[William Simmons — Esquire Accountant to the War Department Philadelphia] [undecipherable: partial notation on lower left fold] West point Janu^ry 13^th 1797 S^r, I received your letter of the 4^th Instant respecting your favourable Disposition towards the Soldiers of the Corps of Artillery & Engineers who have been Indebted by the late Captain Gamble, and who have had his Personal obligation for twenty two dollars for which they had given their receipt. I am for my great pain's obliged to you for your good wishes to obtain Justice to the Men under my care, but I am afraid that a number of them will be deprived out of this hard Earned Cargo notwithstanding your kind Support, for many of them being Denied at the time, their claims founded upon their due bills presented after the Death of their Captains, and being told that nothing could be allowed upon them, have neglected them and the hardships which generally constitute a Soldiers have lost them; it will therefore be impossible to make it appear in writing that any thing is due if affidavits could be made a Substitute for the want of the bills, many of those who have just claims against the Estate of this late Captain might do Justice done to them. I have in the Garrison a Man by the Name of W^m. Prann, who can make it appear that 11 D^rs. Current Money were due to him by Cap^t. Gamble whom he waited upon, that he has lost the Due bill, & will be therefore deprived of his just Claims; many other are in the Same predicament. I will however write to the Commanding officers of all the Detachments of the Corps to desire them to forward to you the Claims of their men against the Estate of late Cap^t. Gamble. it will be long before they can be forwarded to you, for the men are dispersed thro' the Detachments of the Corps Since the Sec^y. of War directed that Company which had no officers, to be Incorporated in the other Companies of the Corps, and communication with those detachments at Niagara & Oswego is not to be expected before this Spring, however I will do what I can in favor of the men and to Improve the opportunity offered thro' your good wishes. I have the honor to Inclose a Muster Roll of the men under Cap^t. J^no. Hanning for the Month of Dec^r. Ultimo. if I had known what Reg^t. the men were arranged in, I would have objected to the title of the Muster Roll, which is a wrong one Since the Establishment and arrangement of the army into Reg^ts. but you will be able to arrange them as they ought to be, and this Roll will only serve to ascertain the Number present in this Garrison — Respectfully I am, Sir, Your obed^t. Serv^t. S^tep: Rochefontaine 1^st Lt. Comd^t. of 3^d Co^py. of Art. & Eng^rs. W^m. Simmons — Esq^r. Acc^t. to the War Department Phil^a.