[Captain Michael Halteisen Corps of Artillerists & Engineers Commandant of Fort Johnson] Fort Johnson, 29^th Sept. 1796 Dear Sir The Hospital being now separated from the Barracks, it becomes necessary that some one should be appointed to take care of the rooms, & administer to the sick such Medicines as I may direct.— For this duty, I should give the preference to a man, who could use more authority than a woman, & whose orders would be more attended to.— Permit me to recommend Charles Murphy to you for this appointment. He has discharged this duty since the 1^st inst. to my very great satisfaction— as well as to the Satisfaction of the sick.— He is an old Soldier, and is capable of feeling for the distresses of those, whom sickness obliges to go into the hospital— he is indefatigable in his attention— he regards the wants of the sick, night or day— he is perfectly sober— and in short is just such a man as I wish.— As a recompense for this extra and fatiguing duty, permit me to request you to add 4 dollars to his monthly pay.— It will then only equal the sum allowed to the Nurses of the hospital, by the Act of Congress— And I assure you, no man in the Army, earns his pay with more fidelity.— Accept my esteem [underline: Fred.^k Dalcho] [Capt. M. Halteisen.]