Holding Officers Accountable
Document 1798Simmons expresses concern about the settlement of the accounts of officers who have left the service or have settled their accounts and obtained full credit for their subsistence and forage without deducting the public provisions and forage received by them. Simmons wants McHenry to direct these officers to furnish a return so that he can hold them accountable and save the public from loss.
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War Department
April 25, 1798
Sir,
I enclose you a copy of a letter from the Accountant of the War department dated the 23. instant and request that you would be pleased to furnish him as soon as may be with the Statement therein mentioned —
I am Sir
with respect
Your obedt Servants
James McHenry
Samuel Hodgdon Esqr
[Docket, verso: War Office of [undecipherable] / Accounts of [undecipherable] / to the Accountant —]
---
[Copy.]
Accountants Office,
April 23, 1798
Sir,
I have lately understood that the Commissary General of Provisions and Quarter Master General have furnished provisions and forage to sundry Officers of the Army to a considerable amount who have not been charged therewith, many of whom have left the Service and others have settled their Accounts and have obtained full credit for their Subsistence and forage without deducting the Public Provisions and forage received by them, these charges I understand will appear by the store accounts of the Commissary and Quarter Master General, the settlement of which are to take place at the Office of the Superintendent of Stores, I must therefore request Sir that you will be pleased to direct that Officer to furnish me with a Return as soon as may be, that will enable me to hold the Officers accountable to save the public from loss. —
I am, with respect
Sir, Your most obdt Servt
signed: William Simmons
Acct Dept War.
The Secy of War.
[Docket, verso: Accountant to the Secretary of War — 23 April 1798 / Certain Accounts wanted]
Type
Copy of Signed Document
Description
Simmons expresses concern about the settlement of the accounts of officers who have left the service or have settled their accounts and obtained full credit for their subsistence and forage without deducting the public provisions and forage received by them. Simmons wants McHenry to direct these officers to furnish a return so that he can hold them accountable and save the public from loss.
Date
04/23/1798
Author
Recipient
Sent from
Accountant's Office
Document number
1798042321001
Page start
4
Note
Enclosed in McHenry to Hodgdon, 04/24/1798.
Notable persons
James McHenry
William Simmons
Commissary General of Provisions
Quartermaster General
Notable locations
Accountant's Office
Office of the Superintendent of Stores
Notable items
store accounts

