[Wrapper notation: from Capt. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Decem^r 31, 1799] [387] [Major Joseph [undecipherable]] [357] [347] Charleston 31 Decem^br 1799 Since Secretary [undecipherable] last have received no [letters?] from you nor any Gentleman in the War office. this is very mortifying circumstance. as I have not got one Line since the [letter] received in August last. Colonel Freeman Esq^re from Georgia has been here and in Company with Capt. [Jo]seph Dickson on he has mustered my Company. he has also paid me the pay due for October and November last. but would not pay the Months of August, September [and] December which still remain due. from the information I have received from M^r Freeman I find I have made some errors in my former Muster Rolls. but as these can be no Injury to the United States, and I have now sent you the Muster Rolls for August, September and the present Month of December properly made out I hope there will be no censure on that acc^t as I had no proper return or Muster Roll to guide me. I have not yet been able to procure any return from [undecipherable]. not even of the Recruits he has enlisted at [undecipherable] - in his letter of the 19 Instant he says he has got [undecipherable] Recruits and one [undecipherable] but not a word about the time of enlistment or any other particulars - for want of which I can make no return of any Recruits enlisted by him — this I have repeatedly wrote to him to be particular and send me regular returns of all his proceedings some of the Soldiers are almost naked. some says they have not received the Clothing they had a right to, others that they have had none for Twelve months and expect to be put in possession of Fort [undecipherable: probable reading Johnston] very soon. I believe Tomorrow. I shall soon make proper returns of all the Stores there. I earnestly request I may be favored with some [undecipherable] Instructions I am with esteem and Respect Sir, Your most hum^ble Ser^vt Michael [undecipherable] Captⁿ a & B [Major Joseph Howell]