[Fort Wayne October 31^st 1797 Wm. Simmons Esqre Accomptant War Departm^t Philadelphia] [Post] Fort Wayne, October 31^st 1797 Sir I have this day received your letter of the 18^th of august 97. It gives me great Inquietude when I am informed in your letter that I stand charged with monies unaccounted for on the Books of your Office. I received by order of the late Secretary of War, General Knox, which will I think appear on the War Office book, six months advance pay, with six months Subsistence in the year 92. — as Conductor of Military Stores at Thirty dollars per month, and two rations per day; this money I am Confident I have accounted for; my next payment after I left Philadelphia was paid to me at a place called Hobsons choice in Cincinnatti; Colonel O'Hara late Quarter Master General paid me at that place three months pay, as Conductor of Military Stores, twelve months after I left Philad^a. I then informed the Colonel that General Knox Secretary of War, had advanced me six months pay, and my first account made out for pay; in this Country, did not take place untill I had performed twelve months services; then my account was made out for three months Wages, at Thirty dollars per month, & two rations per day, & I receipted for the money on Colonel O'Hara's Books. All the money which I have received, as Conductor of Military Stores in the Western Country, has been paid me by Colonel O'Hara late Quarter Master General, John Belli late deputy Quarter Master General, & Daniel Haragan late Deputy Quarter Master General in quarterly payments; their Books are upwards of 100 Miles from me, or perhaps in Philadelphia. I have no Vouchers, nor no account of the money, I have received of either of these Gentlemen; When three months pay was due me, I had my Account made out, receipted for the same, received my pay, paid my debts, & never took any Account or memorandum of the same, to keep or retain in remembrance; what monies I am indebted to your Office I am totally in the dark to know how to account for, may you be pleased to State or have Stated to me the Account, I have too great a regard for my Name & my Country to do an Action unworthy of either. I have never in all the business I have done, been so unhappy, as I am at the present moment. every particle of money which I have received, I gained by hard service before I touched it, & thank my Gods, I never received any Public Money only my Wages. If I have taken of this, more than my due, I am very sorry for it. But Sir I assure you I am as ignorant of this transaction as an unborn Infant. I will thank you to make sensible of what I owe your office, on Public Account, I shall be Stationed in this Garrison this winter, Write me Sir if you please; by night or day I will attend to your letter; if necessary let me be ordered to Philadelphia; let any thing take place with me, I will not wrong the Public, if monies is due from me, I will repay it. If I cannot refund the money, will serve them faithfully until the debt is paid. I shall forward Sir to you, a duplicate of this letter, & hope this may speedily Arrive to you. I am Sir Your very respectful humble Servant Samuel Henley Comm^t M. Stores William Simmons Esqre Accomptant War Departm^t Philadelphia