W. D. Accountants Office May 17^th 1794 Sir You having been appointed by the Commander in Chief of the Army of the United States, paymaster to the Kentucky mounted Volunteers under the command of Major General Charles Scott in the Year 1792 it becomes my duty to give such instructions for your conduct in transacting the business committed to your trust as is consistent with the General principles pointed out to me by the Comptroller of the UStates in cases similar.— 1^st You will on your arrival in Kentucky, or the place of your abode, immediately call on the subordinate paymasters for their Accounts and vouchers and make a settlement with them, if any Monies remains in their hands, you will receive the same of them and charge yourself with it in your General Account to be settled in this Office.— 2^d The pay of a Soldier, by a Law of the United States, is not assignable, therefore were a claimant does not come forward in person, application is to be made by power of attorney properly acknowledged which are in all cases to be considered and treated as revocable instruments untill payments are made thereon— this you are particularly to attend to not only in your own transactions, but also in settling with the Subordinate paymasters.— 3. When the subordinate paymasters have settled their accounts and refunded such sums of money (if any) as may be in their hands, you will then pay them the allowance granted by the Secretary of War, of three months pay as a Lieutenant and the additional pay of ten dollars Monthly as paymasters, which monies you have received— 4^th Those officers who have not qualified to their accounts of subsistence are required to do it previous to payment, otherwise not to be paid— 5^th Where a Non Commissioned Officer or Soldier cannot give his signature you will be cautious in having an Officer or some reputable character to evidence the mark he may make.— I do not recollect of any thing further necessary for your government in the business committed to your care— The allowance granted you by the Secretary of War will be continued to you untill the completion of the business which the Secretary of War conceives may be accomplished by the first of September next if not sooner; but as you have agreed to pay those detachments called into the service by the Governor for the protection of the Wilderness, it is probable some extension of the time may be admitted, of which I presume the Governor and General Scott will be the best judges of— Economy in public as well as private transactions is especially necessary, I therefore pray you to attend to it— The Secretary of War has written Governor Shelby recommending you as paymaster to those Detachments in the Wilderness, the foregoing instructions will guide you in payments to them, a copy of the roll you will now receive; as also a copy of R. Modrell's account amounting to sixty dollars which is included in the sum received.— If you find you cannot close the business in the time mentioned you will signify to me as early as may be the reasons, as fresh instructions may be considered as necessary.— As [undecipherable] to the multiplicity of business in any department I have to request that previous to your departure from Kentucky, that you will arrange your vouchers in such order that the least possible delay may not take place on your arrival for settlement of the accounts— wishing you a pleasant journey and a happy meeting of your friends and connections.— Mr. Thomas Love— P. Mast. Kentucky Mounted Volunteers. I am Sir &c Joseph Howell P.S. I have enclosed the Governor an abstract of pay due those men as guards in the Wilderness.