[Docket: James [undecipherable] / Capt. 1^st [undecipherable] 96[?] 1797 / about [undecipherable] / (Prior service Rev. War)] Niagara January 20. 1797 — Sir. Enclos'd with this are my Muster and Pay Rolls for November & December compris'd in one. For altho' the 1^st detachment was regularly mustered for Nov[ember], I found [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on roll for two months: I hope you will approve of it. To define — and attach the officers more particularly, to their respective duties; I have allotted them separate commands — instance, — Lieutenant Visscher commands all the Infantry, L^t McClellin part of McKee's company detach'd with mine — L^t Elmer my company and L^t — Dayton the artillery of the 2^d detachment. And their Muster & Pay Rolls are made out accordingly. — [undecipherable] in now mustered in my company — we had no Infantry clothing for him — he claims back pay due before he deserted. — William Williams & John White — artillery — each claim the last 4 dollars of their bounty — so does William Young a recruit of L^t Dayton's. — White & Williams were recruited by L^t Salman — I have includ'd my ration acc^t — I please to forward the ammount — I have consider'd the rations as Salt — which they always are, except when killing beef for store — Your Letters of the 24 & 30 Nov^r ult^o just came to hand — among the letters they acknowledge is mine of the 1^st July last, which enclos'd my Receipt Rolls for Pay to my former and present detachment — I will thank you to acknowledge & specify them & the ammount of each. The Vouchers for bounty paid the [undecipherable] detachment are incomplete — owing to an omission — [undecipherable] left at Oswego make attempts to desert on the way — I thought it prudent to keep back their bounty as long as I cou'd — as I thought them satisfied — and in the hurry of embarking forgot them. But L^t Visscher is going to Oswego after the pay you sent them by mistake. He He will compleat the payment, & when he returns, I will forward their receipts, and my acc^t of money expended in marching that detachment to West Point — I hope they will exonerate me from all charges on your books, to the date of the last remittance. I have includ'd my receipt to M^r Lewis C^lr. W. O. for 3245 Dollars on account of pay due my detachment up to the 1^st ins^t. The Receipts for which will make part of my next dispatches — I imagin it is the intention of the dep^t of war that the men shou'd not receive it in too large payments — I am sure that this is prudent I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant [undecipherable signature] William Simmons Esq^r accountant — War Office. P. S. I have enclos'd you the inlistment of E. S. Hunt[undecipherable] please to credit my acc^t with the bounty paid him [undecipherable initials]