War office 24 March 1798 Sir The letter of A. J Dallas esq was communicated to you for the purpose of shewing the information he required from the Secretary of War, in order, that you might state to me, the reasons which had retarded the settlement of the ration and forage accounts of the Pennsylvania militia on the western expedition. It will be more in course, that you address your observations on this subject to me. I can transmit these or a copy of them, or make the same the basis of my answer to M^r Dallas. I am Sir Your ob^t s^t James McHenry W^m Simmons Es^q Accountant &c. [War Office 24 March 1798 James McHenry Sh^d 2 inclo^s 19 respecting the Ration and forage accounts of the Penn^a Militia on the Western Expedition, & relative to the accounts Returns &c A Dallas Es^q] [William Simmons Es^q Accountant of the War Department] [War Off^o]