[the Sec^y of War March 3^d 95] Dep^t War Acc^t Office March 3^d 1795 Sir On the 5^th Oct^r 1789 the President of The United States through the late Sec^y of War Authorized the Executive of Virginia to call forth the Militia of the nearest counties for the protection of the frontier providing at the same time "that no charge [strikethrough: that] shall be valid unless [strikethrough: the] militia shall be mustered by an Officer of said troops to be appointed by the Commanding Officer thereof" In the [years] 1790–92 and 93 it appeared necessary for the further protection of the frontiers to call into Service [strikethrough: a number] at different times a number of Scouts or Spies when pay Abstracts and term of Service must be "certified on oath by the County lieutenants or the Commanding Officer of each County" [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] the Claims of the State of Virginia for the Services of his Militia and Scouts have been presented to this Office for Settlement. Several attempts Have been made to adjust them without effect owing to the deficiency and irregularity of the Vouchers particularly in the two following Cases [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] where the Instructions of the late Sec^y of War has been materially deviated [strikethrough: from] Viz First Several Pay roles of the Militia Are produced without Muster rolls Secondly Several Pay abstracts of the Scouts are produced without being Certified by the County Lieutenants — These two Cases particularly as also my General remarks on the whole of the Claims have been represented to the Auditor of [strikethrough: the] [strikethrough: Benjamin] in my letter to [strikethrough: him] of May last — Since which he has transmitted [strikethrough: some] Additional Claims for Services in 1794 without entirely accounting for^th irregularities pointed out in my letter It appears from the nature of the [strikethrough: deviation from instructions] Services that some [strikethrough: irregularities] were unavoidable on which account the Executive of Virginia was Vested with discretionary powers in Cases of emergency — Notwithstanding I do not conceive myself Authorized to act on their Accounts in their present deranged State and therefore beg leave to Submit the foregoing to your Consideration. I am with respect your Ob^t Ser^t J Howell The Sec^y of War