West Point Nov. 22. 1798. Sir I have the honor to transmit herewith my Recruiting and Contingent Accounts and Vouchers. I wish my health would permit me to present them myself. being the first and only instance in which I have ever performed recruiting service, and the greater part of which time I have been charged with the command of Governors Island, if I have not gone according to such customary rules, I beg you to believe Sir, that it has proceeded from its first cause. I will esteem it a particular instance to me, if you will be pleased to advise in the case of John Ryan who first enlisted under name of William Alford as noted on his enlistment. I had omitted cancelling his receipts with his enlistment before his desertion. in overlooking the receipts and placing them in each enlistment I miss many and the whole of George McKinley (Corporal) the Non Commissioned Officers of the Company are known to their having received bounty money at several times. In the recruiting Account I have remarked the transfers and desertions as they took place, in contingent Account the Expenses of Serjeants Seamens & Hell attending as Witnesses at Supreme Court in New York, was in consequence of a Suit brought against me and the Corporal of the Guard (McKinley,) when on command at Governors Island, As reported to the Secretary of War in my Letter of the 22^d June 1798 this Suit was determined in my favor in April term last when Colonel Hamilton so ably Supported my cause — and the Plaintiff obliged to leave the State. If my health continues impaired that I cannot attend myself, I shall transmit the original receipt rolls for the Payments of my company — I have the honor to be with great Respect Sir, Your most Obedient Humble Servant Alex Thompson Captain Corps of Artillery & Engineers [Copy] William Simmons Esq. Accountant War department