me before this Account is Settled my Estate would be [Involved] and the [Amount] Suffer — [undecipherable] M^r M^cHay my Brother in law will be in New York, some time early in June by him if not before I hope to hear your favourable answer — In the mean time I remain with the utmost Sincerity — Your &c Cap^t Joseph Hewitte [signed] Step Bayard P.S. Please thank you to give my Respectful Complements to Col [undecipherable] and let him see this — S.B. I have Wrote to General Irvine, and Col^o [undecipherable] Respecting the above, as it concerns them I dare say they will give you the best Information they can — S.B.