Lieut. Col. Stephen Rochefontaine Accountants Office West Point — New York Dec. 5^th 1796 Sir I received your letter of the 22^d Ultimo, altho Sergt. Majors & Quarter Masters have been allowed heretofore, I dont conceive myself authorised to make this allowance after I have discovered the principle to be an erroneous one. I have therefore made the deductions from the Pay Roll, allowing to each Sergeants Pay only. Agreeably to what I wrote you on the 25^th Ultimo, the money you advanced to Lt. Robinson agreeably to his Order in your favor is this day forwarded to Col^o. Fish at New York subject to your Order. I am &c W^m. Simmons Acc^t. --- Nehemiah Freeman Esq^r Accountants Office Temp^y. Pay-Master Dec. 5^th 1796 West Point Sir I rec^d. your letters of the 28^th & 30^th Ultimo the latter enclosing your account Current & Mect Rolls therein mentioned. On looking over the Vouchers I find you have not forwarded the Claims [strikethrough: to be submitted to] for retained Bounty & Back Pay, which I sent to you to pay. The receipts you have taken on a Mect Roll & by that means I suppose you omitted forwarding the Claims. The Pay Roll of the Corps for October, has been examined and after deducting therefrom the Extra Pay charged for Quart^o. Master Segt. Majors, and the five rations only who have marched, the Balance being 1033^60/100 agreeably to the enclosed Statement, has been remitted to Mehn. Fish Esq^r. Dept New York there as usual to remain subject to your order. On your giving your duplicate Receipts therefor. I am &c W^m. Simmons