[Stephen Rochefontaine / Rec^d 16^th Nov^r / Answ^d 1796] Westpoint Nov. 15^th 1796 Sir I received your letter of the 6^th Inst. respecting the men who are sometimes ordered in pursuit of Deserters. I have many times insisted upon having Detailed accounts of the Expenditures of the money advanced, for no non commissioned officers or Soldiers are to be found who will undertake that duty upon their own purse, but some who don't know how to write are obliged to trust to their memory, for the names of the places where they Stopped, 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 as 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 so unsuccessful that I find after them only to the Distance of four or five miles when I am informed in Season of their departure. respecting captain Mitchell's account, I am utterly a Stranger to it, I never had any Deserter pursued by him. I receiv'd the blank muster and day Rolls forwarded to me. respectfully I am, Sir, Your ob^t serv^t Step: Rochefontaine Lt. col. comd^t of 1^st corp of art. & Eng^rs P. S. Herewith I send to you the Muster Role of capt. Fleming's [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [W^m Simmons Esquire.]