[Hand eltered Rec^d 16 June ans^d 19^th] [To William Simmons Esq^r Accountant of the War Department at War Philadelphia] Sir Fort M^c Henry June 13 1797 Your letter of the 7^th I have received. The reasons why the privates you mention viz^t John Sullivan, Hutchinson & Hirsley were mustered present without remark, were, that they had been sent to Fort Mifflin for trial charged with desertion and returned to this Garrison about the last of the month without any information, other than their own declarations, in what light they were to be considered, one of them saying he was to be [undecipherable: discharged], the other two, that they had been pardoned. — These circumstances I did myself the honor of communicating to the Sec^y of war, and requesting his orders — But even if they had been ordered to [strikethrough: their] duty, I should not have thought it proper to have placed, them on the Pay Rolls for that month, since they did not muster until the end of it. If it be an established principle that the Deserter forfeits the pay that might have been due previous to desertion, as well as that which would have accrued to the time of trial, punishment & being returned to duty, it applies to those men — but whether this be the case or not, I am not positive. I would therefore thank you for directions on the subject, & in the mean time I shall withhold the payments. — I am Sir Your Obed^t Serv^t Staats Morris Capt Comm^dg [W^m Simmons Esq^r A. W. D.]