[Lieut. Col. Phil. Reed Chestertown Apr. 24. 1795. recd [undecipherable] Ansd same day Account inclosed, to be settled Settled, answer Recd. 25. June 1795 [undecipherable signatures and notations] Nos. No. 22 [undecipherable] Md Phil Reed 1795] Chester Town Maryland 24 Apl 97 Sir You will perceive by the enclosed account [strikethrough: undecipherable] that it is due for money lend and [expended?] [nied?] in the management of the Militia [of?] the Regiment under my orders, for the late expedition against the insurgents — When it is considered that the Officers of the Regt had — Commissaries but a few days previous to the [undecipherable] marching — that [a?] single company was completely furnished That all the company Officers were destitute of experience — It would readily be seen that trou- -ble and some expense would be a necessary consequence — The difficulty I was unwilling to [surmount?] by an application to my own money; presuming at the same time that the government would reimburse such expense as might necessarily arise in carrying its Object into effect — under this impression I made application to the executive of this State, in December last, and my account has remained unanswered [until] a few days ago, when [I received a note?] from the Auditor of accounts [that?] [he] had neither money nor authority to pay claims of this nature. In a case like that of the late expedition, there it was impossible that a provision could have been made for exigencies which could [not] have been foreseen. The justice [thereof?] [undecipherable] is to be [undecipherable] in the most important operations [remaining?] to be suppressed — And will it be said that a government can, at its pleasure [engage?] and the purse of the citizen without [remunera-] tion? I apprehend not — and I trust that I shall not in this instance have cause to urge a willing confidence; for altho the [sum?] is not great yet when it is considered that I was formerly compelled [from the?] distressed State of the Union to treat with the — and economy of several cam- paigns for a few [shillings?] in the [pound?] it will not appear unreasonable that I should be made to bear, a second time, The mortification of a disappointed [creditor?] [undecipherable] may be [undecipherable] my application I must extend you will have [as?] good as I do not know to [better?] Having no [other?] business at Philadelphia and not knowing any acquaintance who [might?] [formerly?] from [his?] [town?], I have taken the freedom of forwarding my claim [to you?] [undecipherable] Your Most Ob^t [Hum]ble Servant Phil Reed Lieut. Col. Commandant 39 Regt M^d Militia Hon^ble Timothy Pickering Esq. Secretary of War