[from Cap^t Bez^l Howe April 7^th 1796] West Point 7^th April 1796 Sir I here with inclose you Muster Rolls for the recruits under my Command for March last — and must inform you that my recruiting money is nearly gone — I have inlisted thirteen men out of the two hundred dollars that I rec^d in your office in February — have here surrendered to you Vouchers for all the other money — that I rec^d at that time and shall Esteem it as a particular favor if you will forward to me — as soon as Convenient two or three months pay for my Self and my recruits — as I have been furnishing them with Cloathing &c — I am nearly drained of Cash — with [undecipherable] of meeting money at New york, I [undecipherable] for it to morrow in hopes to gett about [undecipherable] recruits — I need not tell you that it is very disagreeable business recruiting with out money — and I believe that it is more Expensive to my self than any other officer — I think I write with Propriety [strikethrough: with] to you at this time for some more recruiting money — I wish to have a respectable Command for the honor of West point — and to [undecipherable] with [undecipherable] from appearances — it may [undecipherable] on here [undecipherable] kind — I would thank you to mention my wishes to Gen^l [undecipherable] not doubting they will meet his approbation if he — to furnish me with money by the last of this week — if I do not receive [undecipherable] I shall return to west point by Saturday or monday next — I have a chance now of getting five fine recruits — I should be sorry to [undecipherable] this opportunity more particularly I must beg you to forward some of our monthly pay — I am Sir with much Esteeme Your obedient & Hum^l Serv^t Bez^l Howe Cap^t [undecipherable] Joseph Howell Esq^r Acc^t to the War Office