[Stephen Roubfontaine Rec^d 16^th Nov Ans^d 1796] Westpoint Nov^r 15.^th 1796. Sir I received your Letter of the 8^th Inst.^t respecting the men who are sometimes induced in pursuits of Desertion. I have many times Insisted upon having detailed accounts of the Expenditures of the money advanced, for no non commissioned officer or Soldier is to be found who will undertake that duty upon their own purses, but some who dont know how to write are obliged to trust to their memory, the names of the places where they Stoped, and those of the Taverns where they put at, and then it is almost impossible to obtain that regular account which I sometimes wished for us to receipts, it is impossible to obtain them from the Tavern Keepers where they Stop to. In general the attempt of retaking Deserters has been is unsuccessful that I find after them only to the Distance of four or five miles when