West point Nov 25^th 1796 Sir, I have received your letter of the 19^th Inst respecting the Sergeant Majors & Quarter M^r Sergeants mentioned in the Pay & Muster Roll for the month of October last. it is perfectly true that none were contemplated in the formation of the three Battalions added to the 1^st already existing, but it is known that it was an Error in the framing of the Law for it is impossible to Execute the Details of the Regimental Daily Duty without a Sergeant acting in every Battalion under the Adjutant; and that one of the offices of the Non com^d & Privates Detail or Roster, is filled. The Secretary of War (Col Pickering) promised the necessary addition to the Law of Organisation of the Corps of Art^y previous to the last Session, and I am not informed whether or not his proposal has been adopted. When I joined the corps, six or seven months after the Regiment had been collected here, I found three Sergt Majors & 2 Q^r M^r Sergeants appointed by the officer commanding in my absence, and when refering to the former Pay Rolls, I remarked that the extrapay of one Doll: per month had been constantly allowed these non commissioned officers by you, in conformity to the General regulation of the army, I concluded that it must have been obvious to you that they were necessary, and that you consented, tacitly at least, to the Pay allowed by law to non com^d officers performing that duty in this army. I was induced thereby & therefore hesitated not to continue to do them that Justice which the officers of Government had done them, and they continued to be mentioned in the following Pay Rolls with with the Monthly pay of 8 Dollars. if I have been mistaken, I wish you would Inform me of it, and they will in future be allowed but the common pay to Company Sergeants. I wish however you would not Stop the pay of October on account of that Error of mine. I am with Esteem, Sir, Respectfully your ob^et Serv^t [undecipherable] Rochefontaine Lt col com^t of [undecipherable] Corp. of Art^l. & Eng^s. [Address:] William Simmons, Esquire act. to the War Department Philadelphia [Docket:] William Simmons Esquire Accountant to the War Department Philadelphia [Docket notation:] [undecipherable] Rochefontaine / Lt. Col. Com^d. of [undecipherable] Corp. / Nov. 25 [undecipherable] / 1796