Pittsburgh 12 Jan^y 98 I recieve yours of the 5^th Instant — It has a long been in me not having the power of Attorney acknowledged in proper form but as I intend to finish the City early in the Spring I will then compleat it by a proper acknowledgement. — I am much obliged to you for the offer of your attention [?] the passage of my accounts through the Office but I shall trouble you on this business By next post I shall have [undecipherable] for the disbursements of Cash to the amount of about [undecipherable] odd dollars — The [undecipherable] parts are so voluminous it is impossible to obtain the vouchers more than once every Six month. — Detroit for instance [there] there is a very great expenditure of money on the [undecipherable] department, Sap[undecipherable]men do not often more than once in Six months, especially during the Winter Season I am Sir y. o. S. Col. Sam. Hodgdon