[docket: Jan^y 9^th 1792 / H Knox / [to the] Governor of Virg[inia] / land Bounty [undecipherable] Virginia [undecipherable]] War department 9^th January 1792 Sir In pursuance of your letter of the nineteenth of last month, and in pursuance of the act of Congress of the tenth of August 1790 relative to the lands for the late Virginia line, I have been endeavoring to have made a return of the nature described in the said act. But difficulties, almost insuperable have occurred. The muster rolls are extremely defective and so are the returns. The Settlements made of arrears are not much better— The United States promised lands only to the Soldiers inlisted during the war, but the State of Virginia appears to have promised lands to the Soldiers inlisted for three years, and even for a [undecipherable] period. The former return transmitted, besides the commissioned officers, noticed only such non commissioned and privates as were inlisted for the war. The case being thus circumstanced I must request the assistance of your excellency, if any authentic documents are in the offices of Virginia, which will exhibit the names of persons on continental establishment, and intitled by the laws of Virginia to the lands in question, that you will be so good as to transmit them to me — So by comparing with the evidence we have, I may be enabled to transmit the return as mentioned in the law. I shall in the mean time direct the Subject to be prosecuted according to the documents we possess. I have the Honor to be with great respect, His Excellency Your Excellencys the Governor most obedient Servant of Virginia. H Knox Sec^ty of War