The Paymaster of the                                Accountants Office 4^th US Regiment                                   March 29^th 1797 Sir Brigadier Gen^l James Wilkinson the bearer of this carries with him the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars, which sum is intended for five months pay of the Troops ordered to march to the Southward. Say from the 1^st November 1796 to the 3[undecipherable: 1]^st March 1797. This period is contemplated as it is expected, that [the] Troops are or will before they march be paid up to the 31^st Oct[undecipherable: ober] 1796, as the money forwarded together with the [strikethrough: many] authority given for drawing Bills it is expected will be sufficient for the Pay of the Troops up to that period. If you have any monies in your hands due to those Troops who are ord[undecipherable: ered] to march or receive any previous to that event you will lose n[undecipherable: o] time in making the payment. Should M^r Swan be absent on Gen^l Wilkinson's arrival with the Army so that it would b[undecipherable: e] inexpedient to deliver the above mentioned sum to him then you are to receive the amount, and the Gen^l will caus[undecipherable: e] Triplicate Muster & Pay Rolls to be formed taking particu[undecipherable: lar] care to note opposite the name of every Officer & Soldier th[undecipherable: e] period to which each has been paid & by whom previous to this settlement — You will correctly examine & compar[undecipherable: e] the muster & Pay Rolls and certify the amount due thereon fo[undecipherable: r] the five months Pay. From the pay Rolls you will form duplicate Receipt Rolls to which you will obtain the necessary Signat[undecipherable: ures] I herewith forward Blank Pay Muster and Receipt Rolls in ord[undecipherable: er] to facilitate the business on your part. It is expected that when you have compleated the payments that you will make a statement of the transaction which you will deliver to Edw[undecipherable: ar]d P. M. G. with a sett of the Pay. Muster, and Receipt Rolls together with any balance of money remaining in your hands after this payment which he will examine and give you the necessary receipts therefor. You will also forward to this Office as soon as possible — one sett of the Pay. Muster and Receipt Rolls, together with a duplicate of your statement to be delivered to C. Swan. this is necessary that I may immediately know the arrears due to each — Company to forward the money to their place of destination. These instructions are to be strictly adhered to in the event of M^r Swans absence, and here let me notice the great degree of accuracy which is to be observed in your pro=ceedings as any errors would cause innumerable diffi=culties — I beg you to write me by every opportunity the progress of your proceedings. — I am &c. W^m Simmons Acct. [duplicate of the foregoing sent y Post March 31. 1797]