[rec^d 29 March] [William Simmons Esq^r / Accountant in the War Department / Philadelphia] West Poin^t March 25^th 97 Sir About a month since I inlisted three men — obtained the same instructions by which I was governed when in the recruiting service last year — The testimony & certificates &c I inclose — I have paid their bounty fourteen Dollars each — I wish the money to reimburse me may be transmitted through the paymaster or some other mode in such a manner as that I may obtain upon exhibiting the receipts of the recruits — I am induced to make this request as an inconvenience which occurred in the settlement of the bounty accounts of my last recruits — upon the money came to hand [undecipherable] a friend who had many acc^ts for him [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the soldiers refused to sign the receipts not until the paymaster [undecipherable] give them the money sent for them pretending [undecipherable] the Serjeant had won the remain^r at play — The Captⁿ is liable for the bounty he promises his recruits — the receipt of the Recruits is his voucher for the money paid without regard to a much Trouble — I have lately returned from Connecticut where I have been two or three months for my health — have had the good fortune to recover it in a great measure — Nothing worth notice has occurred here — & hope we shall be as much pleased with the Secretary of War as with Col^o Pickering — Please to present my compliments to M^rs Simmons & family — Col^o Cole & the Gentlemen of the Office of my acquaintance — I will thank M^r Hegner to write me the fate of my tickets in the Canal Lottery — No [undecipherable] — (Blank) I am Sir with respect & esteem your obed^t Ebenezer G. Mitchell W^m Simmons Esq^r P.S. I omitted to mention the premium allowed for [undecipherable] each recruit [undecipherable] & 19 C^ts for [undecipherable] [undecipherable] E.G. Mitchell