[Duplicata] War department February 9^th 1790 B. I have received yours of the 31 Ultimo — Doubtless there must be mistakes about the defective [undecipherable: returns?] of the [undecipherable] — as they may exist within his immediate inspection — It is necessary to devise some modes to strengthen the [undecipherable: returns] — I [undecipherable] this as it may be done by making every [undecipherable] [undecipherable] into The [undecipherable] on [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of which [undecipherable], [undecipherable] the course of this [undecipherable] as well as the [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] purpose [undecipherable] to make the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] what you have — [undecipherable] ought to be [undecipherable] of their depots — The [undecipherable] for the [undecipherable] of the last year shall be [undecipherable] By the Officers to [undecipherable] to our Doctor [undecipherable] and Captain [undecipherable] Your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Colonel [undecipherable] shall in [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the Lieutenant — [signature]