which forwards are passed to your Credit on the Books of this Office I am Sir William Simmons The Secretary of War Department of War Accountants Office 16^th May 1796 Sir The Claims presented by Col^o Garrard for services of Kentucky Militia have been rejected upon this same principle that all have been & ever have come forward in the manner since my appointment. The custom before that period as he represents it — but the consequence was, that persons to the Money have seldom or never thought of coming forward to account for the Money so received, and at this time, advances to an enormous Amount are now outstanding on the Books of the Office — also in some instances Bonds have been given for Accounting for the same — In consequence of this I thought absolutely necessary to adopt the plan which he mentions, and this of requiring Powers of Attorney from each Individual and Secretary of War accordingly in his Instructions to some of the County Lieu^ts directed this plan to be pursued. — The plan is a new one, and is generally known in the Country where Militia is employed. — It is not generally the Custom to give public notice when changes of this kind take place in settling accounts but they are generally adopted as exigencies of the Cases require it. If Captⁿ M^cEntire has paid any of the Men as M^r Garrard represents, their receipts will be received as vouchers, and the Mⁿ paid accordingly so that there is no danger of his losing the