[Copy] [Hugh Caperton dated 18 May 1798 recd 4 June " V^a Greenbrier (Shraud) May 22^nd 1798 Free M^r William Simmons acct in War Department Philadelphia] Sir Virginia Greenbrier County 18^th May 1798 Your several letters of the 20^th Janu^y. 1797 the 2^d Nov^r 1797 and 31^st march 1798. all came safe to hand by the post. I have to inform you that on receiving a [underline: notification] from the Secretary of War dated the 8^th march 1792. that the President was pleased to appoint me Capt. of a Company of Riflemen and it not being at that time convenient for me to enter into that service, I immediately wrote him I could not accept the commission, whereupon I understood Capt. William Preston succeeded to the command offered me — I was also informed by letter from Lieu^t. John Bowyer soon after I obtained the [undecipherable] notice of my appointment, that he was ordered to join me at the Sweet Springs & rais a proportion of men for the [undecipherable] service, that he had met with Capt. M^rs Lewis and had got $72 from him for that purpose — but as I never intended to enter the service I never after made any enquiry respecting the cash recd by Lieu^t. Bowyer supposing it was applyed to its proper use as he continued in the service under Capt. Preston — this is all I can inform you all I know of the matter or money you wish to have accounts for, and which never came to my hands. I am very respectfully your Most Ob^dt humbl. Serv^t. Hugh Caperton —