[Received From [undecipherable] Nov 14^th 1796 K.P.O.401810.] [375] [Genl. [undecipherable] / 25 November 1796 / Enclosing -- [undecipherable] many / Quartermaster [undecipherable] / R.D. [undecipherable] [undecipherable]] Samuel Hodgdon -- Esquire Superintendent of Military Stores Philadelphia Westpoint Nov: 25^th 179[6?] Sir I have received a Statement of Clothing and other Stores Delivered by your Department Either to the corps or to officers in behalf of the corps. I have no doubt but I have mentioned to you my wish for the adoption of a fixed regulation for the Delivery of Supplies from the Public Store, to the officers recruiting, or commanding on separate posts, and the giving to the Individuals who have a legal right to the same, that I might be informed of it thro' the Quarter Mast of the corps, and be enabled at any time, to lay before the Secretary of war or yourself a Statement of both. But in that as in a great many human undertakings, I have miscarried. [strikethrough: that I have not tried] when I perceived that my plan was clashing with the regular train adopted in your Department I did not apply to deliver Stores upon the personal order of the chief of war, and to let every officer thus provided to account immediately to yourself for the Delivery, without any extraordinary Balance between you and the officer accountable -- it is more trouble for you, but it is perhaps simpler, and Simplicity in accounts is preferable to a complicated System which might Diminish the responsibility of the accountable. Altho I acknowledge my inability to furnish you with any account for what has been Delivered to the corps at any other post or frontier westpoint, to any other person but the Quarter Mast of the corps, I will notwithstanding do my utmost to obtain an account from the officers who are considered [undecipherable] responsible as far as it concerns the Gentlemen immediately under my orders, for you must be Informed that by a custom of the army, officers on recruiting service, even of the corps of artillery, are under the immediate [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] of the list of war -- the officers on [separate?] commands are also under the immediate Command of the [undecipherable] of the list of war, unless particularly directed to report here upon the accounts of their command and to apply to this post for the Supplies they may be in want of. M^r. David Hale our actual Quarter Mast has been [charged?] with clothing, when recruiting at Portland -- [undecipherable] of occasion and the written account will show you the [undecipherable] of the same. Cap^t. Frye was at Salem recruiting, he had public clothing for what he had an act and needs to be paid as soon as he was called upon for the [undecipherable]. Lieu^t. Parker Hale has been recruiting at [undecipherable] New Hampshire, he gave in his account of clothing to the [undecipherable] office previous to his [departure?] and he has left at Portsmouth a quantity of clothing which has perhaps been disposed of by your orders. Lieu^t. Freeman & [undecipherable] have been recruiting at Boston, and [I will?] require them to find you an account of clothing, if any they have had. the articles charged to me must be relating to the [Fuze?] which [under?] my own care to [undecipherable] or a [Note?] of [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] who brought the same to Westpoint, when it was [undecipherable] by the Quarter Master and accounted for in my final account. The Stationery will also be accounted for as far as the action can be made -- With Esteem I am respectfully Sir [Your most obedient?] [undecipherable signature] P.S. Will you allow me to [undecipherable] by the first opportunity your [Chief?] Lieu^t. the blank [undecipherable] to me, which have been or will be Delivered to your Store by our [undecipherable] limits or [undecipherable] Army. [From Hodgdon Esq^r Superintendent of Military [undecipherable]]