West point October 16^th 1796. Sir, I received your letter of the 5^th Inst^t. respecting the officers who have Some accounts to settle with your Department and who have neglected to this day to do it. I have requested them, in order, to fulfill that Duty as soon as possible. Captain Thompson being namely mentioned, I Sent him your letter to procure him the perusal of it. As to Lieu^t. Dayton, he has been absent from the garrison for Some time previous to my receiving your letter, and from Elisabeth Town the Secretary of War has ordered him on to Oswego where he will pass without passing to this Garrison, I will not therefore be able to communicate to him what relates to him in your letter. I wish you could do Justice to the non comd officers & Privates who have been enlisted by Capt. Lee and others who have been prevented by Death or otherwise, from giving a proper account of the public Money trusted to them. They have just claim against the U.S, by what I can collect from other officers who are acquainted with the men, and it is not right they Should Suffer for the misconduct of the officers who Enlisted them. respectfully I am, Sir, your ob^t. Sew^t. J. Hy: Rochefontaine D. Col. Comd^t. of the Corps of Art^r. & Eng^rs. W^m. Simmons Esquire. [address panel:] William Simmons — Esquire accomptant to the War Department Philadelphia [annotation, right side:] [undecipherable: office] Chief artillerist and City Cadets Oct^r. 22^d 179[undecipherable]