[Docket, rotated left margin: Stephen Rochefontaine / 1796 feby [undecipherable] 51 / answered with [undecipherable] / En] William Simmons — Esq accountant of the War Department Philadelphia Westpoint Feb'y 12^th 1796. Sir I have the honor to transmit to you an instrument Made by Daniel W^m Downey, a Private, relinquishing all claims against the U.S. for disability received Since he is in the Service, in favor of an immediate discharge. as he is rendered useless to the corp. I have consented to his immediate departure for Philadelphia to Solicit his discharge from the Sec^t of War— to enable him to provide for himself during his Journey thither, I have ordered his Settlement to be made up to the last of January. The Secretary of War will determine what further allowance ought to be made to him in granting his discharge. I wish you would communicate the instrument to the Secretary, who has the decision of a Board of officers on his case, which passed also thro' your hands. a discharge for [undecipherable] Means has been announced, it has not been sent yet. I have transmitted by the last Post, a return of the clothing delivered to a certain [undecipherable], a Deserter, who is to repay the U.S. for what he rec^d while in the Service. a report also respecting a man of color, enlisted a Soldier in this Corps of Art^s as he is there without any authority, I did refuse to muster him as a Soldier— the men would not suffer him to appear in the ranks, or to wear the Uniform, he cannot therefore be a Soldier. I have ordered also, that two men should be mentioned in the Pay Roll of January for their Bounty, which they have been Kept off from Since the month of august last. Captain Thompson is the their Captain, has not perhaps rendered his recruiting accounts, but the men are not in the Service of Captain Thompson, and they are not by law obliged to credit him for their Bounty, because the U.S. have trusted Cap^t Th. with recruiting money. I have the honor to be with Esteem, Sir, Your ob^t Serv^t Step: Rochefontaine a Lt Col com^dt of y^e Corps of art^s Engineers [M^r Simmons Esq: acc^t to the [undecipherable] Dep^t]